Jim makes very good points. In my station, I have several linear and
switching power supplies. Over the years I've scavenged some "crowbar"
overvoltage modules from old Lambda linear supplies and use them
routinely with all my large 12V supplies. These are small black plastic
modules with two leads that attach to the power supply output terminals.
An internal SCR in the device fires instantly when the voltage exceeds
the module's threshold setting (I set it at about 15V) and shorts the
power supply output, blowing a fuse and protecting the connected radios.
The devices reset automatically.
I generally prefer linear DC power supplies, for a variety of reasons,
even though they are heavier than switching supplies. Aside from their
increased weight, their only disadvantage is that a failure of the
series regulator transistors can dump the high unregulated voltage on
connected equipment, which is the problem the crowbar modules fix.
Switching supplies tend to be more complicated than their linear
counterparts, and significantly less reliable in my experience Many are
very inexpensive but also cheaply made, which is why desktop computer
power supplies fail so frequently.
I try to buy lab-grade linear power supplies for my station. Consumer
grade power supplies designed for the ham market are often very poorly
made. (Truthfully, I can hardly stand to look at the poor workmanship
inside the larger Astron linear power supplies.) By contrast, used
inexpensive Lambda and Kepco supplies are always available on auction
sites and seemingly last forever. These companies also make high quality
switching supplies, so if you really need the small size and weight,
these may be the way to go. I have two Lambda switching supplies (12V
and 24V) in my computer wiring closet (where I run a microwave access
point for our local wireless internet provider) that I bought used for
$20 each, and they've been running 24/7 for almost eleven years now.
73,
Jim W8ZR
On 12/5/2017 7:44 AM, Jim Thomson wrote:
## You forgot to tell us that it was a 40 A 13.8 vdc, switching type power
supply !
Found it on U tube, where the vdc pegged past 16 vdc. Another fellow had his
way over 45 vdc...and fried his yaesu. The u tube fellow says his did not
have
any over voltage protection built into it ! Since his was under warranty, MFJ
will
repair it..... but not the very expensive yaesu xcvr.
## Fuses on radios will only protect against excess current, not excess
voltage. Your
surge protector on the input of the 120 vac.. feeding the MFJ switching supply,
will not help at all.
The issue is the lack of over voltage protection in the mfj switching supply,
and what ever caused
it to crank out excess vdc in the 1st place... frying everything connected to
it.
## Either replace with a better quality switcher from a different
manufacturer, or use
an analog supply, like a 50 A CCS astron.
## way too many issues with the MFJ-4245 switcher imo. if the supply bows
up, who cares... but when the
same supply blows up a bunch of expensive gear connected to it, then its a
serious issue.
Jim VE7RF
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