Bench/Lab Power Supply

[johnny5c]

The old modified Antec PSU that I've been using for years went up in smoke today so was wondering if anyone had a recommendation for a good bench supply.  I have a shop where we restore classic car and we build a lot of wiring harnesses so it'll be used to power up circuits for testing before running the full current of a battery.  We work on both 6 and 12 volt systems so need one with adjustable voltage and can supply 10 amps or more.

 

 

[iamdarkyoshi]

These things are great:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-600W-10A-0-60V-Digital-controlled-Programmable-Step-down-Power-Supply-Module-/170935452655?hash=item27cc8c03ef:m:mgUacyWZIbWKVHqx-_F_X8w

 

However, you need to supply the input with a couple volts more than you will need for the output.

 

I have the 5A version (which is basically the same price, didnt know about the 10A one, rip)

 

If you pair this device with some bigass laptop charger (like an alienware charger) then you will have about 18v max output at 10A (if the supply is 10A) but this is a switchmode converter, watts out is roughly the same as watts in, so if the laptop adapter is 19v at 7.5A, then at 14v and lower, you will have a full 10A output availible.

 

These devices are awesome, they count w/h, which is nice for charging batteries, and they are short circuit proof. Constant current and constant voltage.

 

Plenty of other features such as preset voltages/current

 

Keep in mind at high currents, you WILL need airflow on the heatsinks.

[iamdarkyoshi]

Here is mine inside an enclosure:

 

I havent finished the input power supply yet (I'm using three 90w laptop power supplies)

[johnny5c]

6 minutes ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

These things are great:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-600W-10A-0-60V-Digital-controlled-Programmable-Step-down-Power-Supply-Module-/170935452655?hash=item27cc8c03ef:m:mgUacyWZIbWKVHqx-_F_X8w

 

However, you need to supply the input with a couple volts more than you will need for the output.

 

I have the 5A version (which is basically the same price, didnt know about the 10A one, rip)

 

If you pair this device with some bigass laptop charger (like an alienware charger) then you will have about 18v max output at 10A (if the supply is 10A) but this is a switchmode converter, watts out is roughly the same as watts in, so if the laptop adapter is 19v at 7.5A, then at 14v and lower, you will have a full 10A output availible.

 

These devices are awesome, they count w/h, which is nice for charging batteries, and they are short circuit proof. Constant current and constant voltage.

 

Plenty of other features such as preset voltages/current

 

Keep in mind at high currents, you WILL need airflow on the heatsinks.

Thanks for the info, I have a 24 volt Mean Well AC to DC supply that would work great with that.  Where did you get the enclosure?  Was it just a blank project box?

[iamdarkyoshi]

14 minutes ago, johnny5c said:

Thanks for the info, I have a 24 volt Mean Well AC to DC supply that would work great with that.  Where did you get the enclosure?  Was it just a blank project box?

My local electronics store had it. It was overpriced but its really thick plastic.

[johnny5c]

28 minutes ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

My local electronics store had it. It was overpriced but its really thick plastic.

I like the idea of putting it together myself because I could have every style connector I use regularly on the front panel but it's going to be double the price of something like this by the time I get everything needed,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SWK6M0M/ref=pd_sbs_328_10?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=KJNE09F589YZ3YTWC8EX

 

Just unsure of the quality, we work with switches, bulb sockets, and other electrical components that are up to 100 years old so good protection is key because some stuff is not replaceable.

[iamdarkyoshi]

26 minutes ago, johnny5c said:

I like the idea of putting it together myself because I could have every style connector I use regularly on the front panel but it's going to be double the price of something like this by the time I get everything needed,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SWK6M0M/ref=pd_sbs_328_10?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=KJNE09F589YZ3YTWC8EX

 

Just unsure of the quality, we work with switches, bulb sockets, and other electrical components that are up to 100 years old so good protection is key because some stuff is not replaceable.

I would highly suggest posting here:

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/

 

These guys know everything