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Guide · 9 November 2026

Power supplies for radios

Base and mobile radios need 13.8 V and a fair amount of current. I’ve chosen 10 power supplies that are easiest to buy in Poland: linear and switching, from 400 to 1850 PLN. A short description, pros and cons with each.

10 power supplies13.8 Vfrom 15 to 60 Aprices as of 9.11.2026
Overview Table What to choose
Manson SPS-9600 switch-mode power supply in the MAAS version with an amber voltage and current display
Manson SPS-9600 · 60 A
13.8Vbase and mobile radios are designed for this voltage
21Adrawn by the IC-7300 at 100 W TX
13Adrawn by the ID-5100E at 50 W on VHF
15Acontinuous from the MP-304 MKII, even though the front says ‘30 A’
How to choose

Four things that really matter

Linear or switching

Linear uses a large transformer. It’s heavy and runs warm, but doesn’t generate interference. A switching unit is lighter and cheaper, but its converter can be audible on HF as a whine. On VHF/UHF it usually isn’t a problem.

Continuous current, not peak

The big number on the front is often the momentary current. What counts is the continuous current: with FT8 or a long call the radio transmits at full power for many seconds. In the manual, look for the word continuous.

Noise offset control

It shifts the converter’s operating frequency. If you hear a whine on the band, turn it until it goes away. Only switching supplies have it. More about noise sources in the article on interference.

13.8 V lock and sockets

A 13.8 V lock switch protects your radio from accidentally turning the voltage up. Also check the sockets: 30 A terminals, Anderson PowerPole, a cigarette-lighter socket for small devices, sometimes USB.

How many amps

Match the power supply to the radio

Current draw at full transmit power according to manufacturers’ data from our transceiver comparison. My rule: the power supply should have a 20–30% continuous-current margin.

RadioPowerCurrent drawPower supply continuous rating
Yaesu FT-991A100 W HF23 Amin. 28–30 A
Icom IC-7300100 W HF21 Amin. 25–28 A
Kenwood TS-590SG100 W HF20.5 Amin. 25 A
Icom IC-9700100 W 2 m18 Amin. 22–25 A
Icom ID-5100E50 W 2 m / 70 cm13 Amin. 16–18 A
Yaesu FTM-200DE50 W 2 m / 70 cm11 Amin. 14–15 A
Overview

10 power supplies, pros and cons

Ordered by how often I see them in Polish ham radio shops. Indicative prices as of 9.11.2026.

Diamond GSV-3000 power supply
01

Diamond GSV-3000

linearapprox. 1400 PLN
voltage 1–15 Vcontinuous 25 Apeak 27 A (60 s)weight 9.5 kg

A classic transformer power supply for HF stations. It delivers clean output without a switching converter, and has two meters: voltmeter and ammeter. In Europe the CE version is sold with 25 A continuous; the Japanese one has 30 A.

  • no converter hash, quiet on HF
  • 1–15 V adjustment, separate V and A meters
  • temperature-controlled fan
  • heavy: approx. 9.5 kg
  • 25 A is a small margin for a 100 W HF radio
  • expensive
Jetfon PC-35-SW power supply
02

Jetfon PC-35-SW

switching400–670 PLN
voltage 9–15 V, 13.8 V lockcontinuous 30 Apeak 35 Aweight 2 kg

The cheapest 30 A power supply in the line-up and a bestseller in Polish shops. Previously sold as MAAS SPS-30-II. It has V and A meters, noise offset and a front cigarette-lighter socket.

  • low price
  • lightweight, noise offset
  • front cigarette-lighter socket and a low-current front output
  • no manufacturer datasheet, specs only from shops
  • main 35 A terminals on the back
Diamond GZV-4000 power supply
03

Diamond GZV-4000

switch-modeapprox. 1185 PLN
voltage 5–15 V, 13.8 V lockcontinuous 40 Apeak 43 Aweight 3.5 kg

A strong switch-mode Diamond: 40 A continuous for 8 hours according to the manufacturer. Enough for a 100 W HF radio with plenty in reserve, or two radios at once. The GZV-4000D version has digital meters (approx. 1400 PLN).

  • 40 A continuous, plenty of headroom
  • 13.8 V lock
  • at 3.5 kg, light for this power
  • more expensive than 30 A supplies
  • in the basic version a single meter, switchable V/A
Samlex SEC-1235G power supply
04

Samlex SEC-1235G

switch-modeapprox. 1015 PLN
voltage fixed at 13.8 Vcontinuous 30 Apeak 35 Aweight 1.85 kg

A simple box with no knobs: fixed 13.8 V and 30 A continuous. Runs off 115–230 V mains, so it’s good for trips abroad as well. Light and compact.

  • 30 A continuous according to the manufacturer
  • light: 1.85 kg
  • 115–230 V input
  • no meter and no voltage adjustment
  • no noise offset
  • expensive for such a simple supply
MyDel MP-304 MKII power supply
05

MyDel MP-304 MKII

linearapprox. 850 PLN
voltage 1.5–15 Vcontinuous 15 Apeak 30 A (up to 2 min)weight 9 kg

Linear supply with a clear meter and a cigarette-lighter socket. Beware the “30 A” on the front: that’s for up to 2 minutes. Continuous is 15 A, and 20 A for 15 minutes.

