PC power supply. Connect monitor directly to PSU or power separately?

[Darren]

Hi

I'm concerned about overburdening my no-name 400w PSU.

I've quite a number of large fans and various devices and Molex Y-splitters
to power same.

My question is:
Does plugging your monitor (19" Hitachi CM721f) into the PSU's power out
connector, use many watts? (i.e. as many as the monitor consumes.)

Dumb question or what?

Thanks

Dumbo Darren

 

[TimPerry]

Hi

I'm concerned about overburdening my no-name 400w PSU.

I've quite a number of large fans and various devices and Molex Y-splitters
to power same.

My question is:
Does plugging your monitor (19" Hitachi CM721f) into the PSU's power out
connector, use many watts? (i.e. as many as the monitor consumes.)

Dumb question or what?

Thanks

Dumbo Darren

I assume you mean you are plugging the monitor's AC connecor into a provided
AC output jack in the PSU.

this is perfictly fine and will not increase the load on