Tester of computer power supplies. Scheme, description

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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RADIO ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
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Tester of computer power supplies. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

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Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering / Computers

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This device is designed to test the performance of computer power supplies and is a set of load resistors for all outputs of the unit with LED indicators of voltage presence, contacts for connecting measuring instruments. A pulsed load simulator and a control unit for switching on the unit are provided.

The tester loads each output of the tested unit with a current equal to approximately 10% of the maximum allowable for the most common power supplies in consumer computers. In addition, it is possible to additionally load the +12 V output with current pulses that follow at a frequency of about 90 Hz. This simulates the operation of a hard disk drive and other components of a computer with variable power consumption.

The tester circuit is shown in fig. 1. If an ATX block is being tested, its main output connector is connected to the XP1 connector of the tester. The XP2 connector is designed for today's outdated AT form factor power supplies. One or more voltmeters or an oscilloscope input can be connected to contacts ХТ1 (common) and ХТ2-ХТ8.

Computer power supply tester
Fig. 1

In order for the AT power supply to work, it is enough to plug it into the network. But the ATX unit will only have a "standby" voltage of +5 V, as indicated by the HL1 LED. Such a block should turn on completely when you press the SB3 button. The voltage that appeared after that in the "Power Good" circuit will open the transistor VT1, so the unit will continue to work even after the button is released. To turn it off, you need to press the SB1 button. Its contacts will shunt the emitter junction of the transistor VT1, and it will close, opening the circuit for turning on the block.

It should be noted that the usual voltage in the "Power Good" circuit is only enough for a faint glow of the HL2 LED. Its increased brightness will indicate a malfunction of the unit or that it is built according to a non-standard scheme.

On the DD1 chip and the VT2 transistor, a +12 V circuit impulse load simulator is built. Usually, this node is turned on for a short time by pressing the SB2 button. However, if necessary, you can enable it permanently by setting jumper S1, or completely disable it by removing jumper S2.

The ХРЗ connector is designed to power the fan, which may be required to blow through the load resistors during prolonged work with the tester.

The printed circuit board of the device is shown in fig. 2. Transistor VT2 is mounted on a heat sink with dimensions of 30x30 mm. It should be borne in mind that the board is designed to install buttons with two pins from each contact, and one of the pairs (right according to Fig. 2) of the connected pins of the SB3 button serves as a jumper between the printed conductors. When using buttons of a different design, this jumper must be installed specifically.

Computer power supply tester
Fig. 2

The tester PCB file in Sprint Layout 4.0 format can be downloaded hence.

Author: D. Dubrovenko, St. Petersburg; Publication: radioradar.net, pirpk.narod.ru

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