Posted: 7/5/2014 7:17:11 PM EDT
|
Getting down to just needing a power supply now to finish up the shack. I've been using a 6amp power supply I already had to test out my Icom 718 and I can't transmit yet anyway. So opinions, since I am only doing HF go for a linear or just go with a switching power supply? I guess I'll look around 23-25amp. I think if I wind up getting another radio I most likely won't be using both at the same time. |
|
Most any power supply you get is adjustable, it's just a question of whether they give you a front panel knob to fiddle with or if it's a little pot on the inside for adjustment.
Other than equipment testing/troubleshooting, front panel adjustability isn't particularly useful and can be problematic. The previously posted Samlex is a good unit, I have one with the Yaesu name on the front that has given me good service for many years. |
|
13.8 volts is the voltage of a fully charged car battery, which is what most all ham gear is designed for. You really don't need to adjust, as most ham supplies are 13.8 v.
I've used the Samlex supplies since I got into ham radio and have no problems with them. The latest one I purchased is the Samlex SEC-1223BBM. This is a 23 amp supply with a circuit (battery backup module) that will allow connection of a 12 v battery (let me HIGHLY suggest an AGM battery, not flooded type). When AC goes down the supply will instantly switch to the battery. When AC is restored the supply will instantly switch back to AC, recharge the battery, and when charged, maintain it at a "float" level for maximum battery life. This all happens so fast the radio doesn't know the difference. My main supply at the home shack is the SEC-1235M, which is 30 amps continuous, 35 amps surge, and has voltage and amperage meters. Other than the meter faces sticking out about 3/8" on front, it is the same size as the SEC-1223. The 1223bbm is a little longer due to the extra battery switching/charging circuitry. I almost got a hernia from taking an Astron RS-35 linear supply off the shelf at the club station and replacing it with a RS-50A. Those are both linear supplies, and while dependable, good quality supplies with a good reputation, are large, very heavy, and run hot. You can find two supplies under the Powerwerx brand, one without, one with meters, http://www.powerwerx.com/power-supplies/. I have not used these myself, but have friends that have. They get top marks. |
| Lots of input on my thread on the very same subject:http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_22/674720_Power_supply_help.html |
|
Old school here. I like analog circuitry and meters, lots and lots of meters. You know what's really going on.
An Astron RS-20M will easily power your rig. Built like a tank (and weighs almost as much). |
|
I have an Astron RS-35A for my main rig, I just notice this morning that the little red "on" light just quit working (no big deal, but it is only about 5 months old). I also have a Samlex 1223BBM supply. I am very impressed, so small, yet so functional. While I don't have a lot of experience (time wise) with these, they both seem to function quite well. |
I've used one of these for my VHF/UHF radio for a long time, now used to power the TS-590. Easily rack mounted (what I wanted). I like it so much I bought another one still new in the box for backup. 
Powerwerx Supply |
|
I have a power supply going into a 400Ah AGM battery bank. I can run for a few weeks without the PS if needed. For full power output on HF, I make sure the PS in on so I have 13.4v at 55A going into my batterys. PS is full auto, it throttles up and down to meet the load. If my battery's are charged and there is no load, it just idles. I'm replacing my power supply with a FCC, RF compliant charge controller and solar panels in the next few weeks. No more PS for me. |
|
Quoted: I have a power supply going into a 400Ah AGM battery bank. I can run for a few weeks without the PS if needed. For full power output on HF, I make sure the PS in on so I have 13.4v at 55A going into my batterys. PS is full auto, it throttles up and down to meet the load. If my battery's are charged and there is no load, it just idles. I'm replacing my power supply with a FCC, RF compliant charge controller and solar panels in the next few weeks. No more PS for me. Are you using the battery just for long term usage or to smooth out the power at the house? I have a whole house generator and have used it several times from 14 to 21 days in the past. I can't see really wanting to use a battery for the radio long term other than possibly a backup power supply similar to the computer where I have enough time to shut it down when the power goes out and the generator starts. |
|
Quoted:
I really wish I had purchased a switching power supply the first go 'round. On the advice of a local club member I put an Astron RS-35A in the shack when I got started. Reason was that linears did not put out harmonics which your receiver will pick up while switchers may. Wish I hadn't gone there. Sure it's been 100% reliable as sunrise and handles the load of the rig without breaking a sweat and the only birdies are due to the cheap ass power supply from the laptop. But it's big and heavy. I've swapped in a Samlex 1223 and a Alinco DM330 to see if the old guy was right. Couldn't tell a bit of difference between any of the three. I recall a power supply review in QST a while back and both of these switchers got high marks. My advice these days to go with a Samlex 1223 and be confident you have a power supply for the long haul. |
|
I'm an Astron linear supply fanboy. Always have been. While they are heavy, they are almost bulletproof. If for some reason it fails, parts are common and cheap and the circuit is dead simple even a caveman could fix it.
