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[K6BRN]

Gentlemen:

Any decent power supply capable of providing a well regulated/fault protected 13.8 volts at 23+ Amps continuous should work to power a single 100 Watt HF radio.  But there are some pros and cons between types.  And I usually use separate supplies for the HF and UHF/VHF radios in my stations - as I run them concurrently.

The Astron RS-35 analog regulated power supply and its varients have been the mainstay of HF radio power supplies for decades.  They're simple, easy to repair when they break, switching noise free, generally, don't blow up radios and provide significant line noise/EMI isolation.

But they're big, not very efficient and can be expensive, new.  LOTS of RS-35's on the used market.  They just keep on going.

Switchers, like the Yaesu FP-1023 can be less expensive, are WAY smaller, and lighter.  But all the ones I've tested all generate significant RFI/EMI on 160, 80, 60 and 40M - less as frequency increases, usually.  No way aroud this, really, unless you or the manufacturer puts a BIG filter on the output.

I have three stations and use both types- linear Astrons (-35 and -50's) and switchers (Powerwerx SS-30DV, SPS-30DM, MegaWatt S-400-12 and others).  I like the Powerwerx SS-30DV best - well priced, enough power for any 100W HF rig, and reliable in my experience.  But with ALL switchers, I have to wrap at least 5 turns of 10 Ga wire from the 13.8VDC supply line through a 2.5 inch mix 31 toroid to suppress switching noise on the lower frequency bands.
 
A comparison of these supplies with some test result comments can be found HERE:

https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=9398

The Yaesu FP-1023 will probably work fine, but it IS a switcher, and if a ham really likes to operate on 160, 80 or 60M (most new hams don't due to antenna requirements) RFI mitigation WILL be needed.  On 40M, it may or may not be a problem.  On 30M and up (in frequency) you may never see a noise issue (though one ham did in a previous post above - with a Samlex switcher)  Reviews of the Yaesu supply are found HERE:

https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=12745 (just two)

and here:

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/ysu-fp-1023a  (many)

I avoid MFJ products like the plague.  One MFJ supply that's a lookalike to the PowerWerx SS-30DV (but with an analog meter) failed after a year of very light use.  Opening it up, it was necessary to shake the solder balls out of it before inspecting the circuit board, which proved to have a number of cold and some unsoldered joints.   Once resoldered, it came back to life.  I've had this type of experience with a number of MFJ products and just can't recommend them.  They may work to a degree once sorted, but not all CAN be sorted.  If you've had no problems with them, lady luck has smiled on you - go directly to Vegas immediately!

Brian - K6BRN

[KD9PQB]

Gentlemen:

Any decent power supply capable of providing a well regulated/fault protected 13.8 volts at 23+ Amps continuous should work to power a single 100 Watt HF radio.  But there are some pros and cons between types.  And I usually use separate supplies for the HF and UHF/VHF radios in my stations - as I run them concurrently.

The Astron RS-35 analog regulated power supply and its varients have been the mainstay of HF radio power supplies for decades.  They're simple, easy to repair when they break, switching noise free, generally, don't blow up radios and provide significant line noise/EMI isolation.

But they're big, not very efficient and can be expensive, new.  LOTS of RS-35's on the used market.  They just keep on going.

Switchers, like the Yaesu FP-1023 can be less expensive, are WAY smaller, and lighter.  But all the ones I've tested all generate significant RFI/EMI on 160, 80, 60 and 40M - less as frequency increases, usually.  No way aroud this, really, unless you or the manufacturer puts a BIG filter on the output.

I have three stations and use both types- linear Astrons (-35 and -50's) and switchers (Powerwerx SS-30DV, SPS-30DM, MegaWatt S-400-12 and others).  I like the Powerwerx SS-30DV best - well priced, enough power for any 100W HF rig, and reliable in my experience.  But with ALL switchers, I have to wrap at least 5 turns of 10 Ga wire from the 13.8VDC supply line through a 2.5 inch mix 31 toroid to suppress switching noise on the lower frequency bands.
 
