SWITCH MODE VS REGULATED POWER SUPPLY???

Hi all, looks like i might need a new psu so what are the pros and cons of a switch mode vs a regulated power supply? I have spoken to some people who say switch mode are ok and others who say give them a wide birth so any comments will be greatly received
Thanks Paul M6PDM 26TM901

i have had a watson power mite nf which i have had for 18months and it has been great.i have had no interferance from it and it is sat next to my 706.i chose it due to its price and size.hope this helps

I agree with Andrew, I too have one and this was chosen due to the size. The only down side which I must mention is the fan is quite loud but this can be put on a shelf under the bench away from the radio.

Very well made and the A / V meters on the supply are handy

I've a Watson 10 amp W-10SM Switch Mode Power Supply - it's crap (noisy fan and QRM).

A big old-fashioned Regulated Power Supply is the one I'd go for - although I do have a Sharman SPA-8230 23Amp Switch Mode which seems fine (I have wired it up about 4 metres away from the rig, with ferrites on the incoming mains and outgoing supply cables too). Small and light too (bought from Knights CB).

I also have a couple of Maplin bench power supplies and I've had no problems at all - I don't buy a lot from them, but the power supplies are quite cheap especially if you attract a discount voucher and free delivery (the current rating they quote is often the "Surge" rating, not the "Continuous" rating, so be wary).

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=30391

If you do use a long length of cable between the radio and the PSU, use thicker wire due to volt drop.

Cheers
Gary

i bought a nice power supply a few months ago now from moonraker a 52 amp with cooling fans
for £85 pound ..i only bought it to power my galaxy 95t2 radio but works a treat
and thats a swich mode

Thanks for the advice guys. I opted for a palstar ps 30m regulated psu from knights electro com and i'm hoping to collect my jacko 2 and hopefully a repaired watson w30 psu this week. The palstar is a little quieter than the waton psu but i will keep them both providing it has been repaired.
Paul M6PDM 26TM901

I had a watson and it was noisy here also. These days am running the small Alinco PSU and it works a treat indeed

Great news that the Michael will be ready too

Simon 73s

For amateur use I normally run switched mode power supplies, but someone gave me a low ampage linear power supply that runs my FT817 at 5 watts a treat.
Would I buy a linear power supply ? Probably not, but if I ran QRP exclusively then almost certainly as small things can make big differences.

mof000 wrote:Thanks for the advice guys. I opted for a palstar ps 30m regulated psu from knights electro com and i'm hoping to collect my jacko 2 and hopefully a repaired watson w30 psu this week. The palstar is a little quieter than the waton psu but i will keep them both providing it has been repaired.
Paul M6PDM 26TM901

yes nice one paul good luck with the new power supply