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What voltage should my PSU be on?
For example, if you live in the United States, the power supply voltage switch on your computer’s power supply should be set to 120v. However, if in, say, France, you should use the 230v setting.
How do I know what wattage power supply I need?
The best power supply for your PC build is the one that provides the right amount of wattage to all components simultaneously. Manually calculating this requires that you multiply the total amps of all components by the total volts of all components. The result is the total watts that your PC build requires.
How do I choose a DC power supply?
In order to select the right power supply there are some important basics to understand.
- Voltage Rating. If a device says it needs a particular voltage, then you have to assume it needs that voltage.
- Current Rating. Current is a bit different.
- Replacing Existing Supply.
- Advanced Concepts.
Should I set my power supply to 115 or 230?
In the United States, Alternating Current (AC Power) is provided in the 120V range. So if you are in the USA, you would use the 115V switch position. Europe and other countries use the 230V range so if you took your computer to one of those location you would have to switch to the 230V setting.
Can you use a 12v 2a charger on a 12v 1.5 a device?
Yes. Using something too weak would be a problem. DC devices are almost always voltage-regulated, so they can handle somewhat more than spec voltage (6V in on a 5V device is generally fine, and is how many 5V devices run on 4x 1.5V batteries), and they’ll only draw as much current as they need.
How do I know if I have 115 or 230?
You can tell how it is hooked up by finding the circuit breaker for the pump circuit. If it is a 2-pole circuit breaker then it is 230 Volts. If it is a single-pole breaker then it is 115 Volts. You can measure the voltage at the inlet of the pressure switch.
What should the voltage be on a PSU?
Most of the specs you see and read are taken at 25c, not very realistic in most cases, pun intended. The PSU forum has some very good stickys everyone should read. They can be very enlightening. Also, pushing your rails above spec buys you little because your motherboard has voltage regulation to compensate.
Can you use an adapter that is rated 5V?
As long as the adapter can supply as much or more than the device needs, you’re good. Attaching an adapter to a device that needs more current than it can supply will likely damage the adapter. The rating would be something like 5v, 2A, not 5v = 2A. The 5v is a voltage rating, the 2A is a current rating.
Is the Antec PSU a good power supply?
Antec makes perfectly good PSUs, if you think they’re bad, then buy something else, simple as that. If you want some good advice as to what PSU you should get (or rant as to why you think Antecs are bad), consult the power supplies forum.
What should the temp of a PSU be?
Most PSUs will lose a third or more of their rated power at 40c and above. Most of the specs you see and read are taken at 25c, not very realistic in most cases, pun intended.