Power supplies

Safety Basics: safety protocols;

15 Safety Precautions When Working With Electricity

It’s vitally important to take safety precautions when working with electricity. Safety must not be
compromised and some ground rules need to be followed first. The basic guidelines regarding safe
handling of electricity documented below will help you while working with electricity.

1. Avoid water at all times when working with electricity. Never touch or try repairing any
electrical equipment or circuits with wet hands. It increases the conductivity of electric current.

2. Never use equipment with frayed cords, damaged insulation or broken plugs.

3. If you are working on any receptacle at your home then always turn off the mains. It is also a
good idea to put up a sign on the service panel so that nobody turns the main switch ON by
accident.

4. Always use insulated tools while working.

5. Electrical hazards include exposed energized parts and unguarded electrical equipment which
may become energized unexpectedly. Such equipment always carries warning signs like “Shock
Risk”. Always be observant of such signs and follow the safety rules established by the electrical
code followed by the country you’re in.

6. Always use appropriate insulated rubber gloves and goggles while working on any branch circuit
or any other electrical circuit.

7. Never try repairing energized equipment. Always check that it is de-energized first by using a
tester. When an electric tester touches a live or hot wire, the bulb inside the tester lights up showing
that an electrical current is flowing through the respective wire. Check all the wires, the outer
metallic covering of the service panel and any other hanging wires with an electrical tester before
proceeding with your work.

8. Never use an aluminium or steel ladder if you are working on any receptacle at height in your
home. An electrical surge will ground you and the whole electric current will pass through your
body. Use a bamboo, wooden or a fibreglass ladder instead.

Anti- static basic hand tools

An antistatic device is any device that reduces, dampens, or otherwise inhibits electrostatic
discharge, or ESD, which is the buildup or discharge of static electricity. ESD can damage
electrical components such as computer hard drives, and even ignite flammable liquids and gases.

Many methods exist for neutralizing static electricity, varying in use and effectiveness depending
on the application. Antistatic agents are chemical compounds that can be added to an object, or the
packaging of an object, to help deter the buildup or discharge of static electricity. For the
neutralization of static charge in a larger area, such as a factory floor, semiconductor cleanroom or
workshop, antistatic systems may utilize electron emission effects such as corona
discharge or photoemission that introduce ions into the area that combine with and neutralize any
electrically charged object. In many situations, sufficient ESD protection can be achieved
with electrical grounding.

Types of antistatic devices include

Antistatic bag

An antistatic bag is a bag used for storing or shipping electronic components which may be prone
to damage caused by ESD.

Ionizing bar

An ionizing bar, sometimes referred to as a static bar, is a type of industrial equipment used for
removing static electricity from a production line to dissipate static cling and other such phenomena
that would disrupt the line. It is important in the manufacturing and printing industries, although it
can be used in other applications as well.

Antistatic garments

Antistatic garments or antistatic clothing can be used to prevent damage to electrical components or
to prevent fires and explosions when working with flammable liquids and gases

Antistatic mat

An antistatic floor mat or ground mat is one of a number of antistatic devices designed to help
eliminate static electricity. It does this by having a controlled low resistance: a metal mat would
keep parts grounded but would short out exposed parts; an insulating mat would provide no ground
reference and so would not provide grounding. Typical resistance is on the order of 105 to 108 ohms
between points on the mat and to ground.

Antistatic wrist strap

An antistatic wrist strap, ESD wrist strap, or ground bracelet is an antistatic device used to
safely ground a person working on very sensitive electronic equipment, to prevent the buildup of
static electricity on their body, which can result in ESD. It is used in the electronics industry when
handling electronic devices which can be damaged by ESD, and also sometimes by people working
around explosives, to prevent electric sparks which could set off an explosion. It consists of an
elastic band of fabric with fine conductive fibers woven into it, attached to a wire with a clip on the
end to connect it to a ground conductor. The fibers are usually made of carbon or carbon-filled
rubber, and the strap is bound with a stainless steel clasp or plate. They are usually used in
conjunction with an antistatic mat on the workbench, or a special static-dissipating plastic laminate
on the workbench surface.