A comparison of these supplies with some test result comments can be found HERE:

https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=9398

The Yaesu FP-1023 will probably work fine, but it IS a switcher, and if a ham really likes to operate on 160, 80 or 60M (most new hams don't due to antenna requirements) RFI mitigation WILL be needed.  On 40M, it may or may not be a problem.  On 30M and up (in frequency) you may never see a noise issue (though one ham did in a previous post above - with a Samlex switcher)  Reviews of the Yaesu supply are found HERE:

https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=12745 (just two)

and here:

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/ysu-fp-1023a  (many)

I avoid MFJ products like the plague.  One MFJ supply that's a lookalike to the PowerWerx SS-30DV (but with an analog meter) failed after a year of very light use.  Opening it up, it was necessary to shake the solder balls out of it before inspecting the circuit board, which proved to have a number of cold and some unsoldered joints.   Once resoldered, it came back to life.  I've had this type of experience with a number of MFJ products and just can't recommend them.  They may work to a degree once sorted, but not all CAN be sorted.  If you've had no problems with them, lady luck has smiled on you - go directly to Vegas immediately!

Brian - K6BRN

Thanks very much Brian.  The Yaesu 1030 is a linear power supply, not switching.  That's what I bought and it's big and heavy.  I'm not at all a fan of MFJ and their umbrella brands so, yes, absolutely, I agree with you there.  Despite what a previous poster said, I'm not at all averse to Amtron products.  That's what the first owner of my radio used and he was content with it. 

Thanks, Mark

[K6BRN]

Hi Mark (KD9PQB):

My bad - I thought you were still going for the FP-1023.

Sounds like you're in good shape.  Hope to hear you on the air soon!

Brian - K6BRN

[VK6HP]

No IP is sacred and a few years ago I bought an "economical" eBay Chinese linear PSU (which had decent specs).  On inspection it looked kind of familiar..but not quite.  After a minute or two I realized it was a Yaesu 1030 electrical and physical clone, but with the front panel layout reversed!  Knowing the Chinese regard for IP I'm inclined to think it was an error in translation rather than any attempt to deny the obvious.  Anyway, apart from the fact that the fan is trigger happy and noisy, it works well enough at my remote LF/MF station.

With the LF/MF interest I have banished most switching PSU's from the shack(s) but I have found the Manson range to be fairly decent. It's a lottery, though, with a given supplier often badging supplies from several sources.

73, Peter.

[WO7R]

If you're worried about switching power supplies, you may have to be very careful about more than the direct PSU for your radio.

Computers, cell phones, cell phone chargers (to name three) all prominently feature switching supplies these days and they are all but impossible to get rid of, especially in your PC.  If you worked at it, you could probably get a non-switcher for the charger role.

This seems to be less of a factor these days, but I remember that at least on selected frequencies, PCs could put out incredible hash and it is still something to watch for.

For that matter, every "wall wart" in the house could be a problem awaiting to be uncovered.

[K6BRN]

If you're worried about switching power supplies, you may have to be very careful about more than the direct PSU for your radio.  ...snip...

Hi Larry (WO7R):

I've tested (and use) several 13.8 VDC switching power supplies in my stations, as well as linear supplies.  See some of my results HERE:

https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=9398

The interference generated by the switchers is primarily conducted EMI on the DC output, and if not filtered out, can radiate as RFI as well via the 13.8 VDC supply line.  To repeat - the main noise source - and it's REALLY annoying on 160 and 80M, less so on 40M - is the conducted EMI getting into the radio via the 13.8 VDC power leads.

Computers, wall warts, etc. can all contribute radiated RFI - but the conducted EMI is generally MUCH worse.  So for the switchers, I wrap 5-6 turns of the secondary power leads through a large Mix 31 and that pretty much solves the problem for my operating style, which includes the low (frequency) bands.

MANY hams never operate below 14 MHz (20M) or 7 MHz (40M) due to antenna size constraints, and the problem (in my experience) is mild at 40M and gone at 20 MHz.  So they never really notice the issue.

Brian - K6BRN

[KD9PQB]

Good things to know - thanks all.  I'll do better on keeping up with the thread.