Historic Benchtop Power Supplies?

[segaloco]

I'm curious, what were some common benchtop power supply models/brands that would be seen in the workshops of folks throughout some of the days gone by of computing? Any recollections and/or fondness for a particular system? Is there any older power supply one would recommend for work in this modern age?

 

[Al Kossow]

Small triple output linear 5v 5A +/-12 1A lab bench supplies were common in the TTL era
Higher currents than that in a triple output are hard to find for reasonable prices.
The bigger old bench supplies are also really heavy.

There are bunches of HP and Tek models.
Budget supplies were Leader LPS-152 and B&K 1660
You should be able to find an LPS-152 for around $100

I'm fond of the triple output Power Designs ones because of their wide voltage range.
They also still seem to be holding their price. They have a clever design which reduces the
input voltage to the series pass transistor to make it run cooler

I have a couple of single voltage modern chinesium linear power supplies
and I'm really unhappy with how hot the series pass transistor gets at low
voltages.

 

[segaloco]

I noticed that HP and Tek were among the more common older vendors I was spotting on eBay. Tek I had to go look for, HP ones were coming up in general searches. I see modern Agilent ones coming up too, although my experience with HP vs Agilent era gas chromatography equipment has me hesitant to jump on one of their more modern ones. I like simple, so if the complexity-vs-reliability disparity on their test equipment is comparable to the shift in their analytical chemicstry stuff, then I'd be wise to forego the newer units.

 

[Chuck(G)]

"in the day" means various things. General Radio (they of the variac) had quite a number of benchtop supplies that pre-date HP. Lambda was a big player in benchtop supplies, going back to vacuum-tube regulation. I've got a Western Electric unit that dates back to the early 1950s, but it's rackmount.

Gone are the days when we could bask in the violet glow of mercury-vapor rectifiers, however.

 

[bsd64]

The Heathkit line is pretty historic (and iconic) with the diy'ers, and occupied space on many home work benches. They had various units, but check out the IP-2718 (Triple Output), and the IP-2717 (high voltage). Manuals included theory of operation, schematics, etc.

 

[segaloco]

I've got a Western Electric unit that dates back to the early 1950s, but it's rackmount.

Might I ask the model number? The only Western Electric power supplies I generally come across are the rack units for central offices and the closet ones for small key and PBX builds. Is it a variable voltage/current and multi-out situation like some of the others mentioned here?

 

[Chuck(G)]

I think it's 250VDC fixed output. I run an old WWII receiver from it. A real tank of a supply. The rackmount Lambda supply is +/-15V and +5 and may have other outputs. Another beast.

 

[jlang]

I have a couple of HP bench supplies. I recapped them decades ago. (when I bought them)
0-24 volt 0-5 amp and a dual 0-24 volt 0-2 amp supply (independent or tracking). Both are CC/CV supplies.
Pretty usefull. Will do 5v/+-12 and +8/+-16 for safe board testing. And much more.
Very precise and stable. They were intended as lab supplies.

Best thing I ever bought on Ebay.