Risks of Static Electricity

Some dangers posed by static electricity are:

 Electric shock due to the flow of current through the body, causing a person
everything from an uncomfortable zap to falls, burns, or stopping the heart.
 Fires or explosions due to the ignition of flammable or explosive mixtures.
 Production disturbances in the processing of paper, plastics, composites,
powder, granules, and liquids.
 Damage to electronic equipment and components from electrostatic
discharge (ESD).
 Damage to mechanical components such as bearings due to sparking
through the oil films on bearing surfaces.

It is vital to analyze the static buildup potential of facilities and establish

protective procedures.

POWER VARIATION
The variation of the supply voltage is defined as an increase or a decrease in the amplitude of
the voltage, with respect to its nominal value, which can be caused by variations in input power,
variations in loads (e.g. starting of motors, maneuvers in the system) or from system failures.

Precautions to be taken while mounting and un mounting power supply into/ from the cabinet
General power safety guidelines while mounting:

 Check the voltage rating before you connect the desktop to an electrical outlet to ensure that
the required voltage and frequency match the available power source.
 Your desktop is equipped with either an internal power source or an external adapter. For
internal power sources, your computer is equipped with an auto-sensing voltage circuit or a
manual voltage selection switch.

Un mounting power supply

 Turn off and unplug the desktop computer when it is going to be left unused for an
extended period of time.

DC power source to PC - Need for SMPS

Switch mode power supplies, SMPS provide improved efficiency & space saving over
traditional linear supplies, but care has to be taken to ensure noise on the output is low.
Switch mode power supplies are widely used because of the advantages they offer in terms
of size, weight, cost, efficiency and overall performance.

SMPS or Switched Mode Power Supply Is an electronic power supply that incorporates a
switching regulator to convert electrical power efficiently. Like other power supplies, an
SMPS transfers power from a DC or AC source to DC loads, such as a personal computer,
while converting voltage and current characteristics. Switching regulators are used as
replacements for linear regulators when higher efficiency, smaller size, or lighter weight are
required. As a result of their performance, switch-mode power supplies are used in all but
the most exacting applications to provide an efficient and effective source of power for most
forms of electronic systems.

Switched-mode power supplies are used for DC to DC conversion as well. In automobiles

where heavy vehicles use a nominal 24 VDC cranking supply, 12 V for accessories may be
furnished through a DC/DC switch-mode supply. This has the advantage over tapping the
battery at the 12 V position (using half the cells) that all the 12 V load is evenly divided
over all cells of the 24 V battery. In industrial settings such as telecommunications racks,
 bulk power may be distributed at a low DC voltage (from a battery back-up system, for
example) and individual equipment items will have DC/DC switched-mode converters to
supply whatever voltages are needed.

Specifications of SMPS

Input Voltage 220 - 230 V

Weight 0.340 kg
Protection Short Circuit Protection,Over Power protection,Compatible
with any PC for 200W,Better Efficiency
Power Output 450 W with Maximum Power Output of450 W
Processor Intel and AMD Processor Support
Support
Fan Type 1

SMPS FACTORS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED WHILE CHOOSING SMPS

The Power Supply Unit (PSU) might not be the most frequently discussed PC component, but it’s a
critical piece of any desktop. Supplying power to your entire system is an extremely important role,
and using the wrong one could be costly.
That’s why we’re going to cover the basics of power supplies, and provide you with the
information you need to understand why having the right PSU is important, and why simply settling
for the cheapest option is not the best solution.

SMPS Factors/Features

 Connection
 Watts
 Protection
 Efficiency
 Form factor
 Power

Though the PSU you purchase should come with all of the cables you need, it’s worth knowing
what the individual connections look like. The exact cables you’ll use will vary depending on the
specifics of your build, but you’ll most likely be dealing with the following:
  24-pin Motherboard: The way power is allocated varies from motherboard to
motherboard, but the 24-pin connector/cable is frequently used to power important features
such as the chipset and PCIe*

 4/8-pin CPU: This connector provides power to your CPU. Modern CPUs draw more
power than the 24-pin motherboard configuration can provide, which is why the additional
4/8 pin cable came into use. Though it can vary depending on the manufacturer, the CPU
cable usually plugs into the top left side of the motherboard, near the I/O on a standard
layout

