You Didn't Know You Needed This

[@temporarilyoffline]

If you watch really closely in the video it looks like I have a bad Astron Power Supply. Make sure you're subscribed for updates on how we get that fixed!

[@psx1966]

do windows lol

[@robertmeyer4744]

maybe small wire AWG to that unit. Yes a outher video. Put that load tester on Astron terminals . Open it take some readings. Make some smoke? get it fixed ? Let's find out in video !

[@scotterdog1036]

Astrons don’t fail! 😮 Often.

[@jeffb-jbq]

I notice the wires from the Astron to the buck converter were very small. You can check the voltage at the Astron output to see if it was the Astron power supply causing the voltage drop or the resistance on the wires.

[@temporarilyoffline]

@jeffb-jbq I'll check it all out for sure. This isn't the first time I've seen the astron sag though.

[@dongafford1845]

"Again, being extremely gentle and cautious with the box" 🤣

[@temporarilyoffline]

I was hoping somebody would catch that!

[@xephael3485]

He might have been watching too much Linus techtips

[@hrmny_]

Micro USB on a usb-c power supply is incredibly cursed

[@temporarilyoffline]

Right!

[@dougbeard7624]

Some clever engineering involved in that device. I wish I had a use for it.

[@temporarilyoffline]

I agree! Thanks for watching

[@P.SeanCoady]

You need to post a montage of videos of removing the plastic protector film from video displays for those who haven't quite mastered this simple technique. You have it down to a art and science.

[@temporarilyoffline]

It is an art form. I find the little tabs the easiest.

[@xephael3485]

Yo use a razor 🪒 blade and Nick the screen...duh

[@KD6HOF]

14:47 I started freaking out looking at your alligator clips

[@HazMatMedic911]

OMG i was wondering if I was the only one. Otherwise a great video!!!

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yeah, I was paying attention... I appreciate alligator clips, but with great power comes great responsibility!

[@Bill-HRT]

TO! I'm having a lil' fun with this thing. I'm going to ignore the words on the box; I'm calling mine a power regulator so my old mind does not get confused. It was really convenient last night building a kit. Used the PD source from my soldering iron, put out 5v or 3.3v as necessary to test things. Nice video. Thanks. See you out there. 73 de Bill

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yeah, it's like how our minds get wrapped up around "solar generators" also. I grok that.

[@pointofthejourney]

Really appreciate your sharing this. Coupled with a lithium ion power tool battery, this device is going to be quite useful both on the bench and in the field!

[@temporarilyoffline]

Great idea!

[@douglasvamateurradioandmore]

Good idea, i have been messing with a gigparts solar charge controller for that. This would be cleaner.

[@pmate95]

You could check the output voltage on an oscilloscope to see how stable it is over time. Is there any high-frequency noise? Or just power a radio from it.

[@temporarilyoffline]

On the list!

[@robertmeyer4744]

That a great little converter to have. I have added to my cart to get later. Like the current graphs that does. Love how you can set amps ! I need 1 I set 1.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Lots of potential

[@hillbilly4christ638]

Nice device for ensuring constant power like from a 13.6v battery to a yaesu 817. Another gadget to throw in the go bag.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Definitely a good thing to have!

[@Mainbusfail]

You are probably getting a true 5 volts, its the voltage drop from your test lead wires that is causing that discrepancy

[@temporarilyoffline]

100% agreed!

[@Soupie62]

If it had Anderson connectors (for input), it would pair really well with my 12V Ham Radio power supply.

[@temporarilyoffline]

I think that's an easy fix!

[@JeffreyWilliams-x4x]

Good stuff! I'm a tradesmen I have all kinds of cordless tools ,, I have been using the tool battery's for power on lights and fans for camping forever ! Mostly 12volt ,,,now tools have gone to 18v,20v can this safely power my beloved xeigu G90 with and 18v or 20v battery?? A while ago I bought a "power wheels" Dewalt battery conversion on the jungle web sight,it has leads and a Fuze holder,,this could be a great thing for portable! Thanks for what you do 73

[@temporarilyoffline]

Hey Jeffrey! I've been looking for a slide on cap for the dewalt 20v'ers that has power poles and a readout. Would be great if it could charge from or power from the powerpoles as well. You know after saying all that I've just described a bioenno though.

