MFJ 4245MVP Power Supply Tested

In this video we take a look at the MFJ-4245MVP Power Supply.
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NOTE: This power supply was sent to me free of charge in exchange for this video review.
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[@TheSmokinApe]

Check out my Power Supply Playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLm8ROkpFeqoqTIhGbxZlgs2IdtkjbodYr

[@FEPLabsRadio]

First! Funny you mentioned the loud, I have that older model power supply, and it sounds like a jet spooling up. Thanks Ape!

[@TheSmokinApe]

My 4225 is pretty loud 😕

[@Thump2030]

Great video

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Thump 👍

[@HOAHamRadio]

You've got more power than me, I'm jealous. Nice and informative review as always.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks HOA, before the amp I had no need for this much juice 👍

[@ammocraft]

When doing any kind of SMPSU review, I'd love to see a SDR or SA fired up next to it to look for RF noise. You'd like to think anything made for radio would be RF quiet, but it's always good to test that it is!

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’ll do a noise test.

[@don_n5skt]

@@TheSmokinApe Also key down and do a voltage drop test when transmitting. That has been an issue of mine seeing drops to about 11V which the radio did not like.

[@TheSmokinApe]

👍

[@johnkaelberer237]

Yea, I'm one of those guys who don't like sponsored product videos. That said, I appreciate the lengths you go to for a fair review. Much better than that 2.0 guy, who loves everything he reviews (who's videos I have now blocked) . As to the MFJ power supply, it looks like a decent supply. I'm not a big MFJ fan and prefer the tried and true power supplies like the Astron. Call me an old fart, but the Astron can easily be fixed should something go south. Something that rarely happens. My Astron will still be going strong long after I'm worm food. It has clean, rock solid power output which can not always be said about the switching power supplies. Some are better than others. Last, although the Astron's may hum a little (can't hear it with old ears), I really hate having more fans in my shack than is necessary. For these reasons I say buy once, cry once. The Astron is a life time power supply. The only other test I would have like to have seen was to look for birdies produced by the switching power supply. Thanks for what you do Ape. You're one of the good ones on KZbin ! P.S. I spotted a Astron power supply some one had thrown out at the dump. The case was bent to hell and it had been rained on. Took it home, straightened out the case the best I could, plugged it in and it works perfectly. You can't beat quality.

[@ammocraft]

I think sponsored (when transparent) reviews are OK but it's the shill reviews so popular on some other channels I really detest. Like you, I have unsubbed and blocked many for that reason...and radio seems as bad as the gun and bushcraft ones in this respect. When you know it is free, you can be a better judge of how objective the reviewer is.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey John, I agree with your points about linear vs SMPS. Thanks for checking out the video and watching the channel, glad you like it.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Ammocraft. I like to think I am pretty objective, I can tell you that here are many ham radio and electronics manufacturers and retailers who won't work with me because they didn't like the way their product was portrayed. I am fine with that... Also, if I am sent something that is junk, I won't review it which upsets marketing people quite a bit. Thanks for watching.

[@ammocraft]

@@TheSmokinApe You absolutely are...as I said, I have unsubbed the shill channels, but the fact they sometimes mislead beginners into wasting money on crap they were given for free in exchange for reviews (and don't make this clear) irks me no end!

[@KS0JD]

Looks like a great supply for the whole shack. A good test might be running FT8 on the HF rig and then running a net on 2 meters at full power. Might not hit the 40 but it would come close. I have 2 samlex supply's in my shack. One for HF and a dual band FM rig and another for the second HF rig in the shack. I never have had any issues. Great video. 73

[@TheSmokinApe]

I think the next video will be testing the noise levels produced. Thanks for checking it out Jeff 👍

[@timfogerson1010]

Heh, those double fans are indeed loud. My shack has built in window base cabinets, so I put the thing in there to cut down the noise. Yes, I double checked the heat -- no problem. I can do FT8 on my 7300 and talk on my 9700 at the same time, no fuss, no muss...

[@TheSmokinApe]

That sounds like a pretty good solution for the noise 👍

[@edsai2041]

Holy Rube Goldberg batman. Gotta do what you gotta do to test it!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha!

[@manoffaith2501]

I would have preferred to have seen this power supply used with a transceiver running FT8, a more real world application. Thank you for reviewing this PS.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for the feedback and for watching MoF.

