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Homebrew Equipment A place to show, design and discuss the weird and wonderful electronic creations from the hands of individual members. |
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27th Oct 2007, 10:24 pm | #1 |
Pentode
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK.
Posts: 150
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Regulated Power Unit
Hi Everyone,
After nearly 6 months of design and construction I have finally finished a PSU capable of 45v - 350v variable outputs. You can see more on my website http://www.milair.co.uk/valvepsu.html Hope this inspires some winter construction amongst you. John |
28th Oct 2007, 9:29 am | #2 |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Wimborne, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 1,407
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Re: Regulated Power Unit
Looks excellent,
Superp pro finish Lee
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Lee |
28th Oct 2007, 11:35 am | #3 |
Pentode
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 131
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Re: Regulated Power Unit
Excellent.
Gordon. |
28th Oct 2007, 1:49 pm | #4 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Ilkley, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 656
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Re: Regulated Power Unit
John,
What an excellent poject! The qualiy of construction and finish are first class. Congratulations, you must be very pleased with it. The write-up on your website is superb too. It makes me want to get the soldeing ion out ... rgds Colin
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Colin Armstrong |
28th Oct 2007, 2:00 pm | #5 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Ilkley, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 656
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Re: Regulated Power Unit
John,
I've been down this road myself but chose a more traditional approach and stuck with a 'hot bottles' solution. Here's my attempt at a H.V. psu - 'B' supply 0-400v fully variable at 100mA. 'C' supply 0-150v fully variable LT - various fixed voltages Takes up more bench space than your though ... rgds Colin
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Colin Armstrong |
28th Oct 2007, 2:17 pm | #6 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK.
Posts: 7,457
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Re: Regulated Power Unit
John; Colin -
Well I'm impressed - for what that's worth All I can say is that those two completed projects set a new standard for 'suitable entries' to the 'Homebrew Equipment' Section. Well done to you both. Al / Skywave. |
28th Oct 2007, 3:45 pm | #7 | |
Pentode
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK.
Posts: 150
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Re: Regulated Power Unit
Quote:
Colin - Your PSU looks like it was made by Racal or a similar military manufacturer - the build quality is beyond description. How about putting up the circuit for interest ? John |
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28th Oct 2007, 6:52 pm | #8 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Ilkley, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 656
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Re: Regulated Power Unit
John,
Funny, but that's exactly what I thought about yours. I'm afraid I can't claim any degree of originality here. I'd been looking for a High Voltage PSU for a while and missed out on a Farnell E350 and a couple of Heatkit units on eBay. They had all gone for what I thought were very high prices. I was toying with the idea of building a PSU and I came across a couple of transformers on eBay that I recognised as coming from a Heathkit IP-17 PSU. I acquired them for a modest sum as no other bids were made on the auction. On arrival it seems they had never been used and must've been NOS items. The vendor had found them in a box at his place of work. With the transformers as a starting point it seemed sensible to use the IP-17 circuit as a basis for the PSU. The case was kindly donated by Ed Dinning and all the other bits were from the spares box. You'll probably recognise some NOS components in there from the 60's. The unit works really well and does everything I need it to. However, as I said in an earlier post, I really like the neat finish and compact size of your unit. It probably runs a lot cooler too. I've attached the Heathkit IP-17 circuit if anyone's interested. My PSU has a few 'twiddles' but it's basically the same. I wonder if you've come across this article? http://www.antiquewireless.org/otb/resto0504.htm Did you find a supplier for the Supertex LR8N3 in the UK or did you source them from Mouser? rgds Colin rgs Colin
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Colin Armstrong |
28th Oct 2007, 9:30 pm | #9 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 3,310
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Re: Regulated Power Unit
Wow!! I have to get me one of those! Very nice, both.
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"Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly." |
29th Oct 2007, 1:05 am | #10 |
Hexode
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 498
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Re: Regulated Power Unit
Super job John !
Case looks like one from the "Centurion" range - where did you get it from if you don't mind me asking, I thought they stopped making them a while back? I used one some years ago, but could not find any since. Also, you mentioned on your site that you used a "Dial" creation software program - is that a commercial package ? Thanks Chris |
29th Oct 2007, 9:25 am | #11 | |
Pentode
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK.
Posts: 150
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Re: Regulated Power Unit
Quote:
Yes, the article you mention was what started the grey cells stirring, I did also acknowledge it on my website. I brought the LR8's from Mouser direct, the UK disty will only sell them in 100+'s. The BUL38's are also available from Mouser, but Farnell here in the UK also stock these. I must order some more LR8's - I got 10 but with various "mistakes" I'm down to 3 now. Tnx for posting the cct, I always find them interesting John |
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29th Oct 2007, 1:50 pm | #12 | |
Pentode
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK.
Posts: 150
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Re: Regulated Power Unit
Quote:
If my memory serves me correctly this was a Centurion case. It's been in my loft for donkey's years - must be at least 20. The actual case was too small, so I made new Front, Back & Sidepanels to increase the height. The only original parts are the extrusions and the top & bottom panels ! I also used the original front panel for the sub-panel on the new design. Needed to polish up the aluminium extrusions a bit as well !! The dial software is FrontDesigner 3, see http://www.abacom-online.de/uk/html/frontdesigner.html John |
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7th Nov 2007, 3:56 pm | #13 |
Nonode
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Walsall Wood, Aldridge, Walsall, UK.
Posts: 2,873
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Re: Regulated Power Unit
Hi!
To Colin and John, breathtaking superlative pieces of equipment from both of you - I couldn't match such quality without many months effort!!! Colin, could you answer a couple of questions please:- a) How did you make such beautifully coloured/lettered meters - can it be done at home? b) Would I need a professional engineering workshop to produce such a front panel - I have my own Component Tracer Project in gestation! I'm really glad you based your design on an Heathkit - I'll be doing the same for exactly the same reasons as you did!!! Wow!!!! I'll be showing my friends these pictures in the morning!!! They'll be as impressed as I am!!! Chris Williams |
8th Nov 2007, 11:44 am | #14 | |||
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Ilkley, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 656
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Re: Regulated Power Unit
Chris,
Thanks very much for your kind comments. I've replied to your questions below; Quote:
Quote:
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Happy to help if you need any more information. Rgds Colin
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Colin Armstrong |
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