Testing Power Supplies! Re: Norsk Data Nord-10/S restoration

From: Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
Date: Tue Nov 16 18:30:15 2004

> OK I just picked up some computers with 150 Amp 5 volt supplies. Now
> figure out the necessary resistrance and wattage and go find me a
> resistor :-)

Now what I'd do there is very simple...

6V car headlamp bulbs tend to have 36W filaments, and double-dippers with
2 36W filaments are not uncommon. For short periods (like testing PSUs)
you could run both filaments together. And light bulbs approximate to
constant current devices, so I would guess they'd take 6A (each filament)
from a 5V supply too. Or thereabouts.

I'd normally test a PSU at around half its rated current, so around 75A.
Each bulb (both filaments) takes 12A, so use half a dozen of them. And
yes I do keep such bulbs in stock for testing such PSUs (my I2S image
processors have such a PSU module for each crate...)

-tony
Received on Tue Nov 16 2004 - 18:30:15 GMT