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Reviews For: Samlex SEC-1235 & 1235M

Category: Power Supplies

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Review Summary For : Samlex SEC-1235 & 1235M
Reviews: 73MSRP: 139.95
Description:
Samlex 30 Amp continuous switching power supply with or without meters.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.samlexamerica.com/products/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=5
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
25734.4
VA3YNK Rating: 2011-10-20
Can't complain Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have owned mine for a little over 4 months. At first I was a bit skeptical in regards to price, size and being generally unfamiliar with the brand name. After reading all the reviews, I just had to put in my nickels worth. For the short duration of my ownership, I can honestly say that I have had no problems whatsoever with this power supply. It is the dedicated supply to my Kenwood TS-430S in the basement shack, which happens to be my main talking rig. I have had many long ragchews using this power supply and only a handful of times has the fan triggered. The case does indeed get warm after awhile but it has proved it's own by no malfunctions nor has the fan in anyway hampered a QSO (the fan on mine is very quiet). Now I realize that just like cars or anything else we buy this day and age, your bound to get a few lemons in the bunch. I myself have worked QC in electronics manufacturing. No matter how closely you inspect/test something, there could always be that variable from somewhere back up the line. My review I have to rate a 5 for the fact of price, size, durability and reliability in my situation..I will be truthful and update my review should I come across any problems in the future..
KQ1Q Rating: 2011-07-22
Solution to loud fan Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It's a good power supply but when the fan kicks on it's really loud. My TM-D710A dual-band radio only pulls about 13 amps DC when transmitting at 50W, yet during a long QSO the SEC1235M fan will kick on.

In his review, AD5X posted a link with details of his modifications to prevent this. It consists of running the stock fan continuously at low speed, while retaining the high speed if needed. Ironically he found high speed was never needed.

Based on this knowledge, my modification was different: I installed a much quieter SilenX 18 CFM fan, which runs continuously. It's probably all that's ever needed. In the unlikely event the 60C internal threshold is reached, I also installed a front-panel LED to warn of this, connected to the former DC fan plug on the power supply PCB. If it ever gets hot enough to request additional cooling, it will light the LED. As a final safety net, there's the built-in 90C thermal shutdown.

Results: the SilenX fan is almost inaudible. I've done several long QSOs at high power (about 13 amps) without the LED lighting, which indicates the power supply never reached 60C.

More details:
The stock cooling fan is mfg'd by Jamicon. It's a 60mm x 60mm x 20mm 12v, 1.7W, DC brushless fan, model # KF0620H1L - R. The full specs are on the Jamicon site: http://www.jamicon.com.tw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=111&Itemid=275&lang=en

The base model # of the fan is KF0620-01. It turns at 2500-5000 rpm, 13.8 to 28.3 CFM, acoustic noise 20.7 to 39.2 dBA (!!)

The replacement fan I used was a SilenX iXtrema Pro Fan, IXP-34-16, 60mm x 60mm x 25mm. It's 5mm thicker than the stock fan but fits OK. It's rated at 18CFM @ 16 dBA, or or 23.2 dBA quieter than the stock fan.

Front panel LED I installed was Radio Shack model Model: 276-270: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062568
N9RH Rating: 2011-07-16
good ps Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bouught a new SEC1235M about a year ago from Associated Radio. Used it for 2 weeks with an IC7600 when it blew the fuse. Opened it up and the power transisters were toast. Called Associated, and they sent a replacement one with no hastle. Had it now for about a year and no problems. It does get warm after a couple hours and the fan does come on, but it's quiet and only runs a little while. I have had no RF probs at all even on LW and MW bands. It has been working FB. As an other reviewer said I only wish the meters were illuminated.
N0EQ Rating: 2011-06-01
Great Tech Support Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Owned mine for 3.5 yrs. During that time it's been on more than off. Some times running continuously for 2-3 months, other times getting shut on and off several times daily.

Output is always rock solid 13.8V regardless of current draw.

About a week ago it developed a whine that could be heard by stations receiving me if I transmitted on a rig that drew more than about 16 amps (Midland Commercial Mobile). Phoned tech support toll free, got connected immediately to an English speaking human. Began describing the situation and he said "Is it whining?". They're familiar with the problem. Replace the three output caps. He gave me the Panasonic and DigiKey part numbers. The caps are 2200mfd, rated for 5000 hrs. I'm sure I went well past that. Cost of the replacement caps was six dollars including shipping from DigiKey. R and R was simple PC board unsolder/resolder.

I'd buy one again. Might buy one for a 2nd supply in a separate station in my home.


Craig 'Lumpy' Lemke

www.n0eq.com
W7RUE Rating: 2011-02-06
W7RUE Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had mine over a year and I have had great service. I just wish the meters were backlit.
TF3JB Rating: 2011-02-06
No good... Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
It was my task to replace this Samlex with a linear power supply. It only lasted 6 months connected to a TS-2000 at our club.
N0AZZ Rating: 2011-02-06
A BEST BUY Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have had mine for almost 5 yrs now and it has never been turned off as well as my 1223 and never any RF hash on any bands 440-160mhz all modes. Read the QST review last year a good review there also what more can I say. I have 3 of there supplies one is used for a portable to use with my FT-847 or my IC-7000 light small compact and allways works.
K1TJ Rating: 2010-11-20
4 of these quit in a year! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Had three of these in repeater service and don't trust them up on the mountain top unless you want to continuously drive up and change them out. Just got back from last episode of this. Buy an Astron if you don't want problems, more money but much better product. The other was just warrantied and lasted two weeks for testing things around the shack. Not worth warranting again, cost too much in shipping to Canada again.
K0IZ Rating: 2010-06-15
Works well, some hash that can be reduced Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am using to power a new K3. Unit works very well, small and efficient. When first testing unit with the K3 and a 6ft piece of wire as antenna, I noticed significant hash on most bands (unit next to K3). Moving the wire around I found most was coming from the front of the unit, at the meters. I installed .1uf disc caps from each side of each meter to ground (using the meter mounting screws). Made a huge reduction in hash. No hash with coax instead of wire.
AD5X Rating: 2010-02-10
Main shack power Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had an SEC1235M for about two years now. It powers my K3 and all shack accessories, and is very RF quiet. I made a simple modification to it that keeps the fan turning at low speed all the time - thereby minimizing the requirement for the fan to go to high speed. I also added Anderson PowerPole connectors on the back. A more detailed review and all mod info is in the "Product Reviews" section of my website at www.ad5x.com.