cost effective power supply

[WhiteStarNC]

Getting ready to use a mobile unit for a base station. Need an inexpensive but decent quality power supply.

Ideas? Anyone have one?

 

[backwoodsshooter]

Getting ready to use a mobile unit for a base station. Need an inexpensive but decent quality power supply.

Ideas? Anyone have one?

What's your power requirements? Cause a 5amp is going to be a lot more expensive then a 35 that I have.

I have used those do cheapo LED power supplies that were 30 or 35 amps and one lasted me over 2 years and the other lasted only a couple weeks. Each costed around 30-40

I switched to a MFJ 25 or 30 amp continuous for 90ish

But I needed at bare minimum 20 amps continuous. If your pulling a mobile unit (assuming is VHF/UHF) you shouldn't need more than 15 continuous with 20 surge depending on the wattage of the radio.

My Kenwood mobile 2m needed less power than the aV8000 I had.

 

[Elenaidan]

What voltage?

 

[WhiteStarNC]

ya know - should have specified the info - duh!

120 AC in 13.8VDC out - 20A or so

 

[Tigard]

I have had good service from this MegaWatt s-350 30 amp. $59 Quiet, reliable and no stray RF for a couple years now.

 

[Elenaidan]

@WhiteStarNC , check Acopian out of Florida. Usually pretty cheap, high amperage PS, pretty cheap. Not sure how much filtering you need or what your tolerance range is, but it may be woth it.

 

[georgel]

Here are the MFJ options...
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Categories.php?sub=0&ref=62

I've seen variations of this switching model labeled under different brands, and it seems to do well...
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-4230MV

They also have a Power Pole ready version. I recommend standardizing on Power Pole connectors.

I've also seen a number of successful computer power supply conversions. Not the regular PC type, but rack mounts.
Ultimately, you'll want a non-switching linear power supply, like an Astron.

 

[WhiteStarNC]

Thanks all - now the shopping starts.

 

[JohnFreeman]

Buy once , Cry once. I'd buy a good linear supply if you think you'll be interested in HR for a while. Astron, or better yet, one from one of the Big Three will likely serve you for decades.