Ac supply voltage needed

[Rob K]

Dear Electronics people,

Hi, I live in London and I am studying mechatronics at LSBU. I have started to slowly build myself a little electronics laboratory with which I can learn how to take over the world.

As a starting point, I have found DC supply voltages very easy to come by, 9V batteries, old power supplies for mobile phones and other electronic devices. But I would like to experiment safely with AC supply voltages. I feel playing with 240V a little dangerous let alone irresponsible. I have scoured the internet and Maplins, only to find that bench power supplies a little out of my price range at the moment.

Is it possible to get reasonably priced step down transformers that will produce a supply no larger than 12V or 15V so that I can learn about sine waves and how to use my little hand held oscilloscope which I managed to find. I will happily pay up to about £50 at this time, though I was hoping to find something along the lines of more like £20.

I am aware that AC current is usually used for large voltages and a lot of the mechatronics applications I will eventually be working with will inevitably be 415V three phase, I have never heard of a Factory production plant that runs on 12V yet, though mice might well be advancing without my knowledge.

Silly humor aside, any help on this one would be gratefully received.

Kind regards

Rob K

[Thomas W]

Hi Rob,

Available for £6.99:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/miniature-250ma-3688