Author Topic: Is this Power Supply any good?  (Read 2814 times)

Offline Harley

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Is this Power Supply any good?
« on: January 23, 2013, »
If not tell me what i need to look for in a PS

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Harley in Louisiana

Yep im a n00b, i can break it and blow it up with the best of em

Offline galgon

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Re: Is this Power Supply any good?
« Reply #1 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.
- Joe
Bethlehem, PA

Offline galgon

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Re: Is this Power Supply any good?
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2013, »
If you want to know what a good deal looks like - You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

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

- Joe
Bethlehem, PA

Offline Harley

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Re: Is this Power Supply any good?
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2013, »
So if im to understand the formula

48A PS @ 80% = 38.4A / 0.029 = 1324 Nodes?
« Last Edit: January 24, 2013, by Harley »
Harley in Louisiana

Yep im a n00b, i can break it and blow it up with the best of em

Offline hicksjo

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Re: Is this Power Supply any good?
« Reply #4 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

Offline galgon

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Re: Is this Power Supply any good?
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2013, »
By the way - the deal is back.

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- Joe
Bethlehem, PA