Power Supply Mania!!!
 

Ok so here are my Questions:

If anyone out there is running a Peltier with a computer power supply such as a 500w or higher what types of temps are you guys getting?


I'm debating on running a 176w pelt on either a Mean Well supply $118 or something a little cheaper such as a 550w supply off of ebay. Is the GAIN significant enough when using a more quality supply such as the Mean Well as opposed to some GENERIC computer power supply?

Edit: i'm thinking of using something along these lines http://pcpartusa.com/2003/powersupply/550CWT/ps3.jpg

there will be more amps on a mean well and thats what the generic power supplies wont give you i dont even know if you can run a 176w peltier on a 10amp PSU the performance would be MUCH different when using something like a meanwell or maybe something like this http://becooling.safeshopper.com/26/cat26.htm?584

WTF???
 

Awww hello? did u even read the stats its 12v at 24amps the same as the mean well.

Re: WTF???
 

Umm, just because the computer PSU specs say so, doesn't mean that it is so, if you get what I mean.

I have been able to pull a max of 6 amps out of a generic 450W psu that is rated for 11. Even that was pulling the 12v line down to 11.19 V, not good.

You may have diffrent experiences, but the meanwell is more suited to this application, IMHO.

mmm
 

Thanx for posting your real world performance thats what i'm looking for here.

Re: mmm
 

np, m8 ;)

I have heard of people running pelts on their computer PSUs with not so great preformance as well, I don't know if it is the PSUs or just the loonies, but I have heard too many to think the latter.

Good luck!

Hey PKR,

I have not used the 550 watt PSU in your link (but I did look at the specs)... :)

Technically it should work - more than enough power to run a 176 watt Pelt (12 x 25 = 300 watts theoretical max). some people/power supplies run into trouble when they try to pull a heavy load on the 12 v rail without any load on the other rails - specifically the 5 v rail. Most PC switching power supplies have the 12 v and 5v rails sharing a common regulator circuit. They are designed for moderate pull on both rails but can loose regulation and not perform well when loaded out of ballance.

If you do go with a big generic PSU, I would put a couple large 5 ohm power resistors across the 5 v rail to load it up with a couple amps to help maintain regulation on the 12 v rail.

I assume you Pelt is a 15 V-max unit... :)

Personally, I use the MeanWell - it's a little more money but it's solid, compact, you don't have to "wonder" whether it will work, and the output is easily adjustable (+/- 2 volts) so you can dial in your Pelts sweet spot for cooling.

Good luck,

Re: WTF???
 

no i didnt:p