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Using a resistor to provide load on the power supply. *updated*

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StephenH:

What about some light bulbs as a load?

kagem:


--- Quote from: RayB on June 08, 2006, 09:18:04 am ---
--- Quote from: kagem on June 07, 2006, 11:25:41 am ---Yeah, I'm still debating which way to go, but main reason I want to keep the powersupply hooked up is because my monitor gets power from it, and this way I can easily pop in a jamma board if I wanted to.

--- End quote ---

Wait, are we talking about a power supply or the AC distribution block? I've never heard of a monitor that can run off DC voltage (unless you've got one of those mini LCD screens...?)


--- End quote ---

Actually, it doesn't get power from the power supply itself, it's just wired through the power supply.  I want to keep it that way so I don't have to rewire it and swapping in a jamma board will be easy.

kagem:


--- Quote from: StephenH on June 09, 2006, 02:52:47 am ---What about some light bulbs as a load?

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I was thinking of doing that also, but I figured a resistor will be smaller and won't heat up the cab as much.

Ken Layton:

10 watts isn't enough heat dissipation for that resistor. You'll find it gets real HOT real fast! Here's exactly what you need at Mouser Electronics (www.mouser.com):

# 588-L50J-1.0     Ohmite fixed vitreous enamel power resistor, 1.0 ohm, 50 watt

It's only $7.18 for it and is the proper one to correctly load the 5 volt line on the power supply.

kagem:


--- Quote from: Ken Layton on June 09, 2006, 11:12:26 am ---10 watts isn't enough heat dissipation for that resistor. You'll find it gets real HOT real fast! Here's exactly what you need at Mouser Electronics (www.mouser.com):

# 588-L50J-1.0     Ohmite fixed vitreous enamel power resistor, 1.0 ohm, 50 watt

It's only $7.18 for it and is the proper one to correctly load the 5 volt line on the power supply.

--- End quote ---

Actually, I think it's enough, since there are two of them.  At 2 ohms, you get 12.5 watts of power and since there are two, each only have to worry about 6.25 watts.  I'm not exactly skilled in this, but I did look it up and most people say that when two resistors are used in series you double their power rating, as long as you use two identical resistors.

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