instructables

Mini Bench Power Supply - Vintage Style

by inspiredStudio

I've had too many requests about my mini power Main goals where:
supply, so i made instructable for it. - Easy to build
I’m in a progress of building new 2 channel power - Cheap parts and modules
supply, but due to ongoing pandemic the shipping is - Easy to upgrade and modify
slow and items keep disappearing. Meanwhile i - Look nice on the workbench
decided to build temporary and easy PS from parts i
had already laying around.

https://youtu.be/14yNPP1x-0I

Step 1: Main Components

Mini Bench Power Supply - Vintage Style: Page 1

80W DC-DC Buck converter module - Aliexpress
7in1 OLED Multifunction Tester - Aliexpress
External Power Adapter 12v/24v - Aliexpress
Multiturn Potentiometers (1x100k, 1x1K) - Aliexpress
16mm metal push button with LED (12v/24v) -
aliexpress
Toggle Switch (6pin for extra indicator) - Aliexpress
Output terminals to your liking. I added DC jack and
speaker terminals just in case. Outputs are all
connected.
Banana Terminals - Aliexpress
DC jack - Aliexpress
Speaker Terminal - Aliexpress
I like to see, if power is connected to output, so i used
extra indicators. Any led will do, but i had some nice
looking indicators so i used those.

Indicator LED - Aliexpress of fuse. I used standard 5x20 mm fuse.

Fuse holder - Aliexpress
Depending on your indicator/LED you might need to
use current limiting resistors.
Standard led > 470 OHM for 12V input power, 1.2 Kilo-
ohm for 24v.

It's good to add extra security layer by using somekind

Step 2: The Encasement

I love woodwork so in my case my encasement is
made from wood. I used scrap pieces of oak glulam i
had. Some sawing, routering, drilling and sanding
later i had myself simple, but nice looking box. I used
router to give it rounded appearance, something like
vintage devices/radios had.
I used teak oil as nish, added some rubber feet to
raise it a little and sop it slipping and nally used
furniture vent hole covers i found online.
Vent covers - Aliexpress

Mini Bench Power Supply - Vintage Style: Page 2

Step 3: Front and Back Panels

I designed my panels in illustrator. Tried to imagine the panel's design and ergonomics. Tried many many layouts
until i got to the point i was almost happy. It's good to print it out and see layout in it's actual size/proportions.
If happy with the design you can use printout as a template to mark your drill holes etc.

In my case panels are made out of scrap acrylic glass. Sanded and spray-painted with black matte color.

Mini Bench Power Supply - Vintage Style: Page 3

Step 4: Electronics - Buck Converter
80w DC to DC Buck Converter (qs-1212ccbd-80w) is at
the heart of this power supply.
It's cheap, has some useful features and works well
for this type of a device.
It keeps constant current and voltage, has short-
circuit protection, over heating protection and
adjustable under voltage protection. Can be used to
charge di erent types of batteries. What more can you
ask from module that costs less than 4.- EUR?
We have to modify a little to ise it in our project
Step 5: Electronics - Final Assembly
Mini Bench Power Supply - Vintage Style: Page 4
though:
1. Remove/desolder potentiometers for 'Constant
Current' and 'Constant Voltage'
2. Solder pin headers or wires for new potentiometers.
3. Optionally you can bring out the indicator LED's to
the front panel as well. I soldered some pin headers
for LED's as well.
I used multiturn potentiometers for better accuracy.
1K ohm for CC and 100K ohm for CV.
In my case i used 12V input power, bu you can use 24v
as well, just keep in mind LED current limiting. I used
external power supply to keep encasement
dimensions smaller.
Input power is used to power buck converter,
indicator LED's, power button LED and Amp/Volt
meter. There is 3A fuse between input and power
on/o switch as well.
Buck converter's output is connected through
multimeter to toggle switch. I use 6 pin toggle switch
Step 6: Conclusion
At rst i thought that i over designed the power
supply, especially as it was meant for temporary
power supply. But now I'm happy that i spent some
extra time on the design and smaller details. It looks
nice on my workbench, everyone always asks about it,
and by now i built all my other tools in the same
style/design key.
Mini Bench Power Supply - Vintage Style: Page 5
so it can power the output and indicator LED
separately.
I used 3 di erent connector at the output jus in case.
Bananas, speaker terminal and DC jack, but i never
used anything other than a bananas :)
Most of the connections are made using spade
connectors or dupont wires (+ one wago connector).
It's easier to modify, upgrade or x the power supply
this way.
I'm using it almost daily for small test and
experiments and had no issues with it. Ive been using
it for 6 months now, so not so temporary after all (still
waiting for some parts for my new large power
supply).
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