Need a linear Power supply?
 

I'll build one for you for cost of parts + shipping + $15.

I can build a 17.5V(No load) 20Amp version
or a 16.5V(No load) 25Amp version.

estimated cost of parts is $40 for either version.

If anyone has a good source of large 20V Capacitors let me know.

If you have the room, linear PS tend to be cheaper than switching PS.

maybe some pictures....and i wuz always told not to use linear ps with like tecs...any truth?

Don't see why not, I am. Under load, linear PS lower thier voltage, but thats why you give yourself a few volts headroom.

http://kornnutz.virtualave.net/supercool/power10.jpg
http://kornnutz.virtualave.net/supercool/power11.jpg

That is a dual PS, 17.5V(No load) 40Amps mounted atop my tower case. also, those capacitors are overkill and the ones you would normally use have much smaller dimensions.

As for mounting, I just like mounting the components to the top or floor of the case, but I can get plastic or aluminum boxes too.

meters and LEDs are extra too of course.

I will soon have a 172, and a 226watt pelt, so I can list the sustained voltage the PS can provide them. though a 156watt pelt would get all the power it could handle.

The 226watt pelts look to be better candidates cause when the PS drops to 14-15V, the pelt gets its 20amps, where as a 172 watt pelt at 15V only pulls around 8amps. There is much more power(and cooling power) going to the 226watter. Even 2 172Watt pelts would only pull around 16amps.

So 15V*20Amps= 300Watts (226Watt Pelt)
15V*16Amps= 240Watts (2 x 172Watt Pelts)

hehe that bastage is huge...

yeah, I Likes 'em big.:D

:eek: Do you have EMI issues? Those things are just bound to put out some kind of electrical noise.

ok, 16.5v/17.5v no load, what about under load?

haven't got the tec yet, been low on cash.:(

as for EMI, the transformers have "Magnetic & Faraday shields",
listed on the spec sheet.

lol, your comp looks like som science expirement thats about to explode..

wow.

May I suggest some insulation for those caps and transformers? Conformal coating should do it, or get that stuff that you dip plier handles in to make a plastic coating, and apply.

seriously -- looks like my high school physics lab gone out of control.. farads, ohms, stuff like that .. haha

ok.. back to the serious side of things.. what type of capacitors would you be using for these linear PSUs?

There is no problem using linear power supplies with pelt. These are unregulated and will drop under load (tell us how much once you got the pelt).
The problem comes with linear regulated PSUs, they are expensive and power un-efficient (heat up). Their only advantage is that they deliver a cleaner output voltage than switchers, which is not required for pelts.

Nice setup.
The AC wires are well isolated. Just don't drop your morning coffee on top of the capacitors!

A 350W single output PSU for $40, not bad.

For the large capacitors, try MECI.com

I use following for my PSU:

transfo: 400VA 2x 12V 16A
cap: 5x 10000µF 25V
rectifier: 16A

for my pelts (62W + 156W)
no load 15.6V
full load 12.11V