 6/8 pin (PCIe*/GPU): Some GPUs draw enough power from the PCIe* slot, while others
require a specific power cable configuration to operate properly. Most PSUs address this
required flexibility by providing cables that can be used in a variety of combinations, some
of which include 6, 8, 6+6, 8+6, and 8+8, and even 8+8+8 pin connectors. PSUs will often
provide multiple connections on a single cable to avoid having to run additional wires, and
for the vast majority of users, this will function the same as running multiple cables. Be sure
to double-check that your power supply has the connections you need for your GPU before
purchasing

 SATA Power: This connector is used to provide power to SATA storage devices. Other
devices have since adopted the standard as well, such as RGB hubs and fan controllers.
Many PSUs have multiple SATA connections on one cable to reduce the amount of cables
required

 4-pin Molex: This is an increasingly rare legacy connector that has mostly been replaced by
SATA. Molex connectors are usually found on less common accessories, such as water
cooling pumps

How Many Watts?

When selecting a new PSU, one of the most common questions asked is, “How many watts is
enough?” As is often the case in the world of PC hardware, the answer varies widely depending on
the unique needs of your system.
Generally, more complex systems require more power to run. A desktop with a custom liquid
cooling loop, a high-end motherboard, and dual GPUs is going to need a higher wattage computer
power supply than a simpler system.
It’s impossible to give an exact recommendation without knowing specifically what hardware
you’re working with, but using a PSU Wattage Calculator, or determining the power draw of your
different internal components and adding that together, can give insight into how many watts you
need.
As a general rule, it’s better to err on the side of higher wattage rather than trying to match your
needs exactly. If you’ve calculated that your system is going to use 500 watts (a common number
for a straightforward gaming build), choosing a PSU with 600 or 650-watt output could be a good
option, as it will give you some overhead to work with, and also allow for potential future upgrades.
Keep this in mind when considering higher wattage PSUs: a 750-watt power supply does not
consume 750 watts by default. If your system is drawing 500 watts, your power supply will supply
500 watts, regardless of maximum capable output. Higher wattage output doesn’t necessarily mean
more energy consumed; it means it has the ability to provide more power if your system demands
it. That said, there’s no real advantage to having a vastly overpowered PSU if your system doesn’t
need it, so you might be better served selecting a feature-rich, high-efficiency PSU that is closer to
the wattage you require.
You’ll also want to consider the continuous power versus the peak power capabilities of your new
PSU. Peak power is the maximum amount of power the PSU can output for short periods of time,
whereas continuous power refers to the amount of power the PSU is designed to output on a regular
basis. Peak power is usually reached when pushing your system to its limits, like when you’re
running demanding games or performing hardware benchmarks.
If there is a sudden demand for more power, your PSU should be able to handle the higher output
briefly, but should not be expected to run at those higher wattages continuously. Always make sure
the PSU you purchase has sufficiently high continuous power output, and don’t choose solely by
peak power capabilities.

Protection
As you'd expect from anything that deals with large amounts of power, system safety is a concern.
A good power supply should have fail-safes built in — not just to protect the PSU itself, but also to
keep your system safe in case of something unexpected, like a power surge.
The power supply and the motherboard are the only PC components that directly connect to almost
every other piece of hardware in your system. Because of the unique position of the PSU in the
PC’s layout, making sure it has built-in protection can help keep the rest of your hardware safe as
well.
It’s worth noting whether the power supply you’re looking at has built-in protection, like OVP
(Over Voltage Protection), which shuts down the PSU if excessive voltage is detected. Other safety
features include functions like short circuit protection, which can be hugely beneficial if you
encounter power fluctuations.
You’ll also want to plug in your PC to a surge protector. These hardware-saving devices are
designed to add another layer of protection to your system by diverting potentially damaging power
surges away from your valuable components.

