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:

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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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THE END