[time-nuts] HP5370 power supply measurements
Charles Steinmetz
csteinmetz at yandex.com
Wed Jul 13 07:11:57 UTC 2016
Poul-Henning wrote:
> So I've been playing around with KICAD and come up with a design
> with three Traco TEN40WIR DC/DC converters (2x2411 + 2423) running
> off the +/- 10V rails, and I'm seriously tempted to try order a
> PCB just to try it out...
Are the Traco converter modules cheaper where you are than here in the
US? It looks like the three converters would cost more than $360 here
-- almost double what I paid for my most expensive 5370B. I recognize
that you get a fair amount in the package, but the regulation and noise
specs -- while OK -- are certainly not stellar.
An external fan blowing on the heatsink keeps my 5370s nice and cool,
for about $10 each. The ones I use are 120v, clamp-on types sold for
making a breeze at a workstation, and are extremely quiet. The
heatsinks run barely warm to the touch.
Reducing line consumption by 50w would save about $3 per counter per
month here, assuming 24/7 usage. Break-even on the cost of the
converters would therefore be ten years, *if the counters were operated
24/7/365*. I sometimes take data for a few months straight, but very,
very far from 24/7/365 on average. So for me, break-even would be more
like 50 years. Even if you pay a lot more for electricity than we do
here, it's still a very long time before you break even.
Speaking of fan noise -- you can't really get away with replacing the
internal fan with one that moves less air, so it is hard to find a
replacement that generates significantly less noise. If you find one,
please share the make and model -- all 5370 owners would love to know.
Best regards,
Charles
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