This Elenco "Variable Voltage Power Supply Kit" is a decent practical starter kit and is overall good quality. I have been teaching my teen son electronics and have looked for projects to help reenforce the theory with practical applications, so this kit was an easy choice.
The kit has 19 electronic components (transformer, capacitors, resistors, IC regulator, etc), printed circuit board, various connectors (screws, washers, etc), a decent case, power cord, label, solder, and instructions. This is more than just a "Insert Part A in location B1" type kit as it actually teaches what each part of the circuit does and includes both a lesson and quiz to test your knowledge. Another useful section shows the wave forms that should be seen on an oscilloscope at various locations on the circuit board, which is good if you don't have one (we do, but it is not needed to build this kit).
The kit does not have a display, so you will need a multimeter to confirm the output voltage along the adjustable scale. We are adding New 2 Wire Blue DC 4.5-30V LED Panel digital display Voltage Meter Voltmeter By Buyincoins so we know at a glance. It also does not have an On/Off power switch, so we are adding SPST Rocker Switch RadioShack 275-0694 (Red). Both of these additions will be easy to put in and will be a good confidence building experience for my son in learning how to modify existing circuits.
Overall, this is a surprisingly good kit that makes a worthy beginner's project.
CFH
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| Customer Reviews |
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| Price | $17.99 | $13.99 | $29.99 | — no data | $49.61 |
| STEM Education | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Minimum Age | 13+ | 12+ | 8+ | 8+ | 10+ |
| Practical Skills | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Batteries Required | None | None | None | ✓ | ✓ |
Product information
| Product Dimensions | 11 x 5 x 4 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 1 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Elenco Electronics LLC |
| ASIN | B0002D0ROO |
| Item model number | XP-15K |
| Customer Reviews |
4.2 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #743,813 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games) #6,463 in Educational Science Kits |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | May 10, 2004 |
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Elenco - Regulated Variable Power Supply - 0-15 Volts (Assembly Required)
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It teaches you the basics of transformers, rectifiers, and voltage controllers.
The Elenco XP-15K DIY Variable Power Supply Kit is a great project to learn how AC is converted to DC. The finished device will allow you to power small handheld radios as you troubleshoot them for repairs and also to power your prototypes. A well put together kit, I am very impressed. Features I like about this Kit: Easy to assemble. Comes with an attractive and purposeful enclosure. Provides enough power to be very useful in radio building and repair. Variable DC output, up to 15 Volts. Short Circuit Protection. Over-Heat Protection. Clear and Concise instructions. Fast response if your have a wrong or missing part. No RFI generated by the Supply. Features that could be added or improved on: A power switch. Overall, this project gets a recommended buy from me. It teaches you the basics of transformers, rectifiers, and voltage controllers. When you are finished you have a working supply to further your electronics building and training.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2012
- Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2011
- Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2020
The Elenco XP-15K DIY Variable Power Supply Kit is a great project to learn how AC is converted to DC. The finished device will allow you to power small handheld radios as you troubleshoot them for repairs and also to power your prototypes. A well put together kit, I am very impressed.
It teaches you the basics of transformers, rectifiers, and voltage controllers.
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2020
Features I like about this Kit:
Easy to assemble.
Comes with an attractive and purposeful enclosure.
Provides enough power to be very useful in radio building and repair.
Variable DC output, up to 15 Volts.
Short Circuit Protection.
Over-Heat Protection.
Clear and Concise instructions.
Fast response if your have a wrong or missing part.
No RFI generated by the Supply.
Features that could be added or improved on:
A power switch.
Overall, this project gets a recommended buy from me. It teaches you the basics of transformers, rectifiers, and voltage controllers. When you are finished you have a working supply to further your electronics building and training.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
- Albert SemelmannReviewed in Canada on May 1, 2017
A fun and useful power supply kit.
This is a very nice, simple to build DC power supply, As usual with Elenco, the instructions are easy to follow and very complete. The Assembly Manual has illustrations, check lists, testing instructions and a troubleshooting guide, as well as quiz questions for reviewing the theory learned during the project construction. The circuit board and case are not crowded with closely spaced components, so basic soldering skills and simple hand tools are all that is required for the successful completion of the project.Albert SemelmannA fun and useful power supply kit.
Reviewed in Canada on May 1, 2017
I made two modifications to the kit. First, I added an on/off toggle switch to the AC input line, so that the power supply can be shut off without pulling the plug out of the wall receptacle. Second, I wired an LED display to give a readout of the Voltage across the positive and negative binding terminals, so that it isn't necessary to have a separate Voltmeter connected externally. (See the attached photo for the placement.)
This was a very pleasant project for me, and I would definitely recommend it, especially for the novice electronics hobbyist.
Images in this review
- Steve BoydReviewed in Canada on July 29, 2016
Excellent Little Kit!
Great little kit!Steve BoydExcellent Little Kit!
Reviewed in Canada on July 29, 2016
EDIT: With a little solder and 3 binding posts I also added a 17VAC and a 34VAC tap to it to add even more functionality
I like this kit a lot. Very simple to put together and quite accurate. I compared the output to my meter and it's excellent. How did I compare accuracy with a meter? Well on to the reason for 4 instead of 5 stars. It needs an on/off switch AND a panel Voltmeter to really be usable. But, this was an easy modification. With about 10 bucks worth of parts and a little careful case carving, I added a switch for on/off and a digital panel meter. Image of the finished product attached. The initial construction took about 20 mins and the mods about another 20 mins. Good little unit with some portability as well. Go for the extra 10 bucks and make it a complete digital machine with just a couple of simple steps. Take your time, solder well and it will outlast you!
Images in this review