[@WECB640]

Ape, please demonstrate this PS with a simple incandesent bulb as a load, then place an AM portable radio near it. (The bulb will produce ZERO RF obviously, so only the PS will be measured.) Let's see how RF quiet this unit is! Be sure to sample both the AC input side as well as the DC output side. Most of these SMPS are horrendous. 73 OM.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Hollywood. I'll do a noise test video...

[@ToNzHoLtZ]

Are the 40 amp connectors in the front banana clip ? looked like it ..

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yes, you can use banana clip with those 👍

[@ronwolenski-n8wcr]

You could have at least supplied a few cat videos in your description. It was interesting how it kept shutting down with the inverter.

[@johnkaelberer237]

Box wine and cats. Might as well feature the ladies.....lol

[@TheSmokinApe]

@Ron, I assume it's because the initial draw was +45A.

[@KE8ODY-WV-Ares-Ham-Dad-3O4]

Just about to pick one up used cheap think it'll run my radio and 100 watt linear

[@TheSmokinApe]

Nice, hope it works out for you 👍

[@KE8ODY-WV-Ares-Ham-Dad-3O4]

@@TheSmokinApe just bought it hope she’s not a rocket ship loud

[@TheSmokinApe]

Good luck with it 👍

[@temporarilyoffline]

Pretty Versatile! I thought it was a PC power supply, but it looks custom built on the inside.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Nope, just a big boy ham supply 😯

[@Ressy66]

I hope that battery is rated for "c" 40A (input) ;)

[@TheSmokinApe]

Max.Continuous Charge/Discharge Current:100A

[@Ressy66]

@@TheSmokinApe awesome :P, thanks Ape

[@afleak]

you need a digital load tester son

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yes, I do...

[@WN8HGZ]

The problem I have with mfj power supply is when u hit transmit on radio the power supply dies and re boots it is random and not consistent

[@TheSmokinApe]

Is it still under warranty?

[@WN8HGZ]

@@TheSmokinApe no naturally not

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’d call them anyway, they might help out 👍

[@WN8HGZ]

@@TheSmokinApe thanks I will try that and let u know how I make out 73 and thanks

[@KE8ODY-WV-Ares-Ham-Dad-3O4]

Oh now loud fan

[@DonzLockz]

220V aint enough, I need it to do 240Vac @50Hz. You guys gotta get out of the dark ages!😂👍

[@TheSmokinApe]

It was 230 son 👍

[@HardcoreFourSix]

RFI ??

[@TheSmokinApe]

I'll no a noise test video 👍

[@TheArtofEngineering]

Thanks for the review…. I always wonder when load is up what happens to ripple and does it get worse? For a simple load tester I get e cigarette nichrome and twist together about 8 strands and wind it on ceramic ( I used an old brick / ceramic house ventilation brick). I connect to it with mains cable and screw down electrician fittings ….. which will melt but last for one test and keep heat away from thing under test. Rewinding a Microwave Transformer for a Linear PSU@TheArtofEngineering kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWSsfXR9mJqHb8k

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hmmm, maybe I’ll figure out how to do that test, thanks 👍

[@don_n5skt]

But I like cat videos. Maybe after I get my Apesplaining. 😁 That is a linear supply?

[@TheSmokinApe]

Lol, it’s switching 👍

[@MrZerohour1967]

Sorry, this seems to be almost useless as a review. No test to see if it can deliver the full rated current, no voltage drop test, and most of all for Amateur radio, no test for noise, likely the most critical test for a SM PSU for ham radio use. Might as well have called this an unboxing.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Let me get right in changing the title 👍

[@TheArtofEngineering]

One more comment…. With all the spurious emissions we already have in and around the shack …. Why are we going with switch mode supplies? Yes they are lighter and more efficient but we are hams…. So why not build a 20A linear supply (or 2 even )? It isn’t hard to do and is quieter. Mine weighs about as much as me…. But it lives under the bench so who cares? It also doesn’t run a noisy fan constantly and emit RF. Below is a link to my Drew Diamond VK3XU designed “Miser Supply”. Mine used 2 rewound microwave transformers (to lower the saturation magnetising current to acceptable levels). 73 de VK2AOE Linear 20A 13.8v DC HAM SHACK PSU - Made with rewound microwave transformers@TheArtofEngineering kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4eYmHeVqZWJbNk

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’ll check the link, thanks TAOE 👍