Top 5 Things You May Not Know About Power Supplies

1. A main trend in laboratory power supplies today is that, although the primary job of power supplies is making power, scientists want them using less of it. This is because, in many cases, improving power efficiency spurs more funding.

2. Many power supplies power devices scientists build themselves for experiments. Often, those devices are used only once or twice.

3. Power supplies have a huge range of applications which all require different voltages. For example, high voltage is required in equipment for sorting cells or separating compounds or DNA. Many chemical applications also need high voltage.

4. Overall, power supplies don’t need much attention. Once a power supply is in the system, unless it’s significantly abused, you don’t need to take care of it in any way.

5. In student labs, power supplies not only need to be easy to use, but bulletproof current limiting is also important, according to one professor, who recently told Lab Manager that, “Students do the weirdest things, like short the 5-volt supply to the 12-volt supply.” As an example, he says, “One power supply we used years ago failed in this mode by melting the solder holding the 12-volt regulator on the board!”

For the Top 6 Questions You Should Ask When Specifying Power Management Solutions, click here.

Recently Released Power Supplies

LabPackage Workstation for Micro- and Nano-Fluidics

• Includes the HVS448 eight channel sequenceable high voltage power supply, the SVM340 synchronized video microscope, uProcess™ automated pumps, valves, and sensors, and CapTite microfluidic microconnectors
• Labsmith technologies combined with Trianja glass and fused silica chips provide a complete capability for lab-on-a-chip R&D—from proof-of-concept to prototype to production
• Gives users an integrated microfluidic solution for precise fluid and voltage control

Labsmith
www.labsmith.com 

HVPS Series Switching Mode Power Supply

• Provides precise 1 to 100 kV adjustable output at power levels up to 200 kW
• Featuring < 0.1% ripple and regulation with << 10 joules stored energy, depending upon configuration, this compact unit eliminates the need for connecting multiple smaller units
• Packaged in a 19” W rack that uses tap water for cooling

Diversified
www.divtecs.com 

PS600 600-Volt Power Supply

• Designed for electrophoresis and blotting techniques including large format and high throughput applications
• Small footprint, large handle, and simple operation make the PS600 easy to set up and use in the lab
• Features a large, easy to read LED
• Offers constant voltage or constant current mode with automatic crossover

Hoefer
www.hoeferinc.com 

StarLine Plug-In Raceway

• Provides on-demand power in a scalable format to combine reliability with versatility
• Includes the ability to add or relocate plug-in modules anywhere on the raceway
• Features a smooth aluminum finish and compact design that requires minimal space and allows for quick installation
• Accepts standard plugs and datacom channels to help keep ownership costs low

Universal Electric
www.uecorp.com 

Power Supply Manufacturers