In the 20 plus years as a ham, I've had two PS failures with one attributed to a nearby lightning strike. Both units were fixed by me with nothing more than junkbox parts. One required no parts, just the removal of an MOV (protection device). Note to self: buy and install new MOV. Have to ask yourself "Am I really going to move this PS around?" or "Can I fix it if I have to?" |
|
I've switched back and forth between the Samlex and battery, radio on various bands tuned to an unused frequency, gain well up, etc. Various modes, AM, SSB. Can't hear a difference.
Also done the same with no antenna, so that if something is coming in via the power supply I should hear it without the noise being masked by RF from the antenna. Again, no difference heard. I did hear some birdies with an Alinco supply, but there is a knob that can tune that out if a problem. I think in normal operation it wouldn't be a problem. I think the problem of noisy switching supplies goes way back before the current crop of switching supplies were on the market. While linear supplies don't have the HF RF birdies, they can have 60 hz hum if the filter capacitors are not up to snuff. For long term maintenance of linear supplies I would suggest replacing the large filter caps if over 10 years old. |
|
One comment on the Astrons: I have two, an RS-20M and RS-35M. On both, the bolts holding the power transformer together and to the chassis loosened up, resulting in mechanical hum. Five minutes with screwdriver and wrench fixed 'em.
One started humming/buzzing in the middle of a CW transmission, the noise following my 20 WPM keying like a raspy sidetone. It was so loud my wife came running into the room to see it I was being electrocuted. The other built up gradually to the point that it was annoying enough to fix. I've had one for 16 years and the other for 7 with no other problems. |
|
Quoted:
Same here. On the advice of a local club member I put an Astron RS-35A in the shack when I got started. Reason was that linears did not put out harmonics which your receiver will pick up while switchers may. Wish I hadn't gone there. Sure it's been 100% reliable as sunrise and handles the load of the rig without breaking a sweat and the only birdies are due to the cheap ass power supply from the laptop. But it's big and heavy. I've swapped in a Samlex 1223 and a Alinco DM330 to see if the old guy was right. Couldn't tell a bit of difference between any of the three. I recall a power supply review in QST a while back and both of these switchers got high marks. My advice these days to go with a Samlex 1223 and be confident you have a power supply for the long haul. Quoted:
Quoted:
I really wish I had purchased a switching power supply the first go 'round. On the advice of a local club member I put an Astron RS-35A in the shack when I got started. Reason was that linears did not put out harmonics which your receiver will pick up while switchers may. Wish I hadn't gone there. Sure it's been 100% reliable as sunrise and handles the load of the rig without breaking a sweat and the only birdies are due to the cheap ass power supply from the laptop. But it's big and heavy. I've swapped in a Samlex 1223 and a Alinco DM330 to see if the old guy was right. Couldn't tell a bit of difference between any of the three. I recall a power supply review in QST a while back and both of these switchers got high marks. My advice these days to go with a Samlex 1223 and be confident you have a power supply for the long haul. I'm an Astron fan myself. Mainly I prefer linear over switching. My shack has 2x RS-35m and an RS-20a. I had an RS-20m but traded it for the 2nd RS-35m. What can I say, I love analog needles which is why my first rig was an FT-840. One thing to keep in mind with switching power supplies is how they check check load. If you have something with a huge demand instantaneously there's a chance it won't run on a switcher. case in point, I picked up a screwdriver antenna for $50 because the owner thought it was bad. The problem was when he tested the drive motor on a switching PS it wouldn't do anything. I tested on a regular car batter and it actuated just fine. Tested it on my astron and it was just fine too. The start current is so high and the switcher checks for over current so often that it couldn't drive the motor in the antenna without giving up to try and save itself. There's a reason they are so small/light. To be clear, I'm talking about a 28amp switching PS vs a 20a Astron linear. Your typical ham rig will not have high current requirements so a switching PS will be fine for your dual band mobiles and most 100w hf rigs. |