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PowerMax Power Converter ?....

Oatmeal

Oatmeal

Active Member
Mar 22, 2009
484
78
38
West Virginia..
Ive been looking around at power supplies, in a few different places, and found this on one of the sites....

From what Ive read about these you can get them in a 35 amp, 55, 75, and a 100 amp...and they can be setup to to 13.2v, 13.6v, and 14.4v....and it has a fan inside it that kicks on when needed, and when you buy one new, it has a 2 year warranty on it...

Just wanted to ask, if any of you guys use one of these and how well you like it ?.
Looking for info on these, and thanks...
 

Nothing 'new' in this...
The biggy with a switching power supply is how noisy it is because of how the thing works. There's no 'simple' way of quieting a noisy switcvher supply, it isn't strictly an output filter that's needed. That 'noise filter' is spread out all through the thing, not just at the output. They do -radiate- is not properly built.
'PowerMax' has a pretty good reputation for not being noisy. If I were looking for a power supply they are one brand I'd definitely look at.
- 'Doc

('m42duster' - if you don't like it and if it's not noisy and if you pay the shipping I'd be happy to take it off your hands for twenty dollars or so.)
right, hold my breath...
 
These supplies seem to be fairly popular. I haven't read much yet about them being noisy.

I'm running most of my shack off an older Tripp-Lite PR-50 supply. It's a good supply, but bulky and heavy. I'm wanting to tuck this new switcher up out of the way with a short lead to my RIGrunner power strip.

I thought the price on this particular unit was decent. If it doesn't suit my needs, I can always use it in the shop. With all the modern electronics going into RV's these days, I think filtering is a big concern. Hopefully, it will perform well, and for a loooong time.
 
powermax

I've been running a 100 amp powermax for a couple of years now with no issues at all, it's quiet, I only heard the fan come on a couple of times, I've run some pretty high powered amps off this supply with no lack of power output, no noise that I can hear or heard from anyone I've spoken with while in operation, I like the size, the only flaw I can find is there isn't a on/off switch and the power cord is short otherwise, I am very happy with mine. Widowmaker1
 
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I see some suppliers selling them with a power switch. Easy enough to put a rocker switch in yourself anyways. The cord on my particular unit looks fairly long and beefy.
 
Hooked up the supply a couple hours ago...

So far, it's working as expected. I am seeing some suppliers providing models that have an on/off switch, mine does not. I plugged it in and quickly checked output voltage and noticed it was 14.7.

According to the manual, it takes 4 seconds to 15 minutes before output voltage idles down to 13.6 ish, mine is 13.7. You can adjust output internally, but you'll have to drill out the case rivets.
I like the fact that it stays powered on all the time, as I have my unit squirreled away. I have a 3' run to my RIGrunner. I'm thinking that the absence of a power switch may be to avoid frequent voltage spikes...???

I applied a 33 amp load with no appreciable voltage drop. Next, I fired up every radio and reveiver in my shack and started spinning the dial. So far, I am not hearing any hash or interference. I thought I heard a little on 80 meters, but quickly ruled that out.

I really like how compact it is. The fan has not turned on yet, so can't comment on it, but the seller stated it is not loud, which is subjective at this point.

Anyways, thinking about ordering another for my shop.
 
Had my nightly CW QSO with my nephews. Used my TS-590 @ 100 watts. The fan finally came on. It's fairly quiet, not bad at all. I was a little nervous thinking it was going to be awful.
 
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Turd Alert!

I had my TS-590 tuned to 7.030 today. All was well, until I started hearing a little rise in noise. I didn't think anything of it, until I answered an CQ. About 2 minutes into the QSO, I started getting a loud rush of noise.

I finished up my contact and spun the dial, just as I suspected, HASH. I'm hearing it 10 thru 80 and faintly on 10 meters. Strange, it was quiet up until today. I haven't changed a thing since I first put it in service.


Can't have that. I may return it, or keep it for use in the shop.
 
ShadowDelaware said:
I purchased the pm3 100lk, it is great for the radio radio, but if I power the texas star dx500v it gives a lot of noise in transmit. I need to find a way to quiet it.
Click to expand...
I wonder if the supply is running close to it's max rating when you are running the amp ? Some supplies are RF quiet until you put a heavy load on them and then the hash and noise starts. Never heard of one generating noise on transmit though....that's a new one !
So just to be clear, people are hearing noise coming through when you transmit, but only with the amp on ?

I switched to Megawatt supplies and never looked back. Cheap, small, RF quiet, and super reliable.
 
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