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How do I find out how many amps my PC power supply really puts out?
rackoon:
I bought a really cheap 550 watt PC power supply to run my 100 LEDs and 300 watt car amp for my cabinets sound system. It arrived today and weighs about 1/2 a pound. I read somewhere that many of these power supplies exaggerate their output and this is especially true if they are light. The article went on to state that a 400 watt power supply should weigh at least 4 pounds. (Any one out there find this to be true?)
Is there a way to measure the amps that this thing puts out on its 12 volt line?
I have a digital multimeter, yet don't know how to use it very well.
SirPeale:
Is there a label on it giving the rating for each line?
rackoon:
Yea there is:
+3.3===32A
+5====40A
+12===12A
Does this help?
SirPeale:
--- Quote from: rackoon on March 01, 2006, 09:17:52 pm ---Yea there is:
+3.3===32A
+5====40A
+12===12A
Does this help?
--- End quote ---
Uh...yeah...you just answered your own question. Puts out 32A on the 3.3 line, 40A on the 5v line, and 12A on your 12v line.
SirPeale:
Also note this: amps is how much an item *draws*, not how much your supply puts out.
For example: you could have a part that draws five amps, and you're using a 1A supply. It'll likely work - for a very little while. But because the draw is so high it'll burn itself out.