Computer Power Supply needs a re-think

I have just had to replace yet another power supply unit.
I get through them quite regularly but it's no problem as I always have a spare one ready.

However it has made me think about power supply for desktops.
Power comes in at 240v AC and is converted to 12+v DC to charge the UPS battery.
The UPS battery then powers an invertor to convert back to 240v AC to supply the computer PSU
The PSU then converts it to 12v, 5v and 3,3v DC

That's almost as bad as a thailand trace route.

Surely there must be something on the market that combines a UPS with a PSU

DO you use the same size power supply every time T?

^
Usually a 400 or 450w PSU

1 x cpu
1 x dvd RW
1 x HD
2 x fans
no PCI cards

Should be more than enough power

Would have thought so yes. Have you tried using extra cooling?, or going for a larger psu wattage?

Buy 650W Seasonic S12II S12-650 from CCL - Online Retailer of the Year 2008, 2007 & 2006 for laptops, desktops and computer hardware

Sounds to me like its overheating all the time.

Does your ups boost and buck power? Some only operate as a surge protector, while too little power can damage it as well, as I was told at the computer shop. I've gone through three power supplies in the last couple months, I've since bought a decent ups that bucks and boosts and haven't had a problem since.

It never feels warm let alone hot.

I think if it was getting hot enough to wreck it I would have smelt it first.
I just had a look at the board and it looks perfect, no brown marks anywhere

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pickel

I've gone through three power supplies in the last couple months,

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Blimey that would piss me off.
PSU will last me 18+ months but with four computers that works out at one every 4 months.
Apart from the PSU I have little to no problems with the computers, that's why I was asking if there is something else on the market which will combine the units.

^Have you been using the same UPS all the time? Might be a problem with it.

There is a very simple explanation for this,

they are made in China, and most are crappy unless you spend 3000 THB or more on the high end one,

and the power cycle here is shit, so even the UPS can't protect you from the micro-surge or the badly formed "cycle" from the public grid,

Mine on servers usually last 3 to 4 years, but recently I had to buy 4 to replace them on different machine. Actually in the last 2 years, I had to replace about a dozen, including for some in Europe

^^^^^ The Seasonic is a good brand PSU and has a corresponding price :)
Still worth it in my opinion, I don't buy 1200 Baht PSU's anymore just because you
have to replace them so often.

An old Swedish saying:
Cheaky saves - satan takes (him)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Butterfly

so even the UPS can't protect you from the micro-surge or the badly formed "cycle" from the public grid

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The stats for mine are here, would the highlighted area mean it protects me from the bad cycle?

Product Description

• Advanced Microprocessor Control
• Power Watcher: Full time load power monitoring and warning
• 25% Longer Backup Time: High Rate Battery extends backup time for 25%.
• Surge protection for Telephone line
• Buck/ Boost Stabilizer: It can adjust the over voltage level and under voltage level into two stages.
• Easy-Mon X Software: Monitor UPS status and electrical status
• Power rating: 1000 VA (600 W)
• Input Voltage 220 Vac ±25% (165-275 Vac)
• Output Voltage 220 Vac ±10% (198-242 Vac)
• Backup Time: 20-40 min. (depend on application)
• Surge protection for Laser printer
• No load shutdown option switch
• Overload and short circuit protection
• UPS start from utility outlet (AC Start System) or UPS start from battery (DC Start System)
• Restart voltage checking system
• Low battery shutdown
• UPS test switch
• Extremely compact
• User can replace the battery.
• 2 Years Warranty



LEONICS OA Extra 1000 at Shop4Thai.com B2C E-Commerce by AG - Online IT Retail Store Bangkok, THAILAND Computer, Hardware, Software, Digital Camera, Notebook

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pickel

would the highlighted area mean it protects me from the bad cycle?

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I have seen very strange things here with the public grid, power sometimes after a big storm and a cutoff is so low that the lights are very dim, I bet it's no more than 150V, the electrical unit are still running, like A/C but at some very low speed, you can tell it's underpower and the unit is struggling with it

what happens to the UPS then ? is that enough to trigger the battery ? I don't hear the beep in those situations, which makes me think that it didn't and the low power is being forwarded, and that probably damages your powersupply

most of the powersupply damages I have always come after a storm, so I think it's definitely related

The power here is atrocious in the rainy season, with power outages occurring on a daily basis. Judging by my stats, as long as it doesn't dip below 165 volts, my ups should compensate for it then? Anything below that and the battery should take over?

