Re: How to check power supply load?

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From: Jim Macklin (p51mustang[threeX12)
Date: 01/07/05 

Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 07:59:10 -0600

Have you clamped it around the power cord and then booted
the computer to see the start surge loads?

"Al Dykes" <adykes@panix.com> wrote in message
news:crm2le$kvq$1@panix5.panix.com...
| In article <urJLHQG9EHA.3012@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl>,
| Richard Urban <richardurbanREMOVETHIS@hotmail.com> wrote:
| >You need electronic equipment to check current load.
| >
| >
| >--
| >Regards,
| >
| >Richard Urban
| >
|
|
| I have this $30 gadget called Kill-A-Watt that measures
appliance load
| and shows Watts and Volt-Amps.
|
| http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/killawatt-review.html
|
| One of the computer's I've measured reports
160W/213VA/1.73A
|
| This is what's in the machine;
|
| A7N8X mobo
| 1GB RAM
| 8GB IDE disk
| 160GB SATA disk
| 200GB SATA disk
| CD burner
| the usual crap.
|
| The PSU is probably 350W Antec. Lets assume the PSU is
80% efficient.
| That means that all the components are drawing about 130W
(Volt amps
| does not apply to D.C. current.)
|
| Why the big PSU ? I expect it's needed for the startup
current surge.
| I have no problem with 3X over-rating (130W to 350W
nameplate rating.)
|
| If I suspect a power supply problem I swap it out. That's
the only
| test that I consider 100% reliable. If I did LOTS of
bench work I
| would make a PSU power cable Male-Female adapter that had
jacks to let
| me put an ampmeter inline to measure draw on each line.
There are
| lots of was a power supply can screw up that a good VOM
won't show
| you.
| --
|
| a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m
|
| Don't blame me. I voted for Gore.

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