ATX Power Supply: I think they forgot something?

[jamesp15]

Came "free" with a Computer case, I can see why.
Weighs in at a "hefty" 572 grams.  400watt my ass. 

How long do you think this would actually work under any kind of real load?
(for those interested, its an "Apower" branded "AGS Series 400watt". 
26a on 3.3v rail, 35a on 5v rail, 12a and 20a on the "2" 12v rails.

The wires have 20AWG stamped on them, but they arent even that large.

[SeanB]

At least they left the inrush PTC in, along with the voltage switch.

[HardBoot]

Those standing up semis are gonna get nice and toasty under load.

[mariush]

It will do 250w for short periods of time, but with horrible efficiency and output quality.

[PA0PBZ]

Looks like there is some thermal grease on some of the components. Makes you wonder, was the heatsink stolen in transit?

[SeanB]

more likely recycled semiconductors from a scapper, as they are cheaper and worth more as semiconductors over copper value.

[jamesp15]

No thermal grease on them, some of the TO220 parts are discolored/dirty/tarnished.  It is/was brand new out of a cheap computer case I ordered.

I did some quick load tests: (used the electronic load voltage measurements)
12v no load:  11.93v
12v 1a load: 10.64v
12v 5a load: 8.93v
12v 10a load: 7.1v and a low pitched whine from the PSU
5v no load:  5.10v
5v 1a load: 4.66v
5v 5a load: 2.81v
5v 10a load: 1.29v!

didnt bother with the 3.3v.

I didnt want to push it any more as the wires were getting pretty warm. 
About to take the fan out and trash/recycle the rest of it, unless anyone wants to see any particular measurements/etc out of curiousity.

[SeanB]

I normally keep those toroids as Rf chokes along with the inrush limiter. I check the caps as well as non critical spares. Many a time i take resistors out of scrap boards instead of buying new, especially for experimenting. the wires will be useful as well, especially the drive leads as extensions in cases.

[McMonster]

I normally keep those toroids as Rf chokes along with the inrush limiter. I check the caps as well as non critical spares. Many a time i take resistors out of scrap boards instead of buying new, especially for experimenting. the wires will be useful as well, especially the drive leads as extensions in cases.

I do the same. I also take heatsinks (obviously not the case here ) if they look nice and I recently got the idea to reuse the case for my next project. Decent board area, lot of space for stacking the boards and mounting a heatsink in front of the fan. Power switch and IEC connector mounted and ready. And people give them away for free.

[c4757p]

Damn, it can't even push out 1A at 5V? That's just sad.

[retiredcaps]

Came "free" with a Computer case, I can see why.
Weighs in at a "hefty" 572 grams.  400watt my ass. 

If you like these type of threads, over at badcaps.net there is a "the gutless, bloated, and fried power supply hall of shame" with nearly 500 posts

http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8490

[PedroDaGr8]

Hahaha, looks like one of the old LC/Deer blow 'em up specials that were common in cheap computer cases in the late-90s early-00s. Even those though had the decency to include heatsinks.

According to your testing, this PSU is doubly troublesome for two reasons. One, its clear that it can't make its rated wattage (heck it might not even make enough wattage to run some case fans  ) Two, it has NO undervoltage shutdown. It just keeps right on trucking.

I would love to see OklahomaWolf over at JonnyGuru.com run this through their stress test.. Get some scope shots of the output and efficiency and all that . Maybe you should volunteer it for testing...I would love to see the pure abysmal fail that this PSU offers up.

For those that don't know JonnyGuru is highly respected in the computer industry for his power supply tests. Before him, most sites did the whole plug the PSU into a computer.....does it run? great...this PSU is AMAZING! He purchased a huge Sunmoon psu testing station and began testing the real deal wattages and voltage stabilizatio. Additionally, he was the first hardware site to use an o-scope to follow ripple.

[PhynixViking]

I have taken apart / repaired easily 500 ATX power supplies... probably more.
Never, have I seen one without any heat sink at all... WOW... *applauds* new record!

400 watts? That thing? How long would it last??? *takes out his lexan sheets* umm... few seconds? LOL

[amyk]

Those primary caps are surprisingly stout... they don't even reach half the case height!

With the heatsink in, it'd probably be around 150W.

I like how the sticker on the fan still says "QC passed"

[SeanB]

Well, the fan did pass QC, otherwise known as Quing Chen..........

[ptricks]

Heat sink ? We don't need no stinking heat sink !
On supplies like this I salvage the torroids , those can get expensive if you have to buy them new.

[jamesp15]

I saved the toroids, 2x STPS1545CT, the power switch, fan and IEC plug.

The wires I usually keep for hookup wire use, but these were VERY thin conductors (marked as 20 gauge, stripped them in the 24 gauge notch)

The rest is in the recycle bin. 

[Hypernova]

Look on the bright side, they didn't stick any lead slabs in there to weigh it down.

[T4P]

Look on the bright side, they didn't stick any lead slabs in there to weigh it down.

Or plaster ...
I had one come with a case and its rated 500W but i'm pretty sure it will blow up long before that, haven't checked the innards though 

[peter.mitchell]

Look on the bright side, they didn't stick any lead slabs in there to weigh it down.

even the better companies do it.

[SeanB]

Lead costs money........ They would have used recycled building material.

[tom66]

I do not consider Belkin a good company... they mostly rebadge tat from China. Sure it's going to be safe and EMI compliant, but it's overpriced and poorly made.

[TerraHertz]

Speaking of salvaging parts from old switchmode PSUs, does anyone know of a way to dissolve the epoxy/lacquer used on the transformers? I've often wished I could re-use the ferrite cores and coil formers, but it's not possible to recover them with the potting gluing everything together.

It doesn't matter if the enamel on the wires goes too, since I talking about discarding the old windings anyway.

[Chipset]

Speaking of salvaging parts from old switchmode PSUs, does anyone know of a way to dissolve the epoxy/lacquer used on the transformers? I've often wished I could re-use the ferrite cores and coil formers, but it's not possible to recover them with the potting gluing everything together.

It doesn't matter if the enamel on the wires goes too, since I talking about discarding the old windings anyway.

While I can't say I've ever dissolved the lacquer on a transformer, as far as solvents are concerned; When in doubt, use acetone.

[SeanB]

MEK works well, it dissolves almost anything aside from PET, PTFE and one or two other plastics. Does a nasty job on PCB's.