I bought a new power supply for my laptop in Panthip cheap at 900 B but you could hear it buzzing when you plugged it in and it eventually started to melt the case so I bought a proper one ($) before it burned the whole place down.

Buy cheap get crap.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NickA

Have you been using the same UPS all the time? Might be a problem with it.

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No.
We have four computers, two with UPS and two without.
The PSU doesn't last any longer in the computers with a UPS

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Butterfly

they are made in China, and most are crappy unless you spend 3000 THB or more on the high end one

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Correct, every PSU I have had is made in China.
I don't have a choice that's all I can get here
So would you reckon that 18 months is fair for a china made UPS ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Thetyim

So would you reckon that 18 months is fair for a china made UPS ?

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That would depend on the power of it. 350 watt? 450? Do you also run a higher end video card or an on board one? An underpowered PSU would definitely burn out faster. But, being as it's chinese 18 months sounds about right as a minimum lifespan.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pickel

That would depend on the power of it. 350 watt? 450? Do you also run a higher end video card or an on board one?

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https://teakdoor.com/826919-post3.html

^ I could have sworn i scanned through your posts in this thread and didn't see that, guess I skipped over it. Sorry mate. You're right that should be more than enough power.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Thetyim

Correct, every PSU I have had is made in China.
I don't have a choice that's all I can get here
So would you reckon that 18 months is fair for a china made UPS ?

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I think they are all made in China (or Taiwan) nowadays but you can get good
ones if you pay a little bit more.
The cheaper types which I have used did usually give up after a year :)

You can get better quality where you are, either let your computer dealer order from Bkk or
buy them yourself from Bkk.
Thanni is one of many online shop that I have used.

I picked up a good quality PSU for my computer a few weeks back. Not the high-end but a good quality setup you can plug in only cables you need. it's a 530 watt job and I only paid abut 24 - 2500. Decent reviews and adequate for my system. those cheap 200 baht PSUs can take things with them when they die the one I bought: RaidMax RX-530SS.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Butterfly

I have seen very strange things here with the public grid, power sometimes after a big storm and a cutoff is so low that the lights are very dim, I bet it's no more than 150V, the electrical unit are still running, like A/C but at some very low speed, you can tell it's underpower and the unit is struggling with it

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I get power outages like that that will last a few seconds, sometimes more every time it rains here. The cheap, No-name UPS on the old lady's system just beeps as it dies. My Leonics keeps chugging on. I'll be upgrading to a larger, higher-powered UPS of the same brand in a couple weeks But my 700va gives me a about fifteen miutes plenty of time to finish a piece of logic before I shut down.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pickel

But, being as it's chinese 18 months sounds about right as a minimum lifespan.

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yeah, basically. Maybe 36 months if you are lucky :)

I swear by Enermax for PSUs, popular and proven brand. My computer is on 24/7 and has been running great since I changed power supplies 1.5 years ago.

The power rating of cheaper no-name power supplies can not be reliably compared with that of proper brands.

My previous no name power supply claimed to be 460W but was a lot weaker than the 400W Enermax I now use.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Butterfly

the badly formed "cycle" from the public grid,

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eh ?
the inverter on the output supply should be recreating a stepped sine wave with its timed stepper circuit from the 12 volt batteries - maybe cheaper UPS' will just "pass" the AC with some kind of dodgy filter.

I use APC UPS' combined with middle of the road Delux PSU's.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Thetyim

Surely there must be something on the market that combines a UPS with a PSU

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um , laptop - <ducks>

You dont need a massive amount of power a 350/450 will do, try stick to brands but if you cant a quick tip for when in the shop is to feel the weight, if its very lite then its crap, if it has some weight then its probally good to go.

By the way i use a brand called FSP, they make all corsairs psu's

I use a Liberta 800 VA which I bought in Bangkok 6 years ago and still running strong. I have had TV,s and computers running of it and it use to get a real work at in the village with all the power drops all the time