0-15 Volt/0-1Amp Bench Power Supply with 5 Volt USB Output

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/csi1501.html

Is this unit any good?

The only thing any cheaper that I might see is an ATX breakout board bench power supply.

http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/ATX-br ... ?cPath=1_4

That looks, literally, too good to be true. Also, a 1A bench supply sounds pretty weedy.



That's neat! You'd still have the problem of mounting it on something to stop it sliding around, etc. But it's an interesting idea. I think it is a better solution then the above, if you have a good quality ATX PSU kicking around and don't care about "neatness".

Until I can save up for a nice bench PSU for my projects I use - and I'll get shouted at here - a USB charger with either a standard USB plug or, for breadboarding, a hacked up lead with some pin headers. You can get 1A at 5V out of the little Apple chargers, which is perfect for my home made micro, and other such projects.

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I always end up sorry when I buy something so cheap. Get good equipment and it will last a long time and you won't be sorry.


It's a neat idea, but if it can provide 15 amps or more on 5V, keep in mind that an accidental short can sure make fireworks. I'd rather have something current-limited at an amp or less. Jameco and other distributors have lots of inexpensive wall adapters, table-top, open-frame, and enclosed power supplies that are non-adjustable and don't have meters & stuff on them. I would prefer to go that way if the adjustable bench power supplies were beyond my budget.

This one ($210) has served me well for 25 years.

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The "second front page" is http://wilsonminesco.com/links.html .
What's an additional VIA among friends, anyhow?

PC power supplies will rapidly shut down if subjected to an overload or direct short. So in that respect, they are actually okay power sources for experimentation, especially if you do need more than a few amps.

However, you are correct in that 15 amps could generate copious amounts of smoke under the right conditions. When in doubt, it's best use a power supply whose output can be current-limited. I have one that I built with 7805 and 7812 regulators attached to fan-cooled heat sinks. The current into a direct short doesn't exceed 1.1 amps on either output. I used it when I initially powered POC V1.0—just in case.

As for that el cheapo power supply, my thinking coincides with Garth's. Good and cheap are seldom found in the same sentence when discussing test bench gear.

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More than that, I think – the iPad chargers are 12W, which should mean 2.4A, no?