DiyLightAnimation

Forum Info => Getting started with Light Animation => Topic started by: Harley on January 23, 2013,

Title: Is this Power Supply any good?
Post by: Harley on January 23, 2013,

If not tell me what i need to look for in a PS

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817339009

Title: Re: Is this Power Supply any good?
Post by: galgon on January 23, 2013,

I assume you will be using this for smart strings/nodes.  For that application all we really care about is the efficiency of the PS and the amps on the 12+ rail.   This one is rated 75% efficient - better ones are typically certified 80+.  This one has 15 am on the 12+ rail.   

At 15 amps it gives you 12 usable amps (assumes a max of 80% load to be safe).  Each smart string node is 0.029 amps giving you a max of  413 smart string nodes.  If you are using strips or other smart equipment repeat the calc using their power draw. 

Honestly this is not a particularly good deal.  Now if 413 nodes is enough for you this will work.  I just bought a 48amp power supply as I plan on having about 1300 nodes on my mega tree next year.  I found it through slickdeals.net and just happened to get a really good price.  You are better off looking around and waiting for a good deal since you most likely wont need to PS for months.

Title: Re: Is this Power Supply any good?
Post by: galgon on January 24, 2013,

If you want to know what a good deal looks like - http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=11255.0 (http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=11255.0)

But again it depends on how many nodes you plan on using. 

Title: Re: Is this Power Supply any good?
Post by: Harley on January 24, 2013,

So if im to understand the formula

48A PS @ 80% = 38.4A / 0.029 = 1324 Nodes?

Title: Re: Is this Power Supply any good?
Post by: hicksjo on January 24, 2013,

I set a target price of less than $1 per useable amp

Seems to be a reasonable benchmark

Some deals you can do better, like $0.75 per useable amp but those require patience and searching ... Or a post on this forum from someone else who was patient and searched

Title: Re: Is this Power Supply any good?
Post by: galgon on January 26, 2013,

By the way - the deal is back.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?SID=MWdtzGgsEeK7Es7YjoC7kwWE4_cM1Q3_McL_0_0&AID=10440897&PID=1225267&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-cables-_-na-_-na&Item=N82E16817371031&Tpk=N82E16817371031 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?SID=MWdtzGgsEeK7Es7YjoC7kwWE4_cM1Q3_McL_0_0&AID=10440897&PID=1225267&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-cables-_-na-_-na&Item=N82E16817371031&Tpk=N82E16817371031)