[Solved] My first workshop power source?

I have been thinking about using some old PC power supplies to make one.

All my power supplies are linear. Look around on ebay or if you have a local source for such equipment. Low current triple output supplies are plenty common for what you are requesting at a low price. These will give you a constant 5 volt and 2 adjustable outputs. I have heathkit, tenma, and HP supplies. Long ago I made a bench supply from a computer supply as well (switching), but don’t use it on the bench.

Posted by: @scuba-man-1970

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I will eventually want to buy my first low voltage power supply for my DIY-tinkering bench. Nothing greater than 12-16 volts. And for god’s sakes, less than 1A current.

For now, DC. While I figure this out, I can use some spare wall warts (from old phones or handheld games) as a source to power my breadboard creations. Hell, I can even use some batteries to provide me with up to 12VDC.

My question for the veteran technicians out there: what power supply would you recommend a newcomer?

Did you get yourself a power supply yet?

 

ReplyQuote

I am not a veteran.

I recommend everyone to design and build at least one power supply, (With Duncan PSUDII) but not totally necessary with the plethora of power bricks around these days. Duncan PSUDII is free, this is not an advertisement.

There are a bunch of low voltage bench-top supplies on amazon if you want something more official feeling. There is a bunch of interesting options on there. Amazon is a painfully obvious choice, this is not an advertisement. Unfortunately we cannot recommend anything.

If for some reason this gets edited as an advertisement for amazon, just go ahead and ban me.

Posted by: @radio-hack

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I am not a veteran.

I recommend everyone to design and build at least one power supply, (With Duncan PSUDII) but not totally necessary with the plethora of power bricks around these days. Duncan PSUDII is free, this is not an advertisement.

There are a bunch of low voltage bench-top supplies on amazon if you want something more official feeling. There is a bunch of interesting options on there. Amazon is a painfully obvious choice, this is not an advertisement. Unfortunately we cannot recommend anything.

If for some reason this gets edited as an advertisement for amazon, just go ahead and ban me.

@radio-hack Nothing wrong with stating where you have made purchases. Advertisements are considered posts where you openly search for people to buy your product. As in you own or represent a business and try to get sales from here directly. No harm in saying you bought power supplies from Amazon or Mouser etc.

Get one with adjustable current limiting. Saves stuff from going up in smoke if something gets accidentally shorted.

@larry_n7luf , @wilhelm , @radtekman , @Anonymous 243966870 , and @radio-hack [great CB-handle, btw] — I’ve been lax monitoring mrcarlsonslab as it’s been one hell of a busy summer slinging dog biscuits at local markets and craft fairs. Thank you for these comments. I’m returning to the hobby as a newly-minted retiree. The tourist season just ended here on the North Bruce Peninsula and can return to tinkering and DIY.

Appropo of nothing: a happy consequence of having a straw-bale house built. It uses copious amounts of metal wire and steel mesh to secure the walls (that are covered with plaster). I’ll be living in a Faraday cage (so external antennae will be a MUST).

1 of 2 PV arrays seen (we’re still waiting for the Li-Ion batteries and propane generator to show up).