On Tue, 15 Sep 2020 21:39:56 +0100, John Bryan
wrote:

snip

Did you go for the linear one for a specific reason may I ask John and
if so, what OOI?


No I wanted one where the current limit was fully adjustable, which on my
model it is 0.001A to the max of 5.200A.

So that was a 'yes' then, the current limit thing. Bit isn't that
available on most 'current limiting' PSU's, even if they aren't so
easy to apply (without shorting the output) or as accurate to set?

I think most people use the current limit as a fuse or to limit the
current for charging a car battery, where I don't think you need so
much accuracy etc? It could be important when charging a very small
battery etc.

the adjustment of voltage or current is achieved by pressing in the
control knob to select the decade 10V.1V.0.1V,0.01V and turning the
encoder shaft to to desired value. Current setting likewise but
1A,0.1A,0.01A and 0.001A units.

I checked out the PSU you have on Youtube and saw that in action and I
was wondering how easy / fast it was to use in practice, compared with
a straight linear knob etc (the only type I've used).

If I use my Weir linear PSU as an example and charging a car battery.
If the battery was a reasonable size then I'd just wind the current to
max (assuming a 5A PSU), set the voltage to maybe 14V and connect up.
If it was as smaller capacity battery (say off a motorbike) I might
want to limit the current to 1A then I'd just turn the current knob up
or down till it reads 1A. If it's already fully charged it may only
take 1A (at 14V) for a few seconds in any case.

An example of where the selection method of the PSU you have was shown
on the Youtube video was where he set a very fine current limit to
drive a LED, saves having to bother with a series resistor etc.

I guess it might all boil down to how accurately you want to control
the voltage and current and how often you are changing it (along with
any other characteristics etc).

My Weir PSUs have a single analogue meter on the front (albeit quite a
big one) that you switch between volts and amps (triple reading scale
as it can go 0-15V and 0-30V, plus amps etc) and I've found it
sufficient for most of the stuff I've used it for so far. If I want
more voltage accuracy I just stick a DMM on the thing I'm powering.

The control knobs feel like they are wire would so probably quite
expensive. I just prefer the digital display and am not sure I need to
go down to that level of accuracy .01 V/A?

That's for bringing it to my attention though and I will consider it
further. ;-)

Cheers, T i m