What power supply do you like to use?

[Tonga]

Hi guys I did some checking to see if this has been posted and couldn't find much, so I'm sorry if this is old news
What kind of power supply do you like to use for setting your drivers. I have used a 9 volt battery before but I would like something more (a lot more) stable. I have been looking at some regulated power supply units. Some are very affordable and well priced.
Does anybody have any recommendations or particular likes for a regulated power supply unit.
Or is this even necessary or over kill?
Thanks

 

[Wolfman29]

Would like to know the answer too!

 

[GBD]

Id say a variable power supply is a very nice and worthy tool to have, it can have uses that far surpass only driver setting. (that is a both voltage and current regulated supply).

Id try to find an old HP lab power supply, old yes, but definatly a good one, it has alot of history behind it, ancient lab dust, and still works like its new! (also, hand drawn PCB's look cool).

More or less my point, investing in a good variable power lab supply is the way to go IMO.

 

[Tonga]

I would use it for testing setups and a number of other uses as well not just setting my drivers.

 

[Coherent Light]

I use a variable supply. Works like a charm, and it's not expensive.
HQ Power
Model PS1503SBU
0-15VDC / 0-3A

 

[Flaminpyro]

This is the one I use it's a Agilent U8002A good for 0-30 volts 0-5 amps and it dosnt kill diodes by mistake thats what I like about it and it's programable so you will never feed your diode too much current or voltage
They are a little spendy though but worth it if you do this kind of work every day like I do

 

[Tonga]

Wow that's a really nice piece of gear Jeff

 

[LaserAdct]

I use a modded ATX psu. It has outlets for +3, +5, +12, -5 and -12. It delivers a lot of amps so its important to set the current on the driver. You can see some tutorials on making a psu like that below.

ATX to Lab Bench Power Supply Conversion
How to Convert a Computer ATX Power Supply to a Lab Power Supply - wikiHow

Best regards

 

[123splat]

I use the 3-12Vdc 6 way 2-Amp (6 settings in 1.5 Vdc steps, so it matches AA/AAA/C/D cell stacks) (POWER SUPPLIES from Parts Express ship same day and come with 45 day money back guarantee. Free Shipping Available. Order free 10,000 product catalog.),,,
BUT, I read somewhere on the forum that you should make your final driver adjustments with the battery setup that you will use in your host (for hand helds). Makes sense to me, but I've been proven brain dead many times before, and my advice is worth every penny you pay for it.

 

[Kevlar]

These aren't too bad for the price:

MASTECH VARIABLE DC POWER SUPPLY (HY1803D)0-18 V/ 0-3A - eBay (item 160557199433 end time Apr-08-11 17:42:29 PDT)

I believe this is similar to what DTR uses

 

[qumefox]

I use a BK Precision 1670 triple output bench PSU. It's fairly handy having 0-30V adjustable, CC & CV, up to 2.5A, as well as independent 12v and 5v outputs.

Not as fancy as Jeff's programmable, but hey. I paid like $45 for it at a hamfest too. heh.

 

[Bluefan]

I use my Amrel power supply the most. 2 channel 0-32V, 0-2A, tracking option, GPIB programmable. At the back it also hase sense connections to compensate cable resistance.
For higher currents I use my Delta Elektronika SM3540, 0-35V, 0-40A. That's 1400W of output.
If I need more I still have a HP 6234A.

 

[Tonga]

These are some nice units and better priced by far than some I had been looking at.

 

[LarryDFW]

Tonga;

I have a couple, but this Extech is the one I like the best:

The digital readout allows plotting diodes with enough digits.
Here I am charging the newest lithium ion #18650's to 4.35 VDC.
The 5 amp capacity allows charging several cells at once.
I can get a good price on these, if anybody needs one.

LarryDFW

 

[Tonga]

LarryDFW that's nice! Earlier I went ahead and ordered a unit that I had been looking at a Mastech GPS-1850D. It will to up to 20V with 5A. I hope I made the right move here because I need some
kind of precision setting drivers and testing the setups I have. Thanks man!

 

[Scoots]

I made my own from here 0-30 VDC STABILIZED POWER SUPPLY WITH CURRENT CONTROL 0.002-3 A
and it looks something like this