Benchtop power supply - adjustable. Any recommendations?
Posted: 16 Jan 2022, 17:39
Anyone have one they particularly like or would recommend?
I've got three adjustable ones. No good me posting links as they're all old enough to be not available any more. It's worth paying for one with an adjustable current limit - short the output leads and set an appropriate current before powering anything and it makes a good smoke stopper if there are any faults or bad connections on whatever you're powering. You can also use it as a battery charger: set the current limit to your desired maximum charging current, and the voltage to the 'fully charged' voltage.
My favourite one has a high/low range switch. This makes it easy to set the current limit in milliamps for delicate electronics, or amps for high power devices. It has coarse and fine pots for both voltage and current. It goes up to 30V and 5A. It's a WEP PS-305D.
That one, and a similar model but without the range switch, both came from AliExpress. The jump leads supplied with them were poor quality, and they both eventually also developed problems with their front panel terminal posts/ jacks. I eventually replaced the terminals and internal wires to the terminals with better quality items. Other than that, they've both given many years of reliable operation.