Help picking a Power Supply

[born2rc]

I've been looking for a power supply for a while and this is the one that jumped out at me. http://www.valcoelectronics.com/psupplies/ps21.htm

good? bad? if not I would like some recommendations of supplies with similar specs, thanks :)

[tamiya4x4dryver]

Hey man I've been looking at that one myself.... check it out at etronics.com it's $10 cheaper:

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=pyrps21kx&store=&catid=4071

[baih]

those power supplies are big. twice the size of a rivergate 30 amp. i have two of them on my test bench. one works great and the other will work to about 7 amps and shuts off.

[born2rc]

Thanks for the replies. I think I am still leaning toward the pyramid because of reliability. How much is the rivergate?

[mardigan]

Those look a little on the big side, I have one of these and really like it.

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamps/2423.html

[itdood]

Hey man I've been looking at that one myself.... check it out at etronics.com it's $10 cheaper:

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=pyrps21kx&store=&catid=4071


Watch out for etronics!!!! I've read TONS of bad reviews over the last few days at epinions.com. Then you'd see these 5 star reviews mixed in from users who never wrote any other reviews, which has to be etronics staff trying to get their rating up.

I just spent tons of time looking for a power supply and settlled on the pyramid ps36. etronics has it $20 cheaper than anyone else, but their ground shipping is $10 more than anyone else so the savings is only $10. I started to look into them and noticed they are located in NYC. NYC has other online electronic stores that are bait-n-switch operations so I looked further into it.

A lot of folks comlained that etronics will send you a lower model than what you bought then make it an absolute nightmare to get it returned for the one you orderd.

I ended up getting mine from valco today.

http://www.valcoelectronics.com/psupplies/ps36.htm

They shipped it out today and I'll have it 6-29 and they use UPS quantum-ship so I have the tracking # already.

I liked having both the amp meter and volt meter. Knowing amps and volts at the PS is very valuable info.

Whenever you buy electronics online, look to see if they are located in NYC, over the years I've learned it's a giant red flag. I'll then head over to http://www.epinions.com to see their reviews and ratings.

Here's the etronics reivews

http://www.epinions.com/webs-Web_Services-All-Merchants-Etronics_com/display_~reviews

Some reivews are OK but others were all out horror stories.

[born2rc]

^ Thanks for the heads up. Everyone seems to think that this is a large power supply, could someone suggest some alternatives with links please?

[itdood]

^ Thanks for the heads up. Everyone seems to think that this is a large power supply, could someone suggest some alternatives with links please?

I don't think the pyramids are much bigger.

I bought the "huge" ps36 and that measures 9.17”W x 4.92”H.

The samlex is 8.7 x 2.2 inches. The ps36 is only 1/2 inch wider and 2.5 inches higher than the samlex. The ps36 is a lot more depth though (7" v 14").

I can't find dimensions on the ps21, track them down and compare to the samlex which is 7.2 x 8.7 x 2.2 inches 3.3 Lbs

[baih]

competition electronics now sells a power supply that looks just like the samlex for the same price as everyone else. $99.99. i would buy from them because of their service. i had to send my turbo 35 in for repair and they fixed it in two days and was sent right back to me. took about two weeks.

[mwcet8k]

Don't forget about the Novak N-Power PS. It's quite a bit smaller than anything else listed in this thread and probably made just as well, if not better. I bought one as a replacement for a Pyramid I used to own. I had nothing but problems with the Pyramid, but my experience may have been unique. Anyway, I'd highly recommend checking out the Novak N-Power. I've been really happy with it so far.

[erock1331]

I just got a used Team 1 30 amp.
Only weighs about 4-5 lbs.
Nice and compact unit.
http://www.team1rc.com/shop/

I believe they offer a 2 yr warrany with them


I had the radio shack version of the Samlex 1223, and it went south on me after about 1 years worth of use.

[born2rc]

Don't forget about the Novak N-Power PS. It's quite a bit smaller than anything else listed in this thread and probably made just as well, if not better. I bought one as a replacement for a Pyramid I used to own. I had nothing but problems with the Pyramid, but my experience may have been unique. Anyway, I'd highly recommend checking out the Novak N-Power. I've been really happy with it so far.
I considered it, but I'm looking for something with a little more power (thats why I picked the 18 amp pyramid).