Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Amazon is selling a switching DC power supply to support vacuum tube projects like audio amplifiers and radios. It is small in size and cheap at $30 for being rated at supplying 300VDC at 300 MA and 6.3VDC at 5 amps. That is enough for an 8 to 10 tube radio and a 25-Watt CW transmitter.
I purchased one with the intent of using it on my Hybrid Wireless Transceiver but did want to evaluate the supply before putting all eggs in one basket.
After some testing which is documented in this video, I draw the Analogy to the $2.50 Hooker... Too good to be true and you get exactly what you pay for.
You Tube has several videos where this supply was used with the AWA 6AQ5 CW transmitter and could produce about 9 watts output. My biggest demand is for a constant output of 300 VDC at 70 MA during Receive. On SSB transmit the duty cycle is such that peak demands are transitory and likely will be OK.
I never did see 300VDC. In the unboxed state the supply has a jumper pin so you can select 280VDC or 300VDC. The unit came with the jumper on 280VDC but the 300VDC pins seem inoperative.
I took a look at AC ripple but what I think is being shown are switching transients. But a look using my SDR did not register any blips. It is likely this supply will not fill the bill for the Hybrid Wireless as I was counting on 300VDC.
Caveat Emptor.
73's
Pete N6QW
Amazon is selling a switching DC power supply to support vacuum tube projects like audio amplifiers and radios. It is small in size and cheap at $30 for being rated at supplying 300VDC at 300 MA and 6.3VDC at 5 amps. That is enough for an 8 to 10 tube radio and a 25-Watt CW transmitter.
I purchased one with the intent of using it on my Hybrid Wireless Transceiver but did want to evaluate the supply before putting all eggs in one basket.
After some testing which is documented in this video, I draw the Analogy to the $2.50 Hooker... Too good to be true and you get exactly what you pay for.
You Tube has several videos where this supply was used with the AWA 6AQ5 CW transmitter and could produce about 9 watts output. My biggest demand is for a constant output of 300 VDC at 70 MA during Receive. On SSB transmit the duty cycle is such that peak demands are transitory and likely will be OK.
I never did see 300VDC. In the unboxed state the supply has a jumper pin so you can select 280VDC or 300VDC. The unit came with the jumper on 280VDC but the 300VDC pins seem inoperative.
I took a look at AC ripple but what I think is being shown are switching transients. But a look using my SDR did not register any blips. It is likely this supply will not fill the bill for the Hybrid Wireless as I was counting on 300VDC.
Caveat Emptor.
73's
Pete N6QW
