PicoPSU

Doosh · 15 Mar 2011 at 16:33

Is it good practice to use an AC adapter rated at the same wattage as the variant of PicoPSU you intend on using?

What happens for instance if you use the 90w version with a 60w adapter and the load goes above 60w?

Tealc · 15 Mar 2011 at 17:03

Not sure about good practise but if the load exceeds the AC adapter's capability then it would either overheat and die or would actually not allow you to use more than 60W and the PC would have issues.

Get an AC adapter that is more than sufficient for your needs, it doesn't matter much if it exceeds your Pico PSU rating as it will just draw what it needs.

Doosh · 15 Mar 2011 at 21:05

Thanks.

I know there wont be a problem with an adapter rated above the Pico, but the only reason I asked is that you see lower powered adapters bundled with higher power Picos, presumably this is for people who know exactly the power draw of their PC?

Is there a way to roughly work out how many watts I'll be using or may need?

Tealc · 15 Mar 2011 at 23:30

It's probably going to be guesstimates I'm afraid, unless of course you can find each components power draw. Maybe posting the system might provide some info from people who might know. You could also plug it into a normal PSU and use a watt meter to measure the power draw and then subtract the 10-20% efficiency as appropriate to determine actual power draw.

JonJ678 · 16 Mar 2011 at 09:55

Good practice would be using an AC-DC brick rated for more than the pico. There's a review by Johnny Guru that you should read before buying one, the short version is that 19V + a wide voltage pico is the way to go.

Doosh · 16 Mar 2011 at 16:02

Thanks for the heads up on that review, just checked it out.