The physics of supra thermal test ions in turbulent plasmas can be conveniently studied in basic plasma physics devices, which allow high-resolution measurements of plasma and fast ion parameters and wave fields throughout the whole plasma cross-section. We describe recent advances in the development of an experimental setup consisting of a non-perturbative Li 6+ miniaturized ion source and a detector for the investigation of the interaction between supra thermal ions and drift/interchange–driven turbulence on the TORPEX device. We present first measurements of the spatial and energy space distribution of the fast ion beam in different plasma scenarios, in which the plasma turbulence is fully characterized. We also discuss the possibility of using the fast ion source in basic plasma devices for fusion. This work is partly funded by the Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique.