Power Supply Repair?

Les White

Les White

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Any of you guys do electronics repairs? I've got an old HP 6296A DC power supply that I've had for over 30 years, it spent the last 15 years on a shelf. 0-60v 0-3A.

s-l1600.jpg

Started using it last week to help reverse electroplate some gold pins and it popped the 250v5a fuse on the front panel. Popped replacement fuses instantly. Admittedly I was driving it pretty hard at the time, but I remember this thing taking much worse in the past.

Mines older than the one pictured above. Electronics repair / troubleshooting are way out of my wheelhouse.

Is it even worth repairing? I can find them used online starting around $150, but I can also find more capable, smaller, new power supplies starting at $40.
 
You need a ham buddy :D I have similar models; they are good, solid, reliable linear supplies. The fuse popping sounds like it might be a failed electrolytic shorted out, especially since it sat unused for 15 years. If so, that's a reasonably fast, inexpensive fix. If not, if it's something more insidious, it might be more involved and/or expensive to find/fix.
 
Did it pop the replacements with no load on the unit?
Open it up and check for cracked smoked missing components,
or capacitors that are swollen/maybe leaking.
 
RFMan said:
You need a ham buddy :D I have similar models; they are good, solid, reliable linear supplies. The fuse popping sounds like it might be a failed electrolytic shorted out, especially since it sat unused for 15 years. If so, that's a reasonably fast, inexpensive fix. If not, if it's something more insidious, it might be more involved and/or expensive to find/fix.
Click to expand...

So... What you're saying it could be very easy, or RREEAALLYY bad... :rolleyes:
 
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That’s a nice piece of gear, and you’re using it like a hammer. I suspect that it is emotionally damaged.
 
rdinatal said:
So... What you're saying it could be very easy, or RREEAALLYY bad... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Well, isn't that the way it usually is? No middle ground :p And that's what drives the economics. If it's really bad, throw it away and get another, because it will be cheaper. What makes these units good for electroplating is that they ARE linear, and they have some margin (because they were designed and manufactured back when HP was HP and not Agilent or Keysight :)

Consider if it were the transformer. $$$, difficulty of finding a suitable replacement. OTOH, the probability of it being that from just sitting, is quite low. Unless it sat in a really crappy environment.
 
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Dan said:
Did it pop the replacements with no load on the unit?
Open it up and check for cracked smoked missing components,
or capacitors that are swollen/maybe leaking.
Click to expand...

Replacement fuse popped on power on, no load. I also have a call in to a buddy who fixes all things electronic. Finding time to pull it apart and look for the obvious might be a challenge. The thought of trying to source replacement parts makes my head hurt.
 
Brian K said:
Replacement fuse popped on power on, no load. I also have a call in to a buddy who fixes all things electronic. Finding time to pull it apart and look for the obvious might be a challenge. The thought of trying to source replacement parts makes my head hurt.
Click to expand...
Let us know what he finds/says. You are a bit off my beaten path; depending on the part(s) needed, I might have something suitable on hand, or be able to get it from Digi-Key etc.
 
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There's a good chance it's not that difficult or expensive. The older electronics had individual parts that can be tested and replaced. You just need a nearby 'spark chaser' to get in there with a meter and a HandyMan.
 
Brian K said:
I can't reach him by phone and the mailbox is full. Google reviews from the past year report similar experiences. I'll try him again later. I have a backup power supply in place now - but it's not as good.
Click to expand...
I called for several months. Finally drove down there and he was open.
 
He's a good guy, but he's a bit different and keeps odd hours. Those that know him and have been doing business with him swear by him.
 
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