[@JeffreyWilliams-x4x]

Right if you go to the jungle site (I'm using that now) type in cordless drill power wheels up grade you can find those caps for nearly any cordless,,,some come with a buck converter but I hear they are rf noisy good luck 73

[@theheist5]

I bought a 3d printed adapter that slides onto my 20v battery and terminated into empty leads. I slapped on anderson power poles and run it through a variable input stepdown converter that pushes out 12vdc and am able to power my g90 or whatever radio I hook it up to.

[@theheist5]

@@JeffreyWilliams-x4x They are a little noisy but nothing ferrite chokes can't fix.

[@NVRMTmotion]

There may be some ripple issues, I'm seeing it on the oscilloscope. Not sure how to determine if it's a problem though. And this is with an external 12V LiFeO4. Haven't tested USB PD yet

[@temporarilyoffline]

I need to test/demo ripple one of these days.

[@KeepEvery1Guessing]

Test bench under no shore power would be when this would replace my adjustable bench supply(s). I'm interested to know how RF quiet it is. Output floating,, or shared ground? Can you run the app under WINE? Looks like more spending for me.

[@temporarilyoffline]

All good questions! I can run it under no shore power, but batteries sag (as I showed casually in the video), so that's a whole other problem - capacitor bank between batteries and power supply? 32v battery system to provide stable 5v output to DUT? floating output is a VERY good question. I'll have to investigate. More spending indeed... I'm already getting another power supply.

[@KeepEvery1Guessing]

@@temporarilyoffline I'm thinking of feeding 24V from a series combo of my two 100AH LiFePO4s, which won't sag they way the boost regulators in those power banks can. Given that input voltage limits output voltage I'm guessing it has a simple buck regulator, but that should be relatively insensitive to input voltage. BTW, there's a link on the product page to "a newer version" which just seems to mean that it comes with he 100W wall wart, for $30 more. I hope that you get affiliate cred on that one too, because that's the one that I ordered,

[@temporarilyoffline]

@@KeepEvery1Guessing Thanks for asking - If you ordered it from amazon after clicking the link I get credit for it. I've updated the description with the (other) link. Its not "new", its just including the USB as you noted.

[@MartynDavies]

That looks like quite a nice thing. Thanks for showing.

[@temporarilyoffline]

You bet Martyn!

[@disneyjoe7]

The highest voltage out is based on power input so since your input was 12 your output is slightly lower

[@temporarilyoffline]

Correct

[@scotterdog1036]

Thank you for bringing these modern tech bench gizmos to us TO!🎉. Can you do one on CPAP machines. You are probably gonna need one someday.😉

[@temporarilyoffline]

When I get to the point where I need a CPAP, I'll probably make a channel dedicated to them ;-)

[@digital.rancher]

Cool mini variable power supply, thanks Steve!

[@temporarilyoffline]

You're welcome!

[@NVRMTmotion]

Dang, ya got me good with this one. Gotta be a new record for time between seeing it in video and going to click BUY XD

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yeah, Same here.

[@timel64]

Nice little field portable power supply.

[@temporarilyoffline]

its pretty neat!

[@deucebigs9860]

Wow I didn't know I needed this!

[@temporarilyoffline]

You're welcome!

[@DK5ONV]

Happy Weekend Steve.... 💯🍻🙋‍♂

[@temporarilyoffline]

Happy Weekend UG!

[@LarryTaylor-l5m]

I would really like to use it to control the 12 volt (never exceed) power into my QMX. I hoped you would power a radio with it to see how noisy it is.

[@temporarilyoffline]

More videos to come, this one was already too long when I included the end part saying it was too long... making it even longer... oh the irony.

[@shaneh5]

Nice review, Steve. I have more tools than I need, but not as many as I want. He who dies with the most toys wins. I really want this. About power and energy, it measures W, but does it also measure Ah and Wh like the cheap inline device I use? The one thing that doesn't give me is a persistent measurement of A or W used. It resets every time I disconnect from my LiFePO4. That would be a killer feature for this regulator. Thanks again. Great review.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Do you have the little one with the 2 line display? I need to make a video on it. There is a 4? 5? Pin header on the side for a memory battery.

[@shaneh5]

​Yep, that's the one ​@@temporarilyofflineor a clone. I was going to say no, but I checked and there is a 3 pin header that could well be for battery backup. It's very handy apart from that reset issue. It's very different to this product as it doesn't have constant voltage or current limits, but the metering is really good. I bet this product could charge NiCd with the current limit feature, but now I'm showing my age lol.

