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(Topic ID: 222600)

DC Benchtop Power Supply

By NPO

5 years ago

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16 posts
7 Pinsiders participating
Latest reply 5 years ago by xsvtoys
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#1 5 years ago

JAM

NPO

Pinside member

12y 133K 7,653 3 17

Hey everyone,

So, I am starting to expand my toolset - I have all the mechanical, hand, and basic electric tools for pinball repair work, but now I'm getting into more board work and motor/electrical testing.

I want to bring home a benchtop DC power supply similar to this:

71g8pzne1IL._SL1500_ (resized).jpg

My big question: should I go with max test current of 5A or 10A? Best I recall, currents in our machines (90s DMD and up) does not exceed 5A at any one time; however, I am still pretty new in this area.

So, 5A or 10A supply?

There are a lot of options out there - anyone have any preferences/suggestions based on ownership experience?

Thanks!

#3 5 years ago

JAM

NPO

Pinside member

12y 133K 7,653 3 17

Quoted from zacaj:
It depends what you might want to power off it. The incoming 120v current doesn't exceed 4/8a on machines, but stuff like the gi can pull 10-15a (at a lower voltage). If you're just going to be powering boards on a bench, then 5a is more than enough. Even 2a would probably work. Although note that boards usually require more than one voltage to work. The adjustable supplies are cool but I found it more useful to just have a box with set 5/12/-12v outputs

It's going to act as a tool for determining the functionality of motors (think the JM cyberglove assembly on a test workbench) after they've been serviced but before they do back into machines. Things like that, or if I need a DC source to determine if something is good or burnt out (instead of using a car battery).

Haven't advanced to using it for PCB testing just yet, at least, not for big ones like the power driver board in WPCs...!

#6 5 years ago

JAM

NPO

Pinside member

12y 133K 7,653 3 17

Quoted from herg:
I'd pick a different supply, if only to get one with a handle. 5A would be plenty to run a motor or test most components (individually) in a pinball machine. If you can get 10A, obviously, that's better, though.
One big problem with many of these cheap supplies is spikes when changing between voltage ranges and on/off. A motor or lights would survive this, but often an IC wouldn't. If there isn't a regulator in front of the IC, a voltage spike could very easily kill a part.

What unit would you recommend for ICs?

#9 5 years ago

JAM

NPO

Pinside member

12y 133K 7,653 3 17

Quoted from herg:
I can't really recommend one that I would consider good that would also be anywhere close to the price range you're looking at. A better choice that is not much more expensive is this variable linear supply:
amazon.com link »
It is still possible that the one I linked to could generate spikes, though. A workaround is to disconnect the circuit under test before turning off or adjusting voltage on the supply.

My original post was simply pictorial, not to imply that I would cheap out on a tool like this

Funny enough, the one you linked was the one I was leaning towards...!

This was what I remember using back in school, but figured it was probably way beyond what I need for basic motor testing and confirmation of working parts:

https://www.amazon.com/Volteq-Regulated-Variable-Switching-Protection/dp/B00PXJHYIO/ref=mp_s_a_1_170

#10 5 years ago

JAM

NPO

Pinside member

12y 133K 7,653 3 17

Quoted from ForceFlow:
I've just been using a 5v/12v power supply for bench testing.
Then, I connected wires from the screws to a 4-pin molex connector. Then I make pigtail connectors to go from that molex connector to whatever connector is needed on the board I'm testing. It helps make powering up a board easier in that I don't have to take the time to look up where to connect power--just plug it in and go.

I see. You're using something like this as a power supply, correct?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01C5E8W3K

#15 5 years ago

JAM

NPO

Pinside member

12y 133K 7,653 3 17

Quoted from vid1900:
You probably have 10 dead computer towers in the closet that have working regulated power supplies in them.
You can make your own adapter cable, or get a pro-looking breakout board for $7
Although I have a bunch of giant benchtop supplies, this is all I ever use to repair pinball boards[quoted image][quoted image]

I am SO...buying one of those. That is so resourceful!

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