Got a
Basetech BT-305 (complete "analogue", 0-30/5A, no fan) for 70 bucks (special single's day offer) and tend to return it (spikes, behavior, thermal management), although I like the design (core transformer, 8 raw voltage levels instead "normal" transformer and 4 levels at Korad's).
It's (too) easy to control. Display resolution is 10mA, voltage 100mA, and is not that accurate on top currents (show 4.98 when 5.00 comes out). Has a output button and starts always off with power switch. Does respecable overshoots with low voltages if not limited to output currents <200mA.
Looking for a better choice I should grab a 3005x+ (green voltage display and C.V./output LEDs) with binding posts (plus the few bucks to get a remote control on top). Help me to decide if it's the better choice.
1) BT-305 raw voltages starts from 15 up to 48V, depending on output voltage (raw voltage is 11 to 16 volts uo). Primary buffer is 4700µF - not much for a 5A device, I think. With 1A, ~25W, with 5A ~80W "loss" is on top of the output power. Is a Korad that "bad"?
2) If you shorten the output at 5A (regardless of output voltage, since it steps back to the first level in milliseconds), 10V are heated inside the three fets and warm up the cooler block outside up to 70-80 °C (no fan!). Whole unit takes 85W from AC.
And a Korad 3005?
All shots below are taken with a 1k resistor at the end of the 1m leads, with a 10:1 probe clamped on it. Untangled, of course.
3) overshoot with 3.3V 5A and output button off>on.
Peak 5.7V.
No visible overshoot occurs with a 100mA limit (with 1A, it's only 1V) ... but wait ...
WTF is that? Due to the circuit, the two 220 µF uncharged capacitors on the output (posts) (I measured >600!) are attached with a relay to the charged 33 µF on the output (circuit), and the ramps and steps looks like contact bounces until the output stages begins to charge the output capacitors. Is this a poor design, or is it a poor design?
4) load change 2A->1A overshoot is ~250mV and comes down in 4 ms. Ok or bad?
5) Mains switch on peak (same parallel output lines to the 1k)
Using a pair of LEDs instead of the 1k limits the peaks to <2V, with absolutely no flash visible.
In the same setup, a change of transformer "stage" to the next level induces a 1µs +/- 500 mV noise at the load. And the Korad?
That's all for now ...
Somehow, the BT-305 is to me neither for electronics nor for "rough" purpose (like battery charging) - or do I ask for too much?