[@guymaninu]

Saw this video randomly. Pretty cool gadget. Very useful i think.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Hey Guy! Thanks for stopping by!

[@guymaninu]

@ personally, I think videos like these are (or can be) gold. I knew a thing like this existed because other stuff does 😂, anyway between learning from your video and the comments saved $5K in education expenses, and this was minutes instead of multiple semesters of unrelated classes… there was supposed to be a compliment in this… Thanks for show and tell👍🏽

[@temporarilyoffline]

@guymaninu thanks Guy! Call me Professor TO. From now on! 🤣😇

[@TerraMagnus]

INUI has a 140W power bank that’s in my go kit now. 27,000mAh… PD ports… I can run my Pinecil V2 at max power so it can melt solder about 3 seconds after plugging it in. I mention because that could be a really good power source for something like this.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Thanks, I'll take a look!

[@victorcharlie7491]

Wow, i really didn't know i needed that, Great video tnx Man!

[@temporarilyoffline]

When they asked me to review it, I couldn't think of a single use for it other "yes, I need that"!!

[@g4lmn-ron401]

Will the Windows software run on Linux with wine? I like the idea of knowing the volts and amps when doing projects. Nice find!

[@temporarilyoffline]

My gut tells me "no", but I also haven't tried it.

[@putteification]

How much switching noise does it have? Does it overheat easily? Is the overcurrent protection quick and output capacitance small? Coil whine? So many followup video ideas ;-)

[@temporarilyoffline]

I agree. I picked up another power supply today, 1/4th the size of my astron mountain... also has variable output... so I'll be doing some more testing.

[@TerraMagnus]

There’s maybe more there than I want or need. I’ll probably try to fab something that takes USB-PD in, Anderson Powerpole out. With some regulation in between to nail down ideal outputs for plugging transceivers etc in.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Make sense - they sell 12v PD trigger cables with 5525 outputs that work great with QRP radios.

[@goatmoag]

@@temporarilyoffline You can also buy small modules with switches (hard, soft or solder. the hard switches are the best IMO) that you can use to tease all the voltages out of a PD supply that it will produce. I have two batteries like you have (except different sizes) and they both put out only 5, 9, and 12v volt. I bought some small cube power strips with 3 110v, 2 usb 3, and 1 usb c pd for less than $10 and tested them, and they put out 5, 9, 12, 15 and 20 volts. So far the only PD supplies I have tested, but pretty neat.

[@temporarilyoffline]

​@@goatmoag That is pretty awesome. I find getting 12v out of a PD to be hit or miss. I think they removed it from the spec a while back. I found this one here: geni.us/DGYzqR Now I gotta have it!

[@KS0JD]

Thanks for the video Steve! 73

[@temporarilyoffline]

You're welcome! 73

[@Sylvan_dB]

I was hoping it was going to be a simple interface to USB-C PD PPS, and couldn't understand why they wouldn't support up to the full 240 watts and 48v. But instead it's apparently an old school buck (maybe boost?) in a nice box with basic USB inputs. I probably have a dozen of those modules around which is more than I need. 🤷

[@temporarilyoffline]

I didn't know the PD specd 48v, nice!

[@Sylvan_dB]

@@temporarilyoffline Yes! It's fairly new, so understandable you hadn't seen it yet, and wall adapters that support it are still rare.

[@RookieLock]

Pretty cool ! I can see this coming in handy for all sorts of projects. I wanna see that thing connected to a computer.. Mainly to see you use a windows machine 🤣

[@temporarilyoffline]

I don't know if I can bring myself to do that on video...

[@RookieLock]

awww come on ;P

[@NVRMTmotion]

@@temporarilyoffline It won't count if you run it in a VM

[@temporarilyoffline]

@@NVRMTmotion well there goes that plan!

[@NVRMTmotion]

@temporarilyoffline no no no, I mean it doesn't count against ya! XD

[@newYorkStories]

What are you using the ADSB for? Intrigued!

[@temporarilyoffline]

Spying on planes overhead: kzbin.info/aero/PL01YuCls6edaySf2CRljj8lc4YqhSXmUL

[@newYorkStories]

@ oh, it’s a receiver! For a moment I thought you built a fancy man-carrying drone

[@imtall31]

We need a deep dive into this thing.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yeah we do! What are you interested in knowing?

