new power supply needed

[johnnie7]

reading the forum i can see that my little battery charger is not ideal for the job...can any 1 post some links to any reasonably priced power supplys

i belive constant current is the type i should be looking for

many thanks in advance
john

[radmaximus]

Here's an ebay link to a good ps to start with.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MASTECH-VARIABLE...QQcmdZViewItem

Wouldn't go any smaller, but if you can afford to go bigger i would go for a 20amp Mastech. Just search for "Mastech power supplies" on ebay. I have the one in the link and I really like it.

Radmaximus

[johnnie7]

thats a good price

it does meantion its not suitable for some anodiseing apps...with the switch power supply...is it still ok for me?

i seen this on uk ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Maplin-Bench-P...QQcmdZViewItem
i only do tiny match box size jobs...would this do for me
it meantions to get into CC mode you short the two probes together...sounds a bit scarey
any1 know ??

thanks in adavnce
john

[johnnie7]

or is this better for me?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d..._promot_widget

[radmaximus]

This looks like a similar version to mine,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SKYTRONIC-Regu...QQcmdZViewItem

Not sure about the control method on the first one, sounds complicated, the second, way to many knobs to figure out.. lol... in my opinon. Would go for at least 10 amps, you'll be glad you did I believe.

Radmaximus

[johnnie7]

hi guys

i popped into maplins and the guy said to try this unit with CC http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Maplin-Bench-P...QQcmdZViewItem

this is the 1st proper power suplly i have used...the parts i am anodiseing are about the size of a fag packet

i started at 0.20 amps at about 14volts...and the weird thing is the voltage constantly dropped to about 6v with same 0.20 amps over about 90 mins

surely the voltage should have risen as the anodised layer created more resistance...could it be that my bath has to much acid? or is it just this power suplly is just not suited??

any help would be much apprecated

john

[sswee]

Originally Posted by johnnie7

hi guys

i popped into maplins and the guy said to try this unit with CC http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Maplin-Bench-P...QQcmdZViewItem

this is the 1st proper power suplly i have used...the parts i am anodiseing are about the size of a fag packet

i started at 0.20 amps at about 14volts...and the weird thing is the voltage constantly dropped to about 6v with same 0.20 amps over about 90 mins

surely the voltage should have risen as the anodised layer created more resistance...could it be that my bath has to much acid? or is it just this power suplly is just not suited??

any help would be much apprecated

john

From you description of the PS, it is working as it should. The anodizing run sounds like a bad connection to the part.
What acid ratio is you solution?
How are you hooking the part up?
If your fag packs there are the same size as here, your current is too low. The approximate size here is 2" x 3". That's 6" squared x 2 sides = 12" squared of surface area (SA) if the part is a flat plate. At a 4.5A CD, you should run at .38A for 1 part 160 minutes to get a 1 mil coating.
Did you try to dye and if so what were the results?

You may already know but just a note on the PS.
Turned off, make your hook up to the part.
Turn the Voltage all the way up and the amperage all the way down.
Turn on the PS and slowly dial the amperage up to the desired setting for the run.

SS