Consider Efficiency
Wattage is certainly an important consideration when choosing a desktop power supply, but so is
PSU efficiency. Inefficient delivery leads to wasted power and more heat, which can potentially
decrease the lifespan of your components.
The more efficient your PSU, the less power it uses, and the less heat it generates. That said, higher
efficiency usually means a higher price, so you’ll want to find the balance that works for you.
Even the most efficient PSU will still generate heat, however, and most use fans to disperse that
heat. Many power supplies are designed so that the fan will only turn on when it needs to — that is,
when the PSU hits a certain threshold. Features like these help to reduce noise.
For those who are interested in taking things to the very edge of practicality, there are even liquid-
cooled power supplies for a truly silent experience.

Form Factor and Cabling Preferences

As with most PC hardware, there's a huge variety of options when it comes to what your power
supply looks like.
One consideration when it comes to PSU form factor is the physical size of the unit. For the vast
majority of desktop PC users, standard ATX power supplies should be fine, though you’ll still want
to make sure your PSU will fit in your case by checking the appropriate clearances.
If you’re a small form factor PC (SFF) enthusiast, you’ll want to do a little more research to make
sure your PSU will fit. There is a wide variety of SFF PSU sizes, like SFX, CFX, and more, so
make sure you find the PSU that works with your case, no matter how small your PC.
Another important distinction when it comes to the physical attributes of your PSU is whether it’s
modular or non-modular.
A power supply operates by converting energy from a wall socket and routing that power to each of
the individual components in your system through a variety of cables. If your power supply is non-
modular, these cables will already be soldered to the circuit board, meaning you don’t get to choose
the cables that will be in your build. All the cabling, even the ones that you don’t use, will need to
be stored in your case.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with this from a functional perspective, though poor cable
management can lead to less efficient airflow, so you’ll want to be sure those extra cables don’t get
in the way.
Modular power supplies, on the other hand, don’t come with the cables attached. This changes the
installation process, as you’ll need to connect each cable to the PSU and the component that it is
powering, but that also means you can optimize for fewer cables. This results in a cleaner build and
potentially better airflow. Most people aren’t going to use every connector provided by the average
power supply, which makes modular units a little more practical, as well.
There’s also a third, in-between option, creatively called a semi-modular power supply. These are
exactly what they sound like: Some of the most frequently used cables are attached to the PSU,
while some you’ll have to connect yourself.
For modular and semi-modular power systems, keep in mind that you do not want to mix and match
cables from other manufacturers, or even different models from the same manufacturer, unless
stated otherwise. Though the cable-ends that connect to the components in your build are
standardized, the end that connects to the PSU isn’t, meaning different brands could have different
connections. That’s why you should only use the cables that came with your power supply.

Premium Power
PC building is all about customization, and power supplies are no exception. In addition to
everything we’ve discussed, there are a huge selection of additional features you can get from
premium power supplies. Features like RGB lighting, additional connections, testing buttons, and
power draw measurements via internal USB connections are luxuries more than necessities, but
they are options if you’re interested.
An interesting aftermarket enhancement to consider is custom power supply cable sleeving. These
custom cables allow the user to decide the color and material of their power cables, which adds a
further level of customization to your build. This is purely aesthetic, but it’s another way to add
some flair to a sometimes overlooked component.
SMPS parts and Connectors

Power-IN. The power-IN connector as shown in the figure is the input for MAINS supply. A power cable is inserted here, the other
end of which is connected to mains supply. The input supply gets converted to DC supply.

Power-OUT. The power-OUT connector is connected directly to the Power-IN connector from inside the supply unit. It supplies the
same AC supply that is fed to power-IN socket. The power-OUT connector is used to give supply to monitors or any display unit.

FAN. If you look at the back side of Computer-SMPS, you will find a FAN at the right side. The FAN as you can see, blows the air out
and is only used to dissipate the internal heat from the SMPS since the switching is done at high frequencies which create a lot of
heat inside.

ATX connector. As you can see in the image, it is a 24-pin female connector which is used to supply DC supply to the
motherboards. Various color-coded wires connect to this connector and each colored wire supplies distinct DC voltage which is
explained in the chart below.
SMPS COLOR CODING

Wire colour DC Voltage

Red +5 V

Yellow +12V

Black Ground

Blue -12V

Grey Power Good

Green Power On

Purple +5V StandBy

Orange +3.3V

Brown/Orange +3.3V Sense

White -5V (optional)

ATX-12V connector. Latest SMPS power supplies are accompanied by an extra 4-pin connector
which supplies 12 volts to energize the central processing unit and other components of the
motherboard.
AT Connectors. Earlier motherboards used to support AT connectors( 6-pin each) also called P8
and P9 connectors to supply power to these motherboards(upto 486 boards).

