Last reviewed: May 2026 · MLC editorial team · UK trade workshop perspective
Photo by Andrey Matveev on Pexels
Every electronics bench needs a power supply that won't blow your circuit when its set-point drifts under load. The £30 plug-pack from a tinkerer's drawer isn't it. Real bench supplies hold the set voltage to within 0.01% under transient loads, and they current-limit instead of melting your prototype. In 2026, UK engineers can expect reliable options ranging from around £50 for basic models with limited features up to several hundred pounds for advanced units offering precise control and multiple outputs. These supplies cater to everything from hobbyist projects to professional R&D environments, ensuring that voltage regulation remains stable even as you push your circuits to their limits in the workshop.
How we picked these
- Regulation: line and load regulation under 0.01% is the trade-acceptable minimum.
- Programmability: USB / Ethernet / LAN remote control matters for automated testing.
- Output isolation: floating outputs are required for op-amp work and bipolar supplies.
- Current limit: must be settable and active - a CC mode that latches off doesn't help if you're tracking transient inrush.
- Display resolution: 4-digit minimum for V and I. Lab supplies show 5-6 digit.
Reviewed picks
Korad KA3005P
Price: £130-£180 | Best for: maker / engineer first programmable supply
The Korad KA3005P is a solid linear bench power supply priced between £130 and £180, offering makers and engineers their first taste of programmability. It features nine memory slots and a USB interface, rare at this price point. However, it comes with a single output and can be noisy under full load.
| Outputs | 1 x 30V/5A |
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| Resolution | 10mV / 1mA |
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| Programmable | USB |
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| Memory | 9 presets |
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| Type | Linear |
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Pros
- Programmable at £150 price
- 9 memory slots
- USB interface
Cons
- Single output
- Fan noise on full load
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Check Korad KA3005P on Amazon UK →
Rigol DP832A
Price: £550-£700 | Best for: professional electronics lab
The Rigol DP832A is a solid choice for professional electronics labs with its three output channels delivering up to 30V/3A and ±15V capability, alongside a handy 5V channel. At £550-£700, it offers lab-grade regulation and built-in voltmeter and ammeter logging. However, the limited current on the 5V channel and its larger footprint may be drawbacks for some users.
| Outputs | 30V/3A + 30V/3A + 5V/3A |
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| Resolution | 1mV / 1mA |
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| Programmable | USB / LAN |
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| Memory | 10 states |
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| Type | Linear |
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Pros
- 3 outputs including ±15V capability
- Lab-grade regulation
- Built-in voltmeter / ammeter logging
Cons
- Larger footprint
- Limited 5V channel current
Check Rigol DP832A on Amazon UK →
Tenma 72-2540
Price: £80-£120 | Best for: first bench supply / student kit
The Tenma 72-2540 is a solid choice for beginners or students with its single 30V/3A output and linear design, priced between £80 and £120. It's appreciated for its robust build quality from trusted suppliers CPC and Farnell, making it a reliable first bench supply. However, it lacks remote control functionality and relies solely on manual operation.
| Outputs | 1 x 30V/3A |
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| Resolution | 10mV / 1mA |
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| Programmable | No |
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| Memory | None |
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| Type | Linear |
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Pros
- £80 entry price
- Genuine linear supply
- Robust trade build via CPC / Farnell
Cons
- No remote control
- Manual-only
Check Tenma 72-2540 on Amazon UK →
Siglent SPD3303X-E
Price: £350-£450 | Best for: engineer wanting Rigol DP832 features at lower price
The Siglent SPD3303X-E is a solid choice for UK engineers seeking triple output capabilities with 32V/3.2A and dual channels plus a third fixed voltage option at £350-£450. It excels with track and parallel modes, USB and LAN programming, but falls short on resolution compared to the Rigol DP832. Its user interface feels a bit outdated.
| Outputs | 32V/3.2A + 32V/3.2A + 2.5/3.3/5V |
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| Resolution | 10mV / 10mA |
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| Programmable | USB / LAN |
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| Memory | 5 states |
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| Type | Linear |
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Pros
- Triple output
- Track / parallel modes
- USB + LAN
Cons
- Slightly lower resolution than Rigol
- UI is dated
ELC ALR3220
Price: £230-£300 | Best for: low-noise audio / sensitive bench work
The ELC ALR3220 is a reliable linear bench power supply from a French brand, priced between £230 and £300. It offers genuine low-noise performance with a lab-grade transformer, ideal for sensitive audio work. However, it has only one output and lacks programmability or memory features.
| Outputs | 1 x 32V/2A |
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| Resolution | 10mV / 1mA |
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| Programmable | No |
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| Memory | None |
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| Type | Linear |
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Pros
- Genuine linear low-noise design
- Lab-grade transformer
- Reliable French brand
Manson HCS-3402
Price: £280-£380 | Best for: high-current motor / radio / battery testing
The Manson HCS-3402 is a solid choice for UK workshops needing high-current testing up to 30A, ideal for motors and batteries. Priced between £280 and £380, it excels with its switch-mode design, making it compact despite the hefty current capacity. However, the switch-mode can introduce noise, making it unsuitable for sensitive analogue work, and the fan kicks in noisily under full load.
| Outputs | 1 x 30V/30A |
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| Resolution | 10mV / 100mA |
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| Programmable | USB |
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| Memory | 3 states |
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| Type | Switch-mode |
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Pros
- 30A capability
- Switch-mode = compact
- Programmable at this current rating
Cons
- Switch-mode noise (not for sensitive analogue)
- Fan noise on full load
Recommendations at a glance
| Best overall (maker / engineer) | Korad KA3005P - programmable at sub-£200 |
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| Best professional lab | Rigol DP832A - triple output, lab-grade regulation |
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| Best budget entry | Tenma 72-2540 - £80 linear supply via Farnell / CPC |
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| Best multi-output value | Siglent SPD3303X-E - Rigol-class triple output at lower price |
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| Best low-noise (audio / analogue) | ELC ALR3220 - lab-grade linear, French-made |
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| Best high-current | Manson HCS-3402 - 30V/30A switch-mode for motor / battery work |
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Related reference on MLC
Frequently asked questions
Linear or switch-mode bench supply?
Linear for low-noise analogue / audio / sensitive measurement work - the output ripple is typically <1mV. Switch-mode for high-current / motor / battery work where noise matters less - typically 10-50mV ripple but much higher current per pound.
Do I need programmability?
If you're doing repeatable testing - yes. The Korad KA3005P or Rigol DP832A let you script voltage / current profiles, log readings to a CSV, and trigger off events. For manual bench debug, a non-programmable supply is fine.
How important is dual-output?
For op-amp work - essential, you need ±15V or ±12V. Triple-output supplies (Rigol DP832A, Siglent SPD3303) include a fixed 5V or 3.3V logic rail which is convenient. For single-supply microcontroller work, one output is enough.
What's the deal with 'track' mode?
On dual / triple-output supplies, track mode forces one channel to mirror another so they move together. Useful for symmetric bipolar supplies (±15V) where you set the positive rail and the negative rail tracks it automatically.
Is the Korad KA3005P actually trade-grade?
Korad is a Chinese brand sold via Farnell/CPC in the UK. The KA3005P is well-built for the price, performs to spec, and is widely used in UK university electronics labs. Not as polished as Rigol but excellent value for under £200.
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