Agilent 6236B 35W Triple Output Variable Linear DC Bench Power Supply 0-6V 2.5A and ±20V 0.5A

The Agilent 6236B is a compact 35W linear DC bench power supply designed for electronics development, circuit testing, troubleshooting, and laboratory use. It provides one adjustable 0-6V output rated up to 2.5A plus dual-tracking 0 to +20V and 0 to -20V outputs rated at 0.5A each. The tracking outputs can power balanced analog circuits or provide a single adjustable 0-40V output when used together.

What’s Included

• (1) 6236B triple-output DC bench power supply
• Permanently attached approximately 5-foot grounded AC power cord

Test leads, probes, rack-mount hardware, manuals, and additional accessories are not included unless specifically shown or stated.

Technical Specifications

• Primary Model Number: 6236B
• Equipment Type: Variable linear DC bench power supply
• Number of Outputs: Three regulated DC outputs
• Maximum Rated DC Output Power: 35W
• Regulation Mode: Constant-voltage operation with fixed current limiting
• Low-Voltage Output: 0 to +6V DC
• Maximum Low-Voltage Output Current: 2.5A at 6V
• Positive Tracking Output: 0 to +20V DC at up to 0.5A
• Negative Tracking Output: 0 to -20V DC at up to 0.5A
• Series Output Configuration: 0 to 40V DC at up to 0.5A between the +20V and -20V terminals
• Tracking Accuracy: Positive and negative 20V outputs track within 1% in fixed 1:1 mode
• Variable Tracking Ratio: Negative output can be reduced relative to the positive output while maintaining the selected ratio
• Output Common: All three outputs share a common terminal
• Output Isolation: Output system is isolated from chassis ground and may be operated floating
• Output Connections: Front-panel binding posts
• Chassis Ground Connection: Dedicated front-panel ground terminal
• Load Regulation: Less than 0.01% + 2mV
• Line Regulation: Less than 0.01% + 2mV
• Ripple and Noise: Less than 0.35mV RMS and 1.5mV peak-to-peak from 20Hz to 20MHz
• Eight-Hour Stability: Less than 0.1% + 5mV after a 30-minute warm-up
• Transient Recovery: Less than 50µs to within 15mV following a full-load to half-load change or vice versa
• Temperature Coefficient: Less than 0.02% + 1mV per °C
• Voltage Adjustment Resolution: Approximately 20mV on the 6V output and 70mV on the ±20V outputs
• Meter Type: Dual analog voltage and current meters
• Meter Selection: Front-panel switch selects the output displayed by both meters
• Meter Accuracy: ±4% of full scale
• 6V Meter Ranges: 0-7V and 0-3A
• ±20V Meter Ranges: 0-25V and 0-0.6A
• Overload Protection: Current limiting and short-circuit protection on all outputs
• 6V Output Protection: Current-foldback protection
• ±20V Output Protection: Fixed current limiting at approximately 0.55A
• Standard AC Input: 104-127V AC with 120V nominal input
• Input Frequency: 47-63Hz single-phase
• Input Power Consumption: Approximately 112W / 140VA at full load
• Standard Input Current: Approximately 1.1A at the high end of the 120V input range
• Alternate Factory Input Configurations: 100V, 220V, and 240V versions were produced
• Cooling Type: Air-cooled
• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 40°C at full rated output
• Extended Temperature Operation: Output current derates linearly to 50% at 55°C
• Storage Temperature: -40°C to +75°C
• Dimensions: 88mm H x 209mm W x 319mm D / 3.47" x 8.22" x 12.56"
• Approximate Weight: 9.5 lb / 4.3kg
• Compatible Single-Unit Rack Kit: 14513A
• Compatible Dual-Unit Rack Kit: 14523A
• Control Interface: Manual front-panel operation
• Application Type: Electronics development, service, testing, education, and laboratory use

Interchangeable / Replacement Part Numbers

6236B

The 6236A is an earlier related revision with the same nominal output ranges, but it is not the exact same model. The 6237B is not an exact replacement because its third output is rated 0-18V at 1A instead of 0-6V at 2.5A.

✅ Supported Output Configurations and Applications

This is a general-purpose laboratory power supply rather than a device-specific AC adapter. Confirm the required voltage, current, polarity, grounding arrangement, and allowable ripple for the equipment or circuit being powered.

✔️ Digital and Logic Circuit Development: Adjustable 0-6V output for compatible TTL, CMOS, microprocessor, microcontroller, and low-voltage development circuits drawing no more than the available output current
✔️ Analog and Operational-Amplifier Circuits: Dual-tracking positive and negative rails for circuits requiring balanced supply voltages up to ±20V at 0.5A per rail
✔️ Unbalanced Bipolar Circuits: Variable tracking-ratio control permits the negative rail to be reduced relative to the positive rail
✔️ Single Higher-Voltage Loads: Adjustable 0-40V output at up to 0.5A when the load is connected between the +20V and -20V terminals
✔️ Electronics Repair and Troubleshooting: Controlled DC power for compatible circuit boards, modules, components, and assemblies
✔️ Engineering and Educational Laboratories: Suitable for prototyping, training, circuit experiments, and manual bench testing
✔️ Low-Noise Circuit Testing: Linear regulated output for compatible analog, instrumentation, audio, sensor, and measurement circuits requiring low ripple and noise

☑️ Key Features

☑️ Three adjustable DC outputs with 35W total rated output power
☑️ Dedicated 0-6V output rated up to 2.5A at 6V
☑️ Dual-tracking 0 to +20V and 0 to -20V outputs
☑️ Balanced positive and negative rails track within 1%
☑️ Supports a single 0-40V 0.5A output configuration
☑️ Low-noise linear regulation for sensitive circuit testing
☑️ Front-panel voltage, tracking-ratio, and meter-selection controls
☑️ Dual analog meters display voltage and current for the selected output
☑️ Floating output system with a dedicated chassis-ground terminal
☑️ Current limiting and short-circuit protection on all outputs
☑️ Current-foldback protection for the high-current 6V output
☑️ Compact bench enclosure with optional 19-inch rack-mount capability

⚙️ Fit Notes

✓ Verify the instrument’s rear input-voltage marking, internal line-voltage selector setting, and installed fuse before connecting AC power. The 6236B is not a universal auto-ranging power supply.
✓ Standard units are configured for 104-127V AC input. Factory configurations were also produced for 87-106V, 191-233V, and 208-250V AC ranges.
✓ The three outputs share one common terminal. They are isolated from chassis ground but are not three mutually isolated channels.
✓ The +20V and -20V rails are tracking outputs. They do not provide two completely independent front-panel voltage controls.
✓ The current-limit thresholds are internally set and are not adjustable from the front panel.
✓ The 6V output provides its full 2.5A rating at 6V. Its available current decreases at lower output voltages because of the current-foldback protection design.
✓ For 0-40V operation, connect the load between the +20V and -20V terminals. Observe the resulting polarity and do not exceed 0.5A.
✓ Any one output terminal may be connected to the chassis-ground terminal when a grounded reference is required. Otherwise, the outputs may be left floating.
✓ The analog meters are rated at ±4% of full scale. Use a calibrated external multimeter when tighter voltage or current accuracy is required.
✓ Set the output voltage to a safe level and confirm terminal polarity before connecting sensitive equipment.
✓ Keep the rear ventilation and heatsink area unobstructed during operation.
✓ This manually controlled model does not provide USB, LAN, GPIB, remote programming, data logging, or a separate DC-output enable switch.