Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
  • You can now help support WorldwideDX when you shop on Amazon at no additional cost to you! Simply follow this Shop on Amazon link first and a portion of any purchase is sent to WorldwideDX to help with site costs.
  • The Retevis Holidays giveaway winner has been selected! Check Here to see who won!

Power Supply Help Please

K

KW4HKY

Active Member
Feb 16, 2010
188
9
28
I'm going to build my base rig component at the time. I assume I need to choose my transceiver first, then choose the power supply that will power up what I choose.

The only thing I know is it coverts AC to DC (duh), and I have heard I need a regulated power supply, and I have no clue why (duh#2).

Could anyone do a quick primer on power supplies?

Is a base unit with a built in power supply a plus or minus?

Thanks
 

A base unit with built in supply is fine its a convenience but also more pricey. I persnally prefer seperate supplies most internal supplies have a supply just big enough for running the radio so if you were to turn the power up internally its hard on the internal supply and will eventually result in blowing the supply due to over taxing it.

Another issue is heat build up due to internal supply the unit gets hotter faster now Im not saying I wouldnt trust an internal supply because I have a few units that run internal supplies and have no p[roblems but then again I dont push them to hard I leave them alone as factory has them.

I do with my Yaesu FT-990 had the AC / DC option because I would be using a seperate supply but unfortunately my particular FT-990 is AC power only but I see there is a spot thats covered where the DC socket would be so I may be able to have that put in.

Just remember as a rule of thumb that with a 100 watt transmitter a 20 amp power supply should be used and that leaves breathing room and the transmitter wont be taxing the power supply everytime you key up.
 
KJ4SZV said:
I'm going to build my base rig component at the time. I assume I need to choose my transceiver first, then choose the power supply that will power up what I choose.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much the first place to start unless you want to build something that is overkill and will power other stuff in the shack as well. BTW, pretty much all 100 watt class radios will need a minimum of 25 amps to function properly.

The only thing I know is it coverts AC to DC (duh), and I have heard I need a regulated power supply, and I have no clue why (duh#2).
Click to expand...
A regulated power supply delivers a constant voltage to the load (radio) regardless of the current being delivered. IOW as the current increases from RX to TX, the voltage normally wants to drop much lower depending on just how much current is being drawn. A regulated power supply has a circuit (regulator) that com[ensates for that and allows a smooth and constant voltage level to be applied to the radio.



Could anyone do a quick primer on power supplies?

Is a base unit with a built in power supply a plus or minus?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Very few "base" units have a builtin power supply these days. A few have but most are meant to operate from a separate power supply. Personally I think that if you are a bit sketchy on electronics construction and the operation of power supplies etc. I would think twice, maybe even three times, about hooking a VERY expensive piece of equipment to a homemade high current power supply that you built yourself. Unless there are over voltage and over current safeguards built into the power supply you may see that very expensive radio go up in smoke along with the power supply and anything else that may be connected to it.
 
I dont understand what your sayiing in reguards to Ham Radio please explain I will admit you lossed me so yes Im lost LOL!! Can you explain??
 
Congratulations on your ticket and welcome to the world of ham radio. Yes, choose your rig then in the specs section of the brochure or user manual, look for the current draw at the highest wattage output, usually 20-25 amps 12VDC. With a 20% safety factor, a rig that consumes 25A at max power output say 100 watts wll be 30 amps so a minimum power supply of 12 VDC 30A would suffice, 35 amps to be safe. Switching power supply or regulated PS is fine. Older switching power suplies used to generate RF noise due to the fast switching rates but current models have better filtering. Stick to tried and true brands such as Astron. Good luck and 73! Del, KH6DC
 
Also consider that all radio manufacturers sell a matching and/or recommended power supply for the equipment they sell, so that is also an option. All radio manufacturers list a recommended amperage requirement for the radios they make.

Remember, STUDY, ASK QUESTIONS, STUDY SOME MORE, ASK MORE QUESTIONS, STUDY, and then, MAYBE, then make a decision.

( In boating, it's " Go Slow, Crash Cheap!)

Its all about learning. Have fun.
 
The easiest way of selecting an adequate sized power supply is to total the size of the fuses in all the equipment you plan to run from that power supply. That total is the size of the power supply that will handle things.
There's a 'catch'. Power supplies have two ratings, ICS and CCS. That ICS rating is for surges. That CCS rating is what the thing will supply constantly. That ICS rating is the one you see advertised. You have to look for that CCS rating, but that's the one that means the most, so look for it! All the reputable manufacturers supply both ratings. If both of those ratings aren't there in the 'specs', ask about it. If you can't get an answer, I would pass on that particular brand of amplifier. There's no 'standard' difference between the two ratings, it depends on how the thing is constructed. The ICS ratin is typically something between 20 and 50% higher than the CCS rating. That's great for handling surges, but also means that you are going to be from 20 to 50% underpowered if you only go by that ICS rating. That's not so great. Do that for very long and you will be repairing that power supply after you 'work' it to death.
Radio manufacturers do have a matching power supply for their radios in most cases. If 'looks' mean that much to you then they would probably be very nice for you. If you'd rather have good performance and reliability, I think I'd opt for something else besides just 'looks'. That's up to you. The biggies are that CCS rating of the power supply and the total of what the current requirements for the equipment you plan to run from that power supply. A little 'extra' is always a good investment. Under powering something never is.
- 'Doc
 

dxChat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.


      Top Bottom