[@imtall31]

​@temporarilyoffline the windows app and maybe some videos of actually using it for various ham things

[@hamradioexperience]

1) YoU nEeD tO rEmOvE tHe PrOtEcToR fRoM yOuR bAtTeRy PaCk 😆 2) I've been eyeing up that Allosun multimeter. Seems nice and portable. 3) I need to test one and see how clean the power is! It has higher current output than my (lab) bench power supply!! 73,

[@temporarilyoffline]

1 - some protectors are strategically left on for easter egg effect. 2 - No-Stab in your pocket. Its not "great", but it is perfect for "on the go" 3 - I have a few links where you can get one!

[@hamradioexperience]

@temporarilyoffline awesome! I just had to razz you for the protector...doesn't bother me any! Re the meter, that's exactly why I was considering it... Decent enough, very portable option. 73,

[@captdaveclearedtoland8876]

What is ADSB? I know it's used for aviation, Do you have a ADSB receiver to of some sort to track aircraft? If so what is it? Dave

[@N0LSD]

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast. It's a positioning beacon system for aircraft.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Hey Dave. I have a couple of them. They are fun to play with. You can get a cheap "sdr dongle" of Amazon and make it work with a variety of things. My latest on it is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKnVfISKoMakb9Esi=5jHKo15vWj9pdLsC

[@Dusty_Ham]

What a nice little power supply. You need to change the battery in your Kaiweets meter. Sorry for being the "battery police" lol

[@temporarilyoffline]

Thanks for the looking out!!

[@ke6igz]

Wonder how the RFI is?

[@temporarilyoffline]

Good question. Next vid.

[@Tech-Relief]

FNIRSI are recently releasing cool looking gadgets. However, they often do not spend enough time testing and some of their recent stuff like the LCR-P1 component tester is really bad in function and full of bugs and omissions. But back to the power supply I personally see no use for it if it had an normal AC input it would be more useful?

[@temporarilyoffline]

I was curious about that too... but I'm striving to remove 120vac from my shack/life and this takes up to 32v input, so could be very useful for me... or maybe it will just collect dust with all the other projects I have to do.

[@harryniedecken5321]

Can it accept 24 volt ?

[@temporarilyoffline]

5-32v input range. Good to go! 👍

[@75ohmHAM]

I need this.

[@temporarilyoffline]

But... do you know why?

[@simongordon8182]

So the Amazon link gives the device at one price but Amazon flag there’s a newer version that’s more expensive…

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yeah. It's not "newer", it just the model that comes with the USB power supply

[@simongordon8182]

@ that makes more sense thanks. Impressive good high power usb c bricks

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Interesting product

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yeah, Now to find a good use for it.

[@sunnindawg]

Excellent

[@temporarilyoffline]

Glad you think so!

[@akiddoo8113]

You can buy a higher rated bench power supply with dual output for less monies. I see no advantage except for the portable boost feature. I pass.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Roger that!

[@Oberkaptain]

They knocked off the miniware power supply.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Looks like it's a bit more affordable than the miniware too!

[@angelscomputers]

Not today Steve,,,not today....lol

[@temporarilyoffline]

Fair

[@anatoliytrifonov9812]

Just use one calibrated Fluke meter. Standard for the industry.

[@temporarilyoffline]

I'm not folding fluke paper yet!

[@xephael3485]

Fluke was calibrated in China where it was produced... Game, set.

[@anatoliytrifonov9812]

@@xephael3485 . I agree with you. For my purpose I am calibrated all my equipment under ISO 17025 +full data+ uncertainty from accredited lab. Every Year. That is the way if you want to produce correct measurements. I am doing this with every new piece of equipment. Doesn't matter from the certificate. Usually the manufacturer just does basic calibration. Every additional calibration costs extra money..

[@jmr]

EDIT: On sale for "Black Friday" 20% off. I don't need this stupid thing... but maybe I should buy like 4 of them just in case. 😆 I love USB PD!

[@temporarilyoffline]

20% off is no joke!

[@theheist5]

Well I just bought 5 meshtastic nodes and I don't need those atm lol.

[@jmr]

@@theheist5 Love Meshtastic too. Good choice!