  • linear, no switching noise
  • cheaper than the GSV-3000
  • enough for a 50 W VHF/UHF radio
  • only 15 A continuous: not enough for long 100 W HF transmissions
  • heavy: 9 kg
Alinco DM-430E power supply
06

Alinco DM-430E

switch-modeapprox. 725 PLN
voltage 5–15 V, 13.8 V switchpeak 30 A

A very small Alinco supply with a digital voltage and current meter. Good for a VHF/UHF radio or as a spare. Alinco only quotes “30 A max”, with no continuous rating.

  • very small, digital V and A meter
  • 13.8 V switch / adjustment
  • well-known radio brand
  • manufacturer does not state the continuous current
  • no noise offset
Alinco DM-530E power supply
07

Alinco DM-530E

switch-modeapprox. 875 PLN
voltage 5–15 V, 13.8 V switchpeak 30 A

Bigger brother to the DM-430E: digital meter, noise offset, Anderson PowerPole sockets and two USB ports for charging. Again, Alinco only quotes “30 A max”.

  • Anderson PowerPole and USB sockets
  • noise offset
  • digital V and A meter
  • manufacturer does not state the continuous current
  • more expensive than the DM-430E
Alinco DM-30E power supply
08

Alinco DM-30E

switch-modeapprox. 589 PLN
voltage 9–15 V, 13.8 V switchcontinuous 20 Apeak 30 Aweight 1.6 kg

A lightweight supply where Alinco states it plainly: 20 A continuous, 30 A intermittent. It has noise offset and a digital meter. As of November 2026 it’s hard to buy in Poland.

  • light: 1.6 kg
  • noise offset, low ripple (below 80 mVp-p)
  • manufacturer states the continuous current
  • 20 A continuous is not enough for long 100 W HF transmissions
  • hard to find in November 2026
Manson SPS-9600 power supply
09

Manson SPS-9600

switch-modeapprox. 1850 PLN
voltage 1–15 Vcontinuous 60 Aweight 5.8 kg

A supply for the whole station: 60 A continuous, digital meters, remote control. In Poland it’s also sold under the MAAS brand. It makes sense if you have several radios or an amplifier.

  • 60 A continuous
  • digital meters, remote control
  • power factor correction (PFC)
  • the most expensive in the list
  • overkill for a single radio
  • only a 5 A auxiliary output on the front
QJE PS30SWIV power supply
10

QJE PS30SWIV

switch-modeapprox. 650 PLN
voltage 8.2–14.9 Vcontinuous 25 Apeak 30 A

A cheap 30 A supply with a digital meter and noise offset. The manufacturer doesn’t publish a datasheet, so we only have the shop description: 25 A continuous, 30 A peak.

  • digital V and A meter
  • noise offset
  • affordable price
  • specs only from the shop, no manufacturer datasheet
  • 25 A continuous: little headroom for 100 W HF
Comparison

All in one table

Data from manufacturers’ datasheets. Figures for Jetfon and QJE, and the peak time for the GSV-3000 and MP-304 MKII, are from shop descriptions. A dash: no data.

ModelTypeVoltageContinuous currentPeakWeightPrice
Diamond GSV-3000linear1–15 V25 A27 A (60 s)9.5 kgapprox. 1400 PLN
Jetfon PC-35-SWswitch-mode9–15 V, 13.8 V lock30 A35 A2 kg400–670 PLN
Diamond GZV-4000switch-mode5–15 V, 13.8 V lock40 A43 A3.5 kgapprox. 1185 PLN
Samlex SEC-1235Gswitch-modefixed 13.8 V30 A35 A1.85 kgapprox. 1015 PLN
MyDel MP-304 MKIIlinear1.5–15 V15 A30 A (up to 2 min)9 kgapprox. 850 PLN
Alinco DM-430Eswitch-mode5–15 V, 13.8 V switch—30 A—approx. 725 PLN
Alinco DM-530Eswitch-mode5–15 V, 13.8 V switch—30 A—approx. 875 PLN
Alinco DM-30Eswitch-mode9–15 V, 13.8 V preset switch20 A30 A1.6 kgapprox. 589 PLN
Manson SPS-9600switch-mode1–15 V60 A—5.8 kgapprox. 1850 PLN
QJE PS30SWIVswitch-mode8.2–14.9 V25 A30 A—approx. 650 PLN
Selection

What to choose for your station

My suggestions.

ScenarioWhat to chooseWhy
VHF/UHF radio up to 50 WAlinco DM-430E, Jetfon PC-35-SW or MyDel MP-304 MKIIthe radio draws 11–13 A, any of them will do
HF radio 100 W, reasonable priceJetfon PC-35-SW or Alinco DM-530E30 A, noise offset to avoid whine
HF radio 100 W, quiet on receiveDiamond GSV-3000linear, no SMPS, 25 A continuous
Several radios or an amplifierDiamond GZV-4000 or Manson SPS-960040 A and 60 A continuous
Trips, little spaceSamlex SEC-1235G or Alinco DM-30Eunder 2 kg
Sources

Where do these numbers come from

  1. Alinco: DM-30E, DM-430E, DM-530E
  2. Samlex: SEC-1235G datasheet, manual
  3. Diamond: 2026 catalogue (GSV-3000, GZV-4000), RigPix: GSV-3000 CE version
  4. Manson: SPS-9600 catalogue
  5. MyDel MP-304 MKII: product page of the UK distributor
  6. Jetfon PC-35-SW, QJE PS30SWIV: data from shop product pages; no manufacturer’s page
  7. Radios’ current draw: manufacturers’ data compiled in the transceiver comparison
  8. Prices: indicative, from Polish shops, 9.11.2026