<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 2:37 PM, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:murraymckee@wellsfargo.com">murraymckee@wellsfargo.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
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5. poor quality supplies (maybe the leading cause of failure in places
where power quality isn't an issue)</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">We do loose power every once in a
while, (2 or 3 times a year on the average I’d guess) but nothing else
(TV, VCR, microwave, portable phones, radios, stereo, etc.) is affected (burns
out) over a much longer period of time. Neither is the printer, which is
on the same circuit as the computer. The printer goes into low power
standby mode but is not shut off. It’s been a long time, several
years, since I’ve observed the lights dimming, but it’s not unheard
of. However, I’m not in the house paying attention 24 X 7 either.<span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"></span></p></div></div></blockquote></div>Sounds like you've got a lot of your bases covered. I'd focus in on this last point.<br>
<br>Switching power supplies are really a branch of engineering unto themselves. They're a fascinating technology, really.<br><br>There are a lot of choices to be made when designing a switcher and there are a lot of trade offs.<br>
<br>In this area you really do get a difference by paying more. Now I'm not saying that buying the $60 power supply at Best Buy is better than buying the $25 one at New Egg, they're probably the same. (all though Best Buy has to worry about returns more than New Egg so probably will not offer the worst of the power supplies you can find on the inet)<br>
<br>Many of the cheaper supplies are not built for "business use" where they're on 24 hours a day.<br><br>The "gamer" line of power supplies usually have high quality components, good heat sinks, fans whose bearings are sealed and are quieter. Server lines are better yet (but they usually don't care about noise).<br>
<br>Some components, like capacitors, in a power supply can have a tolerance as high as 60%. That means your 1uF capacitor may only be .4uF. This is a very important component in a switching power supply.<br><br clear="all">
I'd suggest on your next power supply invest in one that is a bit more expensive. You will typically get better components and it can make a big difference in the end quality of the supply.<br><br>-- <br>Matthew Nuzum<br>
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