Performance test and review of mains to 5V 0.6A Hi-Link HLK-PM01

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This is a rather small module that can supply 5 volt from either 120VAC or 230VAC, this makes it perfect for small projects that needs a 5 volt supply from mains.

Official specifications:
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Measurements
Hi-Link%20HLK-PM01%20120VAC%20load%20sweep

The converter can deliver 1.2A before the output starts dropping and it turns off at 1.7A with 120VAC supply.

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With 230VAC supply the converter can deliver a bit more, here the output first drops at 1.4A.

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With the converter hot after some load tests I tried doing a load sweep again. The maximum current is a bit lower and now it will shut down for short periodes when overloaded (That is all the lines to 0,0).

Hi-Link%20HLK-PM01%20120VAC%200.6A%20load%20test

There is no problem running for one hour at rated load with 120VAC mains.
I did the IR images below after about 45 minutes:

Temp2400

M1: 55,5°C, M2: 51,3°C, HS1: 60,9°C

Temp2401

HS1: 53,1°C

Temp2402

M1: 47,9°C, HS1: 59,8°C

Hi-Link%20HLK-PM01%20230VAC%200.6A%20load%20test

Neither is there any problem at 230VAC mains.
I did the IR images below after about 45 minutes:

Temp2396

M1: 63,3°C, M2: 55,1°C, HS1: 64,2°C
It got slightly hotter at 230VAC.

Temp2397

M1: 50,8°C, HS1: 63,7°C

Temp2398

M1: 55,5°C, M2: 47,9°C, HS1: 57,2°C

Hi-Link%20HLK-PM01%20230VAC%201.2A%20load%20test

Running at double rated current made it shut down after about 17 minutes.
I took the below image just after it shut down:

Temp2399

M1: 99,2°C, M2: 84,5°C, HS1: 113,2°C

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How does it work with continuous overload? I used 1.5A and then used the IR camera with a couple of times during the above half hour.

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The module keeps a constant temperature. Each picture is marked with how far into the test I tok it.
This temperature will kill the module, but it will take some time.

Loadon0.6A

The output voltage has a short 0.1 volt drop when going from zero load to 0.6A.

poweron

Power on takes about 3ms, but it will depend on where in the mains cycle the power is applied.

10ohm

There is not much noise: 10mV rms and 120mVpp (These values are not measured in the above scope picture, but in another with higher sensitivity).

10ohmspectrum

The switcher works at around 60kHz.

5ohm

Increasing the load will increase the noise: 14mV rms and 180mVpp.



Tear down

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The inside of the module is filled up with something that could mostly be removed without using tools.

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This side of the circuit board has the mains switcher (IC1/AP8012), the rectifier diode (D3) and the feedback voltage IC (IC2).
In the hole beside R6 the optical feedback chip can be seen.

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Here the safety capacitor and the optical feedback chip can be seen.
Below the mains capacitor, just behind the D2 text is the bridge rectifier.

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Another look at the bridge rectifier and a output inductor, placed between the two output capacitors.
Note that all capacitors are rated 105°C, this is fine as long as the module is not overloaded, but an overload will wear down the capacitors.

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The isolation distance on the circuit board is large enough, but the optoupler is a bit below 6mm, to fix this a cutout has been added to the circuit board. This increases the creapage distance.


Testing with 2500 volt and 5000 volt between mains and low volt side, did not show any safety problems.



Conclusion

This module looks good, I did not find any problems with it.

A few notes for using it:
Electronic wears down faster when warm, especially capacitors, i.e. keep it as cool as possible for long lifetime.
I would place a fuse or fusible resistor before the converter, the fuse is not supposed to be replaceable, when it blows it is time to replace the converter.
A MOV accross the mains input would probably also be a good idea.



Notes

This converter was supplied by some readers for test.

I have mostly followed my USB power test procedure (But included a few extra tests):
Read more about how I test USB power supplies/charger