Dave checks out an el-cheapo Jaycar lab power supply. What do you get for 150 bucks?
(Something went horribly wrong with the camcorder and the end summary didn't get recorded, oops. It gets a thumbs sideways. Would have been better if it had better resolution on the adjustments, no overshoot, and a load button)

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By YTB

29 thoughts on “Eevblog #30 – jaycar bench lab power supply review”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Слави Стоянов LZ1SSA says:

    Училище за деца с интереси се нуждае от вашата финансова подкрепа.

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jeff M says:

    Love Dave's old video's. You can hear the nervousness in his voice. Great job, personally I hate being on camera. Radio or PA, that I can handle. 👍

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Hugh's garbage trucks says:

    I don't think they sell that no more

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars QFK's special says:

    I'm surprised it has relays to switch transformer outputs. That's good design.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Benny Mackney says:

    My dad bought me one of these when I was 12. I was always paranoid about the stability of the voltage when you initially turn it on, so I feel quite validated watching this 10 years later and seeing a sometimes voltage spike at startup.

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Rol Tol says:

    Bang its going to BLOW 😀

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Nathan Glenn says:

    I can't catch the "output curvature" word. "current shunt"? "carature"? What is that thing?

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars geoninja says:

    I have 3 of these, one on my electronics bench, where it is my main supply for current <3A….. Reliable, going strong after 5 years….

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Rk Tech Telugu says:

    Which one is best PSU?

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars sleep wake up Lost says:

    Nice

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars 4FunRC says:

    C'mon… You actually really love it. ÷○

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars thegribbs says:

    Spring washers. Done right.
    Please pick one.

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars w00dyblack says:

    Im looking for a budget bench supply..

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Marcus says:

    I'm in Australia and I got a reliable 30v 5amp supply for 70 bucks. Relayed fans, compact and amp/milliamp switching. yihua 305D

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars HecTech FPV says:

    haha nice i have one of the original samples on my desk that i still use today 🙂

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Gort Newton says:

    Jaycar is extremely expensive. Much cheaper if you go elsewhere.

  17. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars user990077 says:

    I've noticed that on this product and also your fluke multimeter you have not removed the protective shipping film covering the clear displays.  This film will age and slowly turn opaque over time and will not easily come off.

  18. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Tom Biskupic says:

    I've had one of these for a couple of years and found it pretty reliable. It never gets hot no matter what I do to it. Its annoying that you have to short it to see what the current limit is set to. Also it is as slow as a wet week – can take 3-4ms to respond to a load transient or to get the current back under the current limit. Otherwise a pretty useful device.

  19. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Digger D says:

    Whoever is doing the camera work – GIVE UP COFFEE! 😉

  20. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars John Kerley says:

    I just bought a LONG WEI PS-305D and the instruction manuel says not to hook it to anything before it is turned on and as well not to turn it off with anything hooked to it.

  21. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars BlackIce504 says:

    Just an update With the Jaycar LAB PSU they have updated/changed the design and most of the stuff that was a little dodgy they have fixed and other stuff they have improved,
    There is now 2 Transistors with space for extra 2, the voltage adj is better as well 0.01 increments "it feels nice and smooth" 3 buttons for current, better mounted parts, nice heatsink design for the Transistors "the sort you would see on the more expensive ones"

    No overshoot on power up…..

    the banana plugs are a little cheap. "simple fix for that if your worried"

    AC is thermal covered and far enough from anything else.
    LCD looks the same nice and big. "would be nice with a backlight adj easy to add one"

    Thermal sensor for heatsink, Thermo Fan at the back.

    Transformer taps soldered to the plug on the board. "a little odd seems that there are still two designers"

    zero noise!.

    Extra info the control and LCD are SMD, the power board is through hole.
    comes with some leads but there well cheap very very cheap. " i would not put 30volts @ 3 amps through them that's for sure good thing i have my own.

    For $150 bucks i am happy.

    So Thanks Dave it seems they listen to you.

  22. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ihizz says:

    mate your commentary to your vid seems to suit a 10 year old audience, very annoying

  23. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Andrew Kwiecinski (Andrew's Electronics /MSL) says:

    Mains bundled with mains… legal in the US if the other wires have dielectric strength suitable for mains voltages.

    I don't recommend it in any case however! Everything goes to hell if you get a transient and the mains wiring is noisy. Keep the sensitive stuff on the other side of a transformer and keep the mains well away.

  24. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars afroninjadeluxe says:

    Whats the big spiral thing? cant make out what dave says

  25. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Winter says:

    Look at "MEOST" testing – Multiple Environment Over Stress Test. It involves testing boards against vibration as well as other environmental variables and is very important for electrical and mechanical components.

  26. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars David T says:

    I have had one of these for a while and initially I killed the first one by charging an SLA battery overnight and it was replaced under warranty without a hitch. I noticed the overshoot @8:00 and checked mine out as I recently fried a board I was working on. Sure enough the same thing on my supply!! It occurs intermittently when I set it for 5v output, you can hear a louder relay clunk when it occurs it shoots up to ~16 volts and ramps down to 5v over ~350ms. What a joke! Not worth the hassle.

  27. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars David Aurora says:

    For what it's worth… I picked up the dual version of this thing this afternoon. It ate shit the first time I turned it on. Sounded/smelled like an electrolytic going south. Let's see how the replacement goes tomorrow when I take it back…

  28. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars EEVblog says:

    Yes, it's used to thicken the traces. Cheaper than specifying a thicker copper clad board. e.g. 2oz instead of the usual 0.5/1oz

  29. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Sean Breheny says:

    Dave: Can you please explain why there are areas of exposed solder on some of the traces on the bottom of the regulator PCB? I often see that on cheap power supply boards – I suspect that they effectively thicken their traces by adding solder – but I'd like to hear your opinion/explanation. Thanks!

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