[@temporarilyoffline]

@theheist5 what is this "need" word?

[@theheist5]

@@temporarilyoffline XD It is like the seven piece lot of lmr400 I bought off a guy yesterday. I only needed one 75ft run but I ended up with seven for a hundred bucks lol

[@DustinWatts]

Micro USB :( But otherwise decent product! I wonder if it is a power supply or a power monitor...

[@temporarilyoffline]

Depends on your definition, take a look

[@DustinWatts]

@@temporarilyoffline Yeah I took a look and later on it seems more like a power supply. Supplied with USB C or a wall wart instead of mains. But that is mine to. I have a Meanwell supply supplying my power supply. Kinda the same.

[@temporarilyoffline]

@DustinWatts mean well makes a good unit! Usually they aren't variable though, did you find one that was?

[@DustinWatts]

@@temporarilyoffline Yes I found a few. The are variable, but don't have a large range, just to dial in the exact voltage.

[@temporarilyoffline]

@@DustinWatts Nice!

[@tvviewer4500]

Why?

[@temporarilyoffline]

To precisely power things on your workbench.

[@tvviewer4500]

@ yeah we have actual power supply units for that

[@temporarilyoffline]

@@tvviewer4500 if you don't have a need for a precisely settable variable output, this isn't for you.

[@tvviewer4500]

@ yeah that’s why I have a bench power supply. Don’t know why anyone would buy this

[@temporarilyoffline]

Like everything else in this world, its not made for just one person. If you already have one and don't need a backup... then its not really for you.

[@youtubeaccount931]

I had no idea I needed this seriously it looks super handy

[@temporarilyoffline]

Its a brilliant bit of kit!

[@fotografm]

"I don't do windoze" - that phrase will be getting heard more and more over the next 12 months until windoze 10 dies 🙂

[@temporarilyoffline]

Windows 7 is the BEST windows. But I'd be happy with 2000 or NT also. I just want my OS to be a swiss army knife and not an advertising billboard that leaks privacy.

[@fotografm]

@@temporarilyoffline I agree !

[@frankonboard2329]

You're using all Chinese stuff, how can you expect them to be accurate?

[@temporarilyoffline]

First: Everything is Chinese, thanks to over regulation by the government and second: Point me to some affordable/accesible US product that does what this thing does and I'll see what I can do there. I'm just the messenger.

[@WaschyNumber1]

Of you would have a fluke meter you would know what would show the correct data.

[@temporarilyoffline]

I'm good on the zed

[@gimpsgonewild]

micro usb in 2024... NOPE!

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yeah, seems like an easy update too

[@KA4UPW]

$70, I dont think so

[@temporarilyoffline]

Cool.

[@michael_KD8GIJ]

Why do you insist on spending my money? I need to save something for Christmas presents for my family. They were a little disappointed last year when I gave each of them their own box of generic Mac & Cheese.

[@temporarilyoffline]

This year you can give them the salt and pepper shakers to make the mac n cheese better!

[@dannydivine7699]

What is it actually "USEFUL" for?? Ask'in for a friend

[@temporarilyoffline]

All sorts of bench build and test scenarios - such as what will my radio do with less than 12v? Or programming and testing 3.3v or 5v Arduino, Pi. Etc projects instead of waiting for batteries to charge up. Lots more applications, but those are just a few

[@WaschyNumber1]

Not again F-NRISI a power supply with normal buttons instead full touchscreen, touchscreens are this days realy cheap, and normal buttons can not hold longer than a touchscreen. Micro USB Really, 🤔 in 2024 Front dc plug outputs that can easy get a short, needs only a wire to go across, instead that they are flat with the housing. 🤔 😵

[@temporarilyoffline]

Good feedback.

[@Moselblues]

sorry, but a kind of pointless review without measuring the ripple current under load.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Patience.

[@Moselblues]

@@temporarilyoffline ok, sorry for being offensive. It was a bad week for me, the US and the rest of the world...

[@temporarilyoffline]

@@Moselblues No worries, Towards the end I talk about how the video is getting long and there is more fun to be had. If I did an 8 hour long review video, nobody would watch it. Just working within the confines of the medium!

[@ragheadand420roll]

@@Moselblueswas an amazing week where the one true leader was elected . No wonder youre so emotional.

[@jepcozenith40]

​@@Moselblues womp womp