Hardware Insights Forum

They make some good cases but wow, that's a crappy PSU.

I just realised it's still the 4th of July in the US. What a fitting date for this review

Nice review, thank you for posting it. I have the step up "500W" version that is actually quite a bit better. I thought mine could only do 350W but if that one did 350W with a 33 transformer, than I imagine mine could do 400W with a 35 transformer. I would have to double check the specs on the primary but it has the same exact silicon on the secondary

http://badcaps.net/forum/showpost.php?p ... count=1156

I understand that it's a 230V only power supply but the EI-33 transformer is abysmal for anything more powerful than 250W, IMO... though at least we know an EI-33 can do 350W on a 230V input voltage. The power supply as a whole seems less than stellar, but I disagree that the STPS30H100CT would be incapable of 35A... it is a full wave rectified output being a half bridge unit so both diodes in the schottky are fully conducting. It is rated at 30A @ 155*C and the surge non repetitive forward current is 250A for 10ms, in a sinusoidal waveform (at 25*C but still) - it can take some abuse. The maximum temperature rating is 175*C and the voltage drops in the datasheet (at 125*C) don't look too bad either... I think it's capable of the labeled rating. I agree that it's bad practice to use rectifiers rated at a lower current than the label, but still... also, the secondary rectifiers are not completely telling of the real current limits on each rail. The main transformer I think is much more the limiter with windings and transformer taps also having a current limit (as well as a voltage drop along with the rest of the coils) and more controlling of how power is distributed on each output. Also, the combined +12V rating is 28A, not 35A.

I disagree about those 13009s... I think, at least on an 115V input, that TO-220 13009s max out at about 300W without the rest of the PSU being seriously overspec'd and extremely well cooled and ventilated. In TO-3P they may be capable of 350W. Since 230V is more efficient than 115V you managed to get 350W out of them but at 400W it exploded, so... I see a minimum load resistor next to one of those Teapos. That Teapo might get toasty and hatch...

I've pulled 450W from 13009s before. It does take a good design, and good cooling, but it's not impossible.

Considering that it doesn't push the ripple out of spec, I'm surprised by how low the score is.

The label says this:

Tra- ined service people only.

I think the score is a little low too. Some in the el cheapo roundup did worse and got a better rating.

Well, you saw what came off for what. What does everyone think I was too harsh on?

Is worth nothing that the cheap generic PSUs usually don't claim to have OPP and sleeved cables, and are usually a little cheaper than this. A lot of them will also outperform this one in terms of voltage regulation and ripple suppression, and use better caps.

Wester547 wrote:Also, the combined +12V rating is 28A, not 35A.

Just noticed that now. I'm too used to the cheapies which don't mention the combined wattage. I fixed that in the review.