Almost a workbench...With the addition of my little "Fifteen Dollah" CV/CC PSU, my bench is now approaching something close to usefulness. The aluminum pipe-wrench is just because I stole it for $US5 while out thrifting.
![Evil >:D](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/evil.gif)
The build went something like this: Find little panel regulator module on Amazon for $14; go thrifting for a power source. Turn up a large linear power brick rated at 24V/2A made by Ault for CAD$4; figure its probably good for considerably more given its heft. Tinker around with it on the bench; find the thing will happily drive 3.5A while only sagging from 28.8V to 25.5V on the input side, even running through the OEM overload thermistor.
![ThumbsUp :-+](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/icon_smile_thumbsup.gif)
Take another trip thrifting looking for an enclosure (among other things on my list); look at everything from a little redwood gift box (later given to my wife) to a little PC subwoofer enclosure with a 3" sub in it. Find some desk lamps and a couple Harmony One remotes; give up & go look through the crafty wooden boxes at the Dollarama. Everything is either just a hair too small or way too big or just too kitschy even for me.
![Face Palm :palm:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/facepalm.gif)
Then I find this little steel mesh thing for CAD$1.50. Sold!
My original intent was to put a bit of ply on the opening & paint it, then cut the panel meter into the bottom, turning that into the top. When I discovered that the panel mount just snapped into the top of the thing, everything else just fell into place and I realized KISS was the way to go here. Fastened the XFMR to the inside using a bit of bent rubberized coathanger, did up the wiring in 16ga silicone wires from my RC modeling parts box, then added a fan robbed from an old IPTV box and it was up & running.
I can get 26V at 1A; max looks to be 24V@3.5A-ish. Fan control output is 12V; it appears to be hardcoded to switch on at 2.01A CC mode, no PWM. Not sure if there's any thermal control or not.
Still... a good little piece pf kit for CAD$19.50/US$15; now I just need to get something to look at (and generate) wiggly lines in a wire and I might stop feeling like I'm back at my high-school electronics bench.
![Tongue :P](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/tongue.gif)
I'll let y'all know how I fare with the component tester once I have some assortment of components to test with it...
![Laughing :-DD](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/smiley_laughing.gif)
mnem
*goes to lie down before he falls down*