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Reviews For: Samlex SEC-1223

Category: Power Supplies

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Review Summary For : Samlex SEC-1223
Reviews: 157MSRP: 129.99
Description:
Switching Power Supply

Helpful RFI reduction mod by ZL2DF: http://www.n0ss.net/samlex_1223_rfi_mods_from_zl2df.pdf
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.samlexamerica.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001574.4
KI6PDQ Rating: 2008-07-11
Absolutely flawless! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Use it EVERYDAY to power my mobile at least 12 hours or more per day. No a single complain or malfunction. Straighforward compact design. Stays cools and fan is very quite. What else can you ask for?
AA4LR Rating: 2008-06-15
RFI Generator - but solvable Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After my old linear supply went west after 19 years in service, I found a used Samlex 1223 at a hamfest. Owner had replaced it with an Astron SS-25M. I should have taken the hint there.

I was impressed with the size of the unit, and it had no trouble supplying my K2/100 to full output, even on 160m. (The old linear supply could only do about 90 watts on 160m)

However, I was disturbed to find numerous spurs were audible on my antennas on 160m. The loudest of these was near 1845 kHz, about an S7 on the K2 S-meter. Note that the location and strength of the spurs varies with supply load.

I found that putting a snap-on ferrite core around the power cord reduced the spur to an S5 indication. A similar reduction could be had by placing a snap-on ferrite around the power output leads.

My first modification was to de-solder the white and black power cord jumpers inside the unit in order to slip on seven FT50-77 toroids. After this modification, the spur was reduced to an S5 indication.

Since that wasn't sufficient, I then made a modification similar to that designed by ZL2DF and published by N0SS: http://www.n0ss.net/samlex_1223_rfi_mods_from_zl2df.pdf

My unit was different from ZL2DF, in that it did not have the screw / compression power terminals. Instead, my unit used two binding posts that were soldered directly to spade terminals on the PC board.

After pulling out the PC board, I removed the spade terminals. I replaced these with 16 gauge wire fed through eight type 43 ferrite beads for each lead. The wire is small, but it is the largest that would fit through the beads. the output terminals are bypassed across each other and to chassis ground with .1 50v multi-layer ceramic caps.

After this, the spur at 1845 kHz was just audible. At night, atmospheric noise covers it up.

This supply was originally designed to work with VHF/ UHF gear, and likely does well. With minor modifications, it is suitable for use with HF gear.
G8ITB Rating: 2008-04-23
Excellent Workhorses! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own six - Yes Six!- SEC1223's - used either to power accessories in the shack; VHF Field Day power supplies (One for the IC-7000 & one for the Mirage D3010N 433 Mhz amplifier) and one used for Licence training classes to power the HF/VHF transceivers.
They have all been picked up at various times and have their roles changed to keep them working. Yes - they are switched mode and so have 'birdies' - what do you expect?
I notice that the "CE" specification models are slightly different to the "FCC" specification models and are quieter RF-wise! That could be the reason we have fewer problems over here with 'birdies'. The manufacturer sells a decent product at a decent price - many amateurs expect perfection without wishing to pay a professional price - that will not happen!
Consider that these PSU's are primarily intended for VHF upwards transceiver use - whan actually used with transceivers! HF was never the primary target - so!
If you are doubtfull go read the reviews on Icom's PS125 - and in the USA you get one FREE with a HF transceiver!
For EU amateurs - go look at the circuit diagram; and with one link switched by a dedicated 120/240 switch you have a 'decent' psu for holidays to those other parts of the world with lower voltage AC, all for a couple of Euros/Pounds.
[For my HF transceiver - I use a professional 50 amp, 13.8 volt LINEAR supply, with full protection circuitry, that originally would have cost much, much more than the transciever - I was lucky, refurbishment at work and it was going into a skip; still in its unopened packing - H.M. Government department; of course!]
KB9BIT Rating: 2008-02-27
Noisy, it's going back Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Last night I was trying to work JT1CO on 30 meters when I kept getting a loud white noise-type hash that would slowly drift down in frequency and cover the DX. Every time I would transmit, the noise would change frequency upward by a small amount then drift back down onto the DX frequency. I immediately suspected the power supply. I turned it off for a few seconds and the noise would be gone when I turned it back on. A few seconds later the noise would slowly build again.

