Which Lab Power Supply?

[GertSanders]

I'm also interested to know if there is software for OSX that allows control of a power supply. Most power supplies have Windows software only :-(

[Ironbar]

I am really considering this one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012LMOI84?colid=Y744CSFT9FT9&coliid=ICZ9KPR69X86E&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl

EEVBlog has a little write up about it. It has a fan but it is variable and they say it is quite:

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/inside-the-new-korad-ka3305p-linear-psu/

[Igor Katkov]

What are the benefits of software controlled PSU versus turn-knob style?

[tbowmo]

@Igor-Katkov

on a sw controlled, you could have memories for the different voltages that you usually work with (for me that's 3V3, and 5V). Just a single press of a button to set the desired output voltage..

Other than that, I don't see any advantages..

[Anticimex]

It it is software controlled, you could also script things. Useful for testing stuff. Rough emulation of battery powered behavior and such.

[HenryWhite]

Just buy a LTC3780 (link), exchange the pots, hook up a volt/amp display and there you have it: your own lab power supply which can deliver 1V-30V // 0A - 8A, 10A peak.

Here's mine:

[AWI]

@HenryWhite Looks good. I did something similar (not completely finished) but went too cheap ;-(
A huge (0.3 V) noise/ripple on the output.... Are you able to measure the ripple with the converter you used? And what kind of transformer did you use?

[HenryWhite]

@AWI said:

@HenryWhite Looks good. I did something similar (not completely finished) but went too cheap ;-(

Looks good too!

A huge (0.3 V) noise/ripple on the output.... Are you able to measure the ripple with the converter you used? And what kind of transformer did you use?

I can't measure it, because I don't have an oscilloscope (yet) :smile:
For powering the module, I used an old 12V laptop power supply.

[mountainman]

Any thoughts on a case (ebay/ali) for homemade PSUs?

[rvendrame]

@AWI , a did a similar thing, but never got the volt/amper meter work properly on the 'negative side'. Mine looks very similar (to not say identical) to yours... Would you mind to share how did you connected the V-A meters?

[AWI]

@rvendrame As far as I remember there are two similar power positive voltage (isolated) power supplies with the meter in the positive line. Then connect the positive line of no 1 to the negative line of no 2.