Need a pro lab power supply? Power supplies are everywhere — from basic adapters to high-end lab equipment. While many off-the-shelf options are sufficient for general electronics projects, achieving high stability, precise regulation, and reliable performance often comes with a hefty price tag. But what if you could build a high-quality power supply yourself?

DIY Power Supply

For electronics enthusiasts and professionals alike, having a small, adjustable power supply with a voltage range of 1 to 12 V and a current output of around 1 A is invaluable. While budget-friendly lab power supplies are widely available, their quality varies, and lower-cost models often compromise on efficiency and durability. So, how do you strike the right balance between cost and performance? You can with a little planning. 
 
Pro lab power supply circuit
The schematic of the lab power supply is fairly extensive, even without the display and control section. Click for the PDF
The high-performance lab power supply module consists of a switching regulator input stage with galvanic isolation and a linear regulator output stage. This arrangement is fed by a high-power, 12-V source. The two regulators and the microcontroller that controls everything are assembled on a single PCB, with the display and control components on a second PCB. The result is a compact module, and several of these modules can be packaged in a conventional 19” rack-mount enclosure and powered collectively by a PC power supply.
 
Lab power supply elektor
Lab power supply
The project's features:

• Efficient lab power supply with switching preregulator
• Operates from the 12 V output of a PC power supply
• Efficiency up to 70%
• Full electrical isolation with multiple modules
• Output voltage 0 - 30 V, adjustable in 10 mV steps
• Output current 0 - 1 A, adjustable in 10 mA steps
• Voltage and current shown on LED displays
• Good load regulation
• Low drift
• Fast shutdown button

Lab Power Supply Project

The article, “Professional Lab Power Supply,” appeared in Elektor September 2014. You can access the article free during the two weeks following the publication of this news item. If you start a similar project, consider sharing your progress on the Elektor Labs platform!

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Editor's Note: This article was first published in a 2014 edition of ElektorMag. Some of the components, PCBs, products, and/or links might not be available at this time. Still, we think the content is a valuable resource, and we hope it will inspire you to begin new DIY electronics projects at your workbench.