Wire Colour DC Voltage

Red +5V

White -5V

Black Ground or 0V

Blue -12V

Yellow +12V

Orange + 5V ( PG)

4-PIN connectors. There are multiple 4-pin connectors that draw out from the SPMS unit. These
connectors are used to supply DC power to various peripherals of computer like a floppy disk drive,
hard disk drive or DVD-writers.
 Wire Colour DC Voltage Used For

Yellow +12 V Motors

Black GND

Black GND

Red +5V Logic circuit

SATA-output connector. To feed the power to latest SATA hard drives, these connectors are used.

WHAT IS A MODULAR POWER SUPPLY?

Modular power supplies are simply power supply units with detachable cables. With that said, there
are minor differences between fully-modular and semi-modular PSUs.

NON-MODULAR VS. SEMI-MODULAR VS. FULLY MODULAR

The main difference between the different types of PSUs lies in how they treat their cabling.
Non-modular power supplies have all cables permanently attached.
Semi-modular power supplies have some cables attached (the most important ones).
Fully modular power supplies, as the term suggests, come with no cables attached.

Symptoms of a failing computer power supply, Common problems from a faulty SMPS.
Trouble shooting Power supplies

 Random computer crashes.

 Random blue screen crashes.
 Extra noise coming from the PC case.
 Recurring failure of PC components.
 PC won't start but your case fans spin.

Symptoms or Signs to change your SMPS

Here are some signs that can tell you that it is the time to change or replace your SMPS / PSU to a
new one.

Noisy Fan

Your SMPS or Power Supply has started making constant unbearable noise. This means your
SMPS Fan bearings are worn out and it can stop or fail anytime. The performance of a noisy fan is
also reduced and it will not spin at its original speed or RPM, which can lead to rise in the
temperature of the components of your SMPS. This can cause overheating of your SMPS and it
also possesses a serious risk to your computer components that are connected to the SMPS. So it is
better to replace a SMPS whose fan is not working properly or to its full capacity.

Restarting Problem with PC

Your PC may be restarting when you play high end games or run heavy resource intensive
applications. Your computer may restart because of several other reasons too but when everything
else is right then the only culprit left for this problem is SMPS only.
Hanging Problem with PC

Your PC or computer may be hanging without any reasons. This can be due to other things also but
this problem can arise because of old or faulty power supply.

Note: Most of these problems arise because either your SMPS has gone too old or it has become
faulty. The efficiency of a Power Supply degrades over time because the capacitors looses their
ability to hold the charge to its maximum capacity and performance of other components also
decreases. Also a SMPS can become faulty because of improper voltage from the mains power or
due to continuous voltage fluctuations.
Tips to Keep your SMPS in Good Condition

Here are some useful tips that you can follow to keep your power supply in good condition or to
extend its life.

Clean the Fan

Clean the SMPS Fan and the vents with a soft brush once in a month. After that use a vacuum
cleaner to pull away the dust and dirt. Do not ever try to open the SMPS for cleaning. Just clean it
from the outside using brush and then vacuum clean it.

Do not Overload it

Do not overload your SMPS by adding power hungry components that are beyond its capacity. For
example, by using a High-end graphics card with a SMPS that is rated only 400 Watt. If you are
going to add more additional components or high powered components to your PC then you have to
buy a high capacity SMPS that can handle them easily.

Use a UPS

Always use a UPS with your computer to protect your SMPS from frequent voltage fluctuations.
Voltage fluctuations and improper voltage can damage your SMPS and your PC components.
Keep Good Airflow

Always use a spacious cabinet to allow proper airflow and breathing for your computer power
supply and also for other computer components. The other main thing to follow is that do not keep
the cabinet in a congested place where there are obstructions from all sides of the cabinet. There
should a good distance especially from the back side of cabinet from the wall.