Compact 1 channel power supply

[alank2]

Hi Everyone,

What are good choices out there for a [emphasis]compact 1CH power supply?

Thanks!

Alan

[ebastler]

Voltage range? Current needs? Do you mean a lab power supply, with current limiting capability etc.? Required resolution for voltage and current limit setting?  Do you need remote control capability? ...

[Old Printer]

I love the old HP 62XX series. Built like a tank, serviceable, full documentation freely available, many variations covering voltage and current. Stackable and isolated to creat multi channel outputs. Usually under $75 for a nice one many under $50.

[rsjsouza]

Voltage range? Current needs? Do you mean a lab power supply, with current limiting capability etc.? Required resolution for voltage and current limit setting?  Do you need remote control capability? ...

Exactly. The answer to these questions can narrow the range from a simple chinese brand and model discussed in the other thread below up to very high end stuff.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/3-channel-psu-without-problems/

[tautech]

Hi Everyone,

What are good choices out there for a [emphasis]compact 1CH power supply?

Thanks!

Alan

Alan, you're not giving us much to go on so from the bottom end but OK SMPS:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/cheap-variable-switching-power-supply/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/mch-k305d-cheap-switching-lab-power-supply/

Or something you can't easily measure the ripple on:



There's 2 models of these ^ and Defpom has done videos on each.
Thread:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-spd1168x-siglent-psu/

[MarkF]

I like these little puppies.  I have four of them.
You can find them on eBay for around $50USD shipping included.

   

[Fungus]

I like these little puppies.  I have four of them.
You can find them on eBay for around $50USD shipping included.

Not if you live outside the USA, you can't.

These are very compact (about the size of a thick paperback book, I've got bigger multimeters) and work well if you use proper cables with them instead of the junk cables that come in the box. Google has lots of info/teardowns/tests/reviews.

There's also these:


I haven't had much luck with those myself.

[bd139]

Yes you can - I bought one in UK for £30 once.

However watch out for them - the plastic goes brittle and they tend to self-disassemble in transit, which is what happend to mine. Also they have horrible old buzzy HP transformers in them.

Very nice when they're not knackered though!

[MarkF]

I like these little puppies.  I have four of them.
You can find them on eBay for around $50USD shipping included.

Not if you live outside the USA, you can't.

Well ...
When people don't show their country code ....

[nctnico]

If you don't care about noise & ripple on the supply but just need something compact then this is worth looking at:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/cheap-variable-switching-power-supply/
But be aware that you'll need to check it for safety and it may need upgrading. I use mine to power equipment which needs a DC input. The compactness and lack of acoustic noise is definitely a plus.

[joeqsmith]

Perhaps stacking a couple of coin cells.  Small, low noise.

[alank2]

Sorry for not providing more info.  I have a DP832 and like it, but am looking for something to use while sitting in a recliner next to a table where I work on projects from time to time.  Not an ideal place to work, space is at a premium, but convenient.  I like that I can set the voltage and current limits easily so I am looking for something like that.  Being able to punch in a voltage/current and keep watch on the power supply as I make changes to a breadboard is critical in case I short something.  So similar features as the DP832 but 1CH and as small and compact as I can get it.  Don't care about remote control or any of that.  Do want a digital readout and digital control of voltage/current.

[mdijkens]

I have a better one but I use one of these in a small 10x10x5 case most of the time.
I just plug in the power-adapter of my laptop and use it.

[nctnico]

In that case Keysight's E36100 series come to mind. The output power isn't stellar though (40W max). I think someone reviewed them a long time ago. If you want to use a PSU for experimenting then I'd recommend getting one which isn't a switching PSU but a linear one.

[hwj-d]

How about an ITECH IT6720 or a Rigol DP700, Korad KD3005D?

[Diabolo]

Hello,

Power unit Gophert 3205 ?
- https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/GOPHERT-CPS-3205-II-Digital-DC-Power-Supply-32V-5A-OVP-OCP-OTP-EU-plug-0/32827322437.html


Diabolo

[Fungus]

Power unit Gophert 3205 ?

I already mentioned those, they seem a good match for this job.

[jwm_]

I have one of these handheld Tekpower units that are pretty nice. form factor of a multimeter https://www.amazon.com/Tekpower-TP3016M-Portable-Handheld-Variable/dp/B015OA1J82

It's currently been camping with me a few times and stood up to a fair amount of abuse so seems well built.

My main gripe is it will go into overcurrent shutoff  when you do a dead short of the leads and you have to press a button to clear it. not really an issue in practice, I am not sure why they implemented it that way.

It is also switching rather than linear, which may or may not be an issue for you.

     John