I have my antenna tuner's meter lamp connected to the same power supply. Turning the light on and off would cause the noise to jump up and down in frequency a small bit. Placing a portable AM radio within a few feet of the power supply resulted in hearing the same type of white noise hash. I also noticed the same noise on or near 14.005 MHz, 7.006 MHz and several places on the 80 meter band in addition to the hash on 10.104 MHz. I never did check 17, 15, 12 or 10 meters

The power supply is mostly quiet and the noise it does generate will not be too big of a problem, most of the time, but the fact that it was interfering with weak signal DX is completely unacceptable.

I'm aware of the simple ZL2DF filtering modification for this power supply but this is a brand new unit and should be something the manufacturer should have taken care of. I won't take it apart and void the warranty.

Needless to say, it is going back. I have ordered a new Astron RS-20A to replace the one that just died after 19 years. BTW, the new RS-20A is the exact same price I paid for my original one back in 1989, and the same price I paid for the Samlex 1223.

Overall, this is an OK unit, but I'll stay away from switching power supplies from now on.
LZ1NDI Rating: 2008-01-09
very good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Had mine for about a year now, works well. I use it with TM-271A, when load is high the PSU makes a bit of noice.
overall very good and compact psu.
last week I even used it to jump-start my car, connected the terminals to the battery for about 5 minutes and it was charged enough to start (the manual says not to do so as it may damage the PSU)
KF4JZY Rating: 2007-11-19
Works Great Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I use this PS to power my IC-718 and Yaesu FT-8800R. It performs great. It is very small as well, so it is easy to pack up for emcomm use. I have not noticed any noise associated with this PS. I would buy again, and would recommend this.

Brent, KF4JZY
G7IGB Rating: 2007-11-07
Good value for money Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've recently purchased a SEC (Samlex) 1223 for £25 from a local rally and it's about the best SMPS unit I've had. It's very stable and doesn't seem to get hot, even when running 100W output on my Yaesu FT-897. My only complaint is the RFI or 'hash' that it produces on several 80m band frequencies between 3.700 and 3.800 MHz. Without this problem I'd rate it 5/5, but it's much better than other 'switch mode' units that I've tested. It's certainly good value for money on the second hand market and is ideal for portable work.
G3RWL Rating: 2007-10-24
Good product, poor support Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had the SEC-1223 for several years and its a good PSU. On a recent dxpedition one antenna developed a fault (I found a wire off the dipole feed after I got home) that resulted in much more RF in the shack than usual on two of the eight bands in use. This caused the PSU to reduce output voltage.

Samlex America's technical support a) were not technical, and b) refused to comment on my suggestion about how I could strengthen the RF immunity of my PSU for the future.
KG6BRG Rating: 2007-10-04
queit and efficient Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Can't add much that has not already been said. I have 2 Astron linear supplies (20 and a 35 amp), but I like the Samlex switcher better. It makes no noise and even though I have a random wire in the shack 5 feet away I have no RF issue getting into the power supply. I hear nothing objectionable in the receive either. It takes up little room and I have never heard the fan come on and it runs cool to the touch after SSB qso. You just can't go wrong with these PS. cheers. scott. P.S. I've had it for 4 years.
GEIIM Rating: 2007-09-02
Good Value power supply Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Works well and is quiet. You do hear hash coming from the 1223 but it is not very strong and it "walks" up or down in frequency so it's not long before it has moved away from the frequency you are monitoring and all is quiet again.

It is a good value and for the price you are getting a good power supply but it does make some noise.