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How to Use a Lab Power Supply
CHAPTER 11: Tools 251
Figure 11-6 Testing a transistor
(a) (b)
How to Use a Lab Power Supply
We came across a lab power supply back in Chapter 5. If you have your soldering equipment and a multimeter, then a lab power supply (Figure 11-7) is probably the next item to invest in. It will get a lot of use.
The power supply shown in Figure 11-7 is a simple-to-use basic design. In the figure, it is being used to charge a lead–acid battery. You will find that you use it to power your projects while developing them. You should be able to get something similar for under USD 100.
It plugs into your home electrical socket and can deliver up to 20V at 4A, which is more than enough for most purposes. The screen displays the voltage at the top, and the current being consumed at the bottom.
The reasons why it is more convenient than using batteries or a fixed power supply are:
