EEVblog #439 - Atten PPS3205T-3S Triple Output Power Supply Review

How much lab power supply can you get for $450?
Triple isolated outputs, PC control, 0.05% accuracy, is it too good to be true?
NOTE: Yes, it's a long review, and I spend most of the time complaining about something. I wasn't going to spend the time to try and edit it down. Complaints on a post card please.

EEVblog Main Web Site:
EEVblog Amazon Store:
Donations:
Projects:
Electronics Info Wiki:

[EEVblog]

Well, I have already paid for it, and I have nothing like it's capability in the lab. So I have the choice of either keeping it and using it, or selling it and try to find something of similar capability at the same price. I have also spent a lot of hours figuring out how to drive it, and it does work when you know how to drive it. Yes, it still annoys the crap out of me, but so does my Fluke 87's default AC current mode...

[EEVblog]

File size depends on amount of motion content in the video, as I use a Constant Quality setting in Handbrake.

[ChipGuy]

I have not even watched it yet, but i know you so well now (watched all 439 EEVBlogs) that i can just give you a big thumbs up for these teardowns.

[JAKOB]

Great hands-on video, validating specs & testing.
Thorough video with a handfull of gold nuggets of good valuable info, topnudge
A joy to watch these older videos from when Dave were solid to the bone and in a class of his own..
looks like Atten Electronics gone down under, and sold their slT3 to some CN lottery chananagang

[hobbified]

Dave hates when he can't use his knob.

[richardgraham]

Thanks for replying, The fuse I need apparently is the 11 Amp version, the part numbers have been changed since this thing was first built, however, there is a place in Bangkok that has the part I need for about 650 Baht! Thanks for your help guys, appreciated.

[EEVblog]

Yep, teardown already uploaded, going live tomorrow. 45min worth.

[skimask]

On the series mode voltage setting issue...
Could that be programmed the way it is because it was meant to be used for analog circuits with dissimilar + and - voltages? e.g. say +10v, ground, -5v?
Would that make any sense to use it in that manner?

[EEVblog]

Oh, I hadn't seen that before, it does look good.

[JosefdeJoanelli]

Perhaps someone could make up a nice serial user interface expansion unit for this power supply :) I assume the serial port also outputs current and voltage settings too?

[whiskeyify]

I just bought an ATTEN mulitmeter, for about 25 dollars. the quality seems quite good for the money. At work I always used a fluke, but at home electronics is just a hobby for me so I didn't want to spend a lot. I was hoping Dave would take it apart, I wanted to see the insides.

[marinedalek]

You know when you're trying to do something in a dream, like search the web or call the police and whatever you do it has unexpected consequences? Like dialing 999 puts you through to a takeaway or the phone crashes. That's what this power supply reminds me of, especially at 24:15

[yueibm]

Impedance mismatch reflections? I wonder if you can get rid of it by going through the voltages where the internal resistance is around 50 Ohms.

[rocketmanprojects]

Would it be possible to hack it and write your own firmware?

[JimGriffOne]

18:35 - I bought a dual 30V power supply and modified the output for 40V instead. Not sure how customisable that one is, whether you could modify the firmware or any variable pots inside it that allow for higher voltage output.

[wesz]

Great review. Lots of good info and test checks. Thanks for the thoroughness. It appeared to me that the actual circuitry worked very well and responded nicely except for the limit crossover concerns. The biggest problem seemed to be the Functional Logic. Typical Asian mentality.

[enginerdy]

Could you check out what happens when you power the unit down? I have a power supply that produces junk on the output (when disabled) in its dying gasps!

[RandyLott]

Great review as always. I can believe the amount of fail in that UI, but you can't harp on the performance.

[mbainrot]

What's inside of it like? or is that video coming?

[sic-]

When you was saying about the shoddy interface I was just thinking that this PSU makes an ideal bench desktop PSU - as no-one will want to nick it from your bench at the office...!