Sciencemadness Discussion Board
Not logged in [Login ]
Go To Bottom

Printable Version  
Author: Subject: My variable power supply broke in four days...
kibitaki
Harmless
*




Posts: 2
Registered: 10-11-2015
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 11-11-2015 at 00:12
My variable power supply broke in four days...


Hello,

I've just recently got a variable DC power supply (at 30V/5A). It was at first running very well for electrolysis... the problem is now though, that the voltage inexplicably drops to zero, as soon as I turn the knob forward. With a load attached, this is almost instant. This happens every time I turn on the power, and only after about four or so days in total of continuous use in very, very low current.

This happened apparently overnight, while the power was off, strangely. I couldn't find this specific problem while searching... what would have caused this?

It is a (kind of) cheap machine from eBay after all, so maybe is this machine just defect?
View user's profile View All Posts By User
hyfalcon
International Hazard
*****




Posts: 1003
Registered: 29-3-2012
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 11-11-2015 at 00:46


Your anode could have passivated. What kind of electrolysis and at what current were you running?
View user's profile View All Posts By User
lavenatti
Harmless
*




Posts: 17
Registered: 19-12-2006
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 11-11-2015 at 03:32


Does it have current limiting? It may be set too low or you are simply drawing more current than it's capable of delivering.

Try testing it with a known load.
View user's profile View All Posts By User
kibitaki
Harmless
*




Posts: 2
Registered: 10-11-2015
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 11-11-2015 at 10:10


I've tested with a 5W/15Ω resistor just now, it displays current and voltage when the power is turned on, but this instantly drops to zero.

This happens too without a load. The voltage stays for maybe a second, then drops down to zero. Turning the knob forward again gives less and less voltage as it drops.
View user's profile View All Posts By User
hyfalcon
International Hazard
*****




Posts: 1003
Registered: 29-3-2012
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 11-11-2015 at 15:05


Yep, it's fried sounds like.

Have you put a multimeter on it? You could luck out.

[Edited on 11-11-2015 by hyfalcon]
View user's profile View All Posts By User
j_sum1
Administrator
********




Posts: 6219
Registered: 4-10-2014
Location: Unmoved
Member Is Offline

Mood: Organised

[*] posted on 11-11-2015 at 15:17


Four days old. I'd request a refund / replacement. Chances are that you get to keep the broken one. Then you have spare parts or maybe with a simple repair, a second box.
View user's profile View All Posts By User

  Go To Top