Anyone purchase this year?
http://www.kickstart...for-electronics
Not sure if the price point makes sense for hobby projects, but looks interesting
Hydra Power Supply on Kickstarter
Started by Christoc, Feb 08 2013 07:39 PM
8 replies to this topic
#1
Christoc
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Posted 08 February 2013 - 07:39 PM
View my blog at ChrisHammond.com
Projects: Netduino Tank/Tracked Vehicle, DNNFoos, Random other bits
#2
JerseyTechGuy
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Posted 08 February 2013 - 07:44 PM
I really thought about getting on board especially now for just $169 to support it and get one. Once it goes retail for $200 not sure I would get one. But then I talked my self out of the $169 contribution.
It's a pretty cool concept.
#3
Christoc
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Posted 08 February 2013 - 07:50 PM
Fortunately (or unfortunately) you've got 29 days to talk yourself into it again 
I haven't quite decided myself yet
View my blog at ChrisHammond.com
Projects: Netduino Tank/Tracked Vehicle, DNNFoos, Random other bits
#4
Gutworks
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Posted 08 February 2013 - 09:26 PM
It does look interesting. I wish they provided more data such as oscilloscope graphs of the output. I wonder how clean the power output truly is? Also the Bluetooth option just looks like a standard serial Bluetooth module with black tape over it. I recently purchased one for under $8 on ebay and works quite well with my Netduinos. Thanks to RogueMatt's code I can now control my Netduino Go via Bluetooth and a Lumia 920 
Steve
Twiiter: https://twitter.com/Gutworks
#5
NooM
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Posted 08 February 2013 - 10:58 PM
in my opinion that would be a total waste of money.
its design is simple: a small chip for bluetooth and settings .. than maybe a step up converter-
than 3 step down converters with digital mpotentiometers (so you can control the output voltage per software)
its like a arduino chip with step up and step down converters... total cost: 20€
edit: http://imageshack.us...me214092012.png
simple version of it ... add another step up to 24v .. another step down.. replace the blue
pots with digi-pots, add a small chip.. done 
#6
Mario Vernari
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Posted 09 February 2013 - 04:34 AM
NooM is maybe too naughty saying that's "a waste of money", but I'm with him because the very high price compared to the features.
First off, it's a switching-mode PSU, which is fine for engineered devices, but not for hobby projects. I mean that you should add extra filtering (i.e. capacitors, coils, etc) to reduce the generated noise.
Secondly, they write about a very bad "40mV @ 200mA" ripple, which is very high! Please, bear in mind that if you wire the PSU to your circuit with one meter long cable, that will be a perfect antenna! So, what about the ripple on loads of above 1 A?
Thirdly, what is the sense of regulating as less as 10mV (0.01V), when the ripple (=noise) is at least 4x higher?
By other way, I really like the aluminum case, instead the ordinary plastic one.
IMHO, the picture in the page showing the Hydra and a classic bench PSU says all.
Cheers
Biggest fault of Netduino? It runs by electricity.
#7
CW2
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Posted 09 February 2013 - 10:14 AM
IMHO, the picture in the page showing the Hydra and a classic bench PSU says all.
It's rather interesting device, but IMHO comparison to a linear power supply is mostly to demonstrate the size difference 
HY3003D-3 is dual adjustable 0 - 30V, 0 - 3A, with ripple noise <= 0.5 mV RMS...
One feature I would like to have on such portable power supply is some control mechanism to adjust/switch the voltage and current without the need of computer, phone etc. and indicator LEDs - well, this is actually second feature, but I really like LEDs
#8
hanzibal
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Posted 09 February 2013 - 10:33 AM
I think it's wrong to compare a switching mode PSU with a non-switching like the one they put next to the Hydra in the pictures. Both types has their own advantages and disadvantages. There are also hybrids bringing together the best of two worlds.
I recently got this one:
http://www.conrad.co...ench-1-36V-0-5A
It's a programmable (USB, electrical and 3 presets) MCU controlled low ripple 180W switching mode PSU with 1- 36V 0 - 5A priced at some 200 USD and has all the stuff Mario mentioned in caps, transformers etc.
Of course, it's not as small as the Hydra but much smaller and lighter than any non-switching type benchtop model.
EDIT: The HY3003D-3 that CW2 linked to is on sale at 170 USD which to me, seems like a really good deal.
#9
calebc
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Posted 27 February 2013 - 11:05 PM
Hey guys.
The Hydra is my project. Thanks for your feedback!
The noise characteristic that was listed on the Kickstarter page was a worst-case estimate, but I recently collected some actual data. There is a summary and screenshots here: http://www.kickstart...cs/posts/415773
It's still not as good as a nice benchtop supply, but you pay a price for not being able to throw gigantic capacitors on it. :-)
I didn't mean to suggest that the Hydra is a viable replacement for a nice lab supply in all cases. Mostly the Hydra addresses a niche for a good adjustable supply that you can use in places other than your bench. The cost is higher than it might have been because the buck-boost architecture cost a little more in parts. If it were a little less flexible (say, only buck or only boost) we could have done it for a lot cheaper.
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