WATTS UP - POWER SUPPLIES
How it works and what it does, and for the home DYI builders,
how do you pick out the right one.
Citation:
46
THE POWER SUPPLY
THE SHOCKING TRUTH..
First lets find out what it does and what is inside
• BASIC FUNCTION:THE POWER SUPPLY CONVERTS
THE [AC] ALTERNATING CURRENT TO DIRECT CURRENT [DC].
• ADDITIONAL FUNTION:1) Provide STABLE DC current (12vdc) for fans and lights etc..2) Provide STABLE DC current (5vdc) for drives, USB and graphics cards and / or other power draws.3) Provide STABLE DC current board (~~3.3VDC) for power regulation for the CPU and chip devices
HERE IS WHAT THE “MESS” LOOKS LIKE..
POWER SUPPLIES – DETAILS ~ Cooling fan (s)
Some more costly or larger POWER SUPPLIES have more than one fan. The units have a bottom and side unitthat provide the adequate AIR FLOW to cool the heat sinks. Don’t forget also that the fans also contribute to cooling the entire computer’s case insides.
POWER SUPPLIES – DETAILS ~ Heat Sink (s)
HEAT SINKS: IF you a Power Supply open, remembering they are considered FRU {field replaceable units}; The main concern will be to remove the dirt that may have accumulated there.
POWER SUPPLIES – DETAILS ~ EMI line interference filter (s)
• All electrical devices have electromagnetic properties which can interfere with other electronic devices. The better quality power supply will have such feature
POWER SUPPLIES – DETAILS ~ Input capacitor (s)
• These units are usually circular and can be more then one, and located nearest the input current (the 120 VAC) input plug.
POWER SUPPLIES – DETAILS
output capacitor (s)
• These units are usually SMALLER and can be more then one, and located nearest the output wires to the plugs.
• A feature in a more expensive or powerful unit. As the loads increase and more technology is utilized for the components, a more precise control of the output voltage becomes critical. It is usually a bare copper item in the power supply
POWER SUPPLIES – DETAILS ~ line conditioning circuitry
POWER SUPPLIES –
DETAILS Power factor corrective
circuitry
• Used by all Power Supplies during start up to assist and make sure all the components start up safely
The Power Supply
Demystified
The water hose view
Quality power supplies have labels that can
be very informative..
Watch them
ratings
CONJUNCTION JUNTIONCONJUNCTION JUNTION
Main Power Connector, 20 pins
Additional power for motherboard/video
Power Plug for drives (not SATA)
Floppy power connector
SATA PLUGS – P0WER 15V
POWER USE OF
COMPUTER PARTS FIELD
GUIDE (you add
them up!!)
Discussions and ConsiderationsPage 1
NO GUTS = NO GLORY
Discussions and ConsiderationsPAGE 2
Discussions and ConsiderationsPAGE 3
Discussions and Considerations
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Discussions and ConsiderationsPAGE 5
THE END