While I agree with Nigel, if you wanted to get a bench power supply for short testing and possibly for general use too, I would recommend one of the 0V to 30V, 0A to 10A linear power supplies linked below. They are a reasonable price- I have three.
I have seen quite a bit of short testing over the years using high constant current power supplies and infra red cameras. At one time we received a large batch of multi-layer printed circuit boards that had shorts.
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Yes, and they are nice to use and much smaller than the pictures would suggest.You certainly can't complain about the price!
Is that one linear?
When you buy anything from any source you have to do your homeworkUnless they are specifically billed as being linear, I think they are usually switching PSUs inside.
That is why I recommended a linear power supplyProbably not a big deal either way for the OP, but I usually go linear when I can to avoid RF noise.
UPDATE: My response was in error and has been deleted- apologies to you.I have a linear one (a Tekpower TP-3003D) that's rated to 3A, although I think they have ones rated to 5A now.
That is a sweeping statement.I have had mixed results with these cheapies over the years:
Not sure what the basis of this isThe great thing about lab-grade supplies is that they are built like tanks, so they often outlive the labs they are used in. If you can deal with the slightly larger size and ugly appearance of some of them, getting a used power supply can be a decent idea.
After a couple minute of searching:
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Kepco-...369941?hash=item35ffd44c55:g:lRgAAOSwIUNXFmMW
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I'm sure there are lots more that would be better suited to your exact criteria if you ran a search of your own.
You are being a nuisance and hanging on the shirt tails of my recommendation without any sense.
Thanks for your reply JLNY- I obviously misunderstood the objective of your post and my apologies for that, especially as I find your posts generally constructive and informed.Whoa, hey, I'm sorry, that's not what I meant by that. I suggesting an alternative, not trying to bash your recommendations.
To answer you questions, though:
1. I said Tekpower, not Tektronix. I bought it brand new for maybe $40 or so on amazon. I don't know if that exact model is sold anymore, but there are lots of very reasonably priced ones available. Tekpower as far as I know is a more budget brand very similar to the one you mentioned. It is a 3A-rated supply specifically billed as being linear. Here it is pictured below:
View attachment 104562
2. If the supply you linked to is a 10A linear supply, then why is the weight listed as only 6 lbs? That seems really light for a 300W linear supply, hence why I think it might be a switcher. I weighed my 90W TP-3003D, and it weighs 7.75 lbs.
3. Unless the OP is doing RF work or something similar, it is probably irrelevant whether they get a linear or switching PSU, but I thought it was worth mentioning the difference and why one would choose one over the other.
4. How is relating a bad experience I had with one a sweeping statement? saying something like "all cheap power supplies are bad" would be a sweeping statement, but that's not what I said. I agree that the OP should do his homework before buying anything.
5. I recommended the idea that the OP might also consider a secondhand lab supply. I know plenty of folks who use older lab PSUs that are 30-40 years old without issue, and the OP mentioned the person in the video using an HP The drawbacks, as I mentioned, are large size The OP mentioned the person in the video using a HP supply.
I apologize if I came across as dismissing your suggestion. I was merely mentioning this as something to consider alongside getting a new one.
Sincerely,
JLNY
To answer you questions, though:
1. I said Tekpower, not Tektronix. I bought it brand new for maybe $40 or so on amazon. I don't know if that exact model is sold anymore, but there are lots of very reasonably priced ones available. Tekpower as far as I know is a more budget brand very similar to the one you mentioned. It is a 3A-rated supply specifically billed as being linear. Here it is pictured below:
View attachment 104562
2. If the supply you linked to is a 10A linear supply, then why is the weight listed as only 6 lbs? That seems really light for a 300W linear supply, hence why I think it might be a switcher. I weighed my 90W TP-3003D, and it weighs 7.75 lbs.
If the goal is to smoke everything in the shorted path, a 12V car battery (almost unlimited current available) works well.
Appologies again. I was in a rush when I reacted to your post and there has been some other things going on that influenced me.
