imsai 2

From: John Lawson <jpl15_at_netcom.com>
Date: Tue Aug 17 18:10:44 1999

On Tue, 17 Aug 1999, Jeffrey l Kaneko wrote:

>
>
> On Tue, 17 Aug 1999 16:11:10 -0600 "Richard Erlacher" <edick_at_idcomm.com>
> writes:
>
> <Stuff SNIPped>
>
> > What puzzles me is why the IMSAI folks decided to use a switching
> > power supply when the box and everything else already supported the
> needs

 (more Stuff SNIPped)

>
> Well, for a given wattage, switchers are smaller, lighter, and more
> economical to produce. I imagine if they resorted to the old iron-core
> transformers of yore, they would have had a difficult time finding
> a supplier for them.


   Also, if using a packaged 'OEM' supply unit, one is spared the
onus of compliance with a bunch of Regulatory Agencies... UL, FCC,
CSA, ISO..... this is the reason a lot of products came with
'brick' or 'wall-wart' power units... someone else has already
jumped thru those hoops for you. Then there's the liability issues
if the thing bursts into flames and gives somebody's goldfish a sunburn.


  Having shepherded more than one project through the nightmare maze
of Compliance, I can see the point for a packaged power unit over
in-house design.


  Cheers

John
Received on Tue Aug 17 1999 - 18:10:44 BST