View Full Version : cheap tec psu found!
charlie
04-30-2003, 01:19 PM
All,
I ran across a Powmax/Raidmax PSU rated at like 400 or 500w
But it's rated at 25a on the 12v rail.
Will this fire up my 226w tec? And how should I wire it? I know everybody says not to use molex...
Which 12v wires should I attach to?? One of the HDD wires?? Or the P4 12v ATX plug?? Ideas??
C
KnightElite
04-30-2003, 04:43 PM
Yellow and black wires is where you should attach it. And cut off the molex connector, and solder the TEC wires to the PSU leads. Also, make sure that you put a load of some sort on the 5V line if you are going to do that, otherwise the PSU may explode ;).
Something like a 1-Ohm, 60W Resistor should work pretty good.
ellsworth
04-30-2003, 06:23 PM
i put a 10w resistor on my psu once and had it lieing on my floor and it melted thru part of my carpet and all of the electrical tape on the leads melted off in a matter of seconds :eek: . those huge resistors get insanely hot...that is what they use in coffee makers and such. a 60w resistor would draw 12 amps @ 5v!!
i ran a 80w pelt fine @ 12v using a 350w atx psu as a dedicated psu so im wondering if its completely necessary to load the 5v. i would put a fan on it or maybe a hd if you wanted to be safe and load it some.
KnightElite
04-30-2003, 09:07 PM
No man, a 60W Resistor will not necesarilly output 60W. That's just the max it's rated for.
5V/1Ohm = 5A
5V * 5A = 25W
So, with our 1Ohm, 60W Resistor, we are using 25W of power.
ellsworth
05-01-2003, 12:08 PM
woops :rolleyes:
i just remember how hot that 10w resistor got. it scared me, and made a bad smell from the melting stuff.
ill be quiet now hehe :slap:
charlie
05-05-2003, 05:42 PM
hows this?
$36 delivered??
3.3 30a
5 50a
12 25a
KnightElite
05-05-2003, 08:52 PM
That should theoretically do that job, yes.
Tedinde
05-06-2003, 10:50 AM
The Powmax's are really light duty and voltages are always way off on them. I usually get them for around $13-$16 for the 400 watt. SVC has them for $11.99 this week.
I usually run my CD drives and a old HD on the line for the 5 volt instead of a resistor. They do heat up.
I've had quite a few of these fail in the past 6 months in computers, I wouldnt really trust a cheap supply.
And like KnightElite said above, dont use molex connectors, they will heat up and melt with this many amps running through them.