Tekpower is a badge version of the generic power supply that is made by a big company in the east and is the basis of a whole family of low-cost linear power supplies, including the version that I recommended. The various versions are 0 to 15V, 0 to 24V.. with maximum current options of 0 to 1A, 0 to 2A, 0 to 5A, and 0 to 10A.
This generic power supply is badge engineered by many retailers, some well respected.
The control electronics are 741 opamps and 2N3055 output transistors, although this can vary. Some time, I will trace out the circuit, as a matter of interest.
The readouts are standard hi-tech boards, like you see on eBay etc.
The early readouts were LED, but LCD readouts are taking over- mine are LED.
As far as I can tell, the transformer is tapped and switched to reduce dissipation and the higher power versions have thermally controlled fans.
The standard of soldering/wire routing can be substandard on some examples of the power supply, but the majority are fine. Incidentally, there are a number of tear-downs on YouTube.
The calibration of the current and voltage meters can be out too, but it is a simple matter to calibrate them against your multi meter, using presets which are fitted to the power supplies,
As I said, I bought three of the power supplies expecting the worst. My plan was to re-engineer the electronics (the case, transformer, heat sink, fans, and controls are the expensive/difficult part of a power supply). But, I was pleasantly surprised by the units I bought, and they arrived within three days too. So I just use them as... bench power supplies.
I was planning to replace the fine and coarse voltage and current controls with ten turn pots, but the original pots are so nice to use that I probably won't bother.
On the down side, these power supplies do over volt to a degree at switch-on. I aim to get around that by fitting a switch that disconnects the output, like you see on some expensive power supplies
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While I agree with Nigel, if you wanted to get a bench power supply for short testing and possibly for general use too, I would recommend one of the 0V to 30V, 0A to 10A linear power supplies linked below. They are a reasonable price- I have three.
I have seen quite a bit of short testing over the years using high constant current power supplies and infra red cameras. At one time we received a large batch of multi-layer printed circuit boards that had shorts.
spec
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The problem with that is if the S/C 'blows off' (which is quite possible) you then have 12V (with very high current capability) directly across your 3.3V supply line. This will destroy pretty well every I/C on the board, and perhaps a lot more stuff as well.
Incidentally, a common fault in these types of cases are SM capacitors S/C.
While I agree with Nigel, if you wanted to get a bench power supply for short testing and possibly for general use too, I would recommend one of the 0V to 30V, 0A to 10A linear power supplies linked below. They are a reasonable price- I have three.
I have seen quite a bit of short testing over the years using high constant current power supplies and infra red cameras. At one time we received a large batch of multi-layer printed circuit boards that had shorts.
spec
**broken link removed**
Hi G69,I was looking at these models also. Any ide what the difference is between this one https://www.ebay.com/itm/201664929313?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649 and this one which has an additional AMP button I think it's a high and low amp https://www.ebay.com/itm/30V-10A-110V-Lab-Precision-Variable-DC-Power-Supply-Pro-Digital-Adjustable-3010D/181209181698?_trksid=p2059210.c100150.m2822&_trkparms=ao=1&asc=20140127103912&meid=8e2adfc3379145b48a0bc6efe5a9b32b&pid=100150&
Was also looking at these **broken link removed** it offers many advantages, you can view the preset voltage, input voltage, output voltage, the preset current, output current, output power, etc. on the output state remind area, you can see that output opens or not, the state of constant voltage and constant current, output is normal or not, the key is locked or not, and the current data groups that is being used. On the setting data interface, you can adjust overvoltage value, overcurrent value, over-power value, data set and LCD brightness. And it's really well calibrated from the factory. Well worth the money.
My only dilemma is that it comes with a step down module and it needs an ac to dc supply to power it. So as it has Input Voltage listed at DC6-40V. Was thinking of getting a dc power supply that would allow me to use it with this contraption.
So I was looking at these **broken link removed** but it's not a linear one it's a switch. So waiting for more great advice. Thanks in advance.
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