• Please review our updated Terms and Rules here

Recommendations for bench power supply

falter

falter

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2011
Messages
6,586
Location
Vancouver, BC
I am finally going to get myself a bench supply after many years of not getting around to it.

Wondering what you guys would recommend. This is mainly for pre-1979 equipment.. common voltages still in use today but also voltages like -9v or +8v.

I'm assuming any modern bench supply has short circuit protection these days?

Many thanks!
 
I seen videos on youtube where people are testing GPUs with shorts using bench supplies where you dial in max current to find hot spots (shorts to ground).
 
If money isnt really a huge problem, go with a Agilent, HP or Keysight (all really the same supplies, just company name changes).

If you want a more bargin that is decent, go with Rigol.

Now if I was going to recommend something inbetween, I suggest the Keysight/Agilent E3630A. I've seen them refurbished for around 4-500.
 
I have a dual bench PSU. Each output is fully isolated, so I can have two positive voltages or two negative voltages or one positive and one negative.

Each separate side has a variable voltage output (up to 30V) and a variable current limit.

Each supply has an indication of voltage and current.

I will post details tomorrow.

Dave
 
Exactly what do you need? How many outputs? Isolated or common? Accuracy? Voltage/Current ratings? There are a lot of Chinese power supplies that won't break the bank, but you have to know what you're after.
 
twolazy said:
What's your budget?
Click to expand...
Well, I'd prefer not to get into thousands... I honestly don't know what they cost. Looking on ebay I see a lot of the offshore ones for $200-300ish new. I've seen much more expensive ones but don't know really how much I need for something like, say, a Mark-8, etc. It's really the really old machines that create a problem for me - the majority of my older SBC gear I can run off a standard Apple II or Amiga power supply. It's when I need +8 or +16, or -8, -16 or -9 that I have a problem really.
 
Chuck(G) said:
Exactly what do you need? How many outputs? Isolated or common? Accuracy? Voltage/Current ratings? There are a lot of Chinese power supplies that won't break the bank, but you have to know what you're after.
Click to expand...
Well, I think probably 4 outputs. As many as I can get without going into major $$$. Thinking about it I think my real goal is just to find a convenient way to deal with multiple "unusual" voltages (not unusual in a literal sense but outside the more common +5, -5, +12, -12v later machines typically used), which seems to be the situation when you get earlier than 1976 or so. I had actually thought of using those little metal cased switching power supplies but couldn't find any that had -9V for example.

I don't really know this stuff so well, I'm thinking i probably want isolated when I'm dealing with a machine that requires multiple voltages and may be having an issue? Or to reduce 'noise'?
 
daver2 said:
I have a dual bench PSU. Each output is fully isolated, so I can have two positive voltages or two negative voltages or one positive and one negative.

Each separate side has a variable voltage output (up to 30V) and a variable current limit.

Each supply has an indication of voltage and current.

I will post details tomorrow.

Dave
Click to expand...
I would love the details Dave! Thank you. I'm still in learning mode with this stuff and while i know what voltages I need for any given machine I'm just not sure what is, you know, most flexible, reliable and safe.

I recall a long time ago getting help with a machine here and I thought someone told me you needed everything to run off the same PSU for some reason? It's been years but I recall reading some advice. It was when I was trying to figure out how to get the required -3v for an OSI board with 1702s on it I think. I was going to run the -9v off a separate PSU I had and was advised against it. I think.

So -- just trying to understand it all and find something multipurpose, safe and flexible. I tend to fix machines up, use em a while and then shelve them while I work on other machines.
 
I have an older dual output 0-25v/3 amp (plus 5vdc 1 amp (??) fixed) good old heavy USA made pwr supply with analog meters that I've had for years. The two varible supplies can be ganged if I need 50Vdc or 6 amps. It has voltage or current limiting. Bought used for not too much money. (way back then) I recently bought a cheap Chinese dual 30v/5 amp plus 2 amp USB with digital read out pwr supply from Amazon as a back up, just in case. Brand doesn't seem to matter since the same, or nearly the same, supplies are sold by a bunch of retailers. This Jesverty SPS-3005 was under $60. It weights maybe 1/5 the weight of the old supply. I'd hate to leave the new one short circuited for very long. Just saying......
 
My supply is a Farnell instruments Ltd. LT30-2. See https://www.testequipmenthq.com/product/farnell-lt30-2.

2 outputs 0-30V at 2A each. But, if course, this thing has been obsolete for years, but it is built like a tank...

This may be a little underpowered for what you want, but mine did come free - so I can't complain!

I have some fixed switch mode supplies also for the more 'common' supplies. For example, a Meanwell RT-65A providing +5V @ 6A, +12V @ 2.8A and -5V @ 0.5A. Of course, other supplies are available in the same range.

Dave
 
Last edited:
For testing older boards with 5v regulators needing 8V, I’ve been pleased with my Rigol 831A triple supply.
Chan 1: 0-8V@5A, Chan 2: (+) 0-30V@2A, Chan 3: (-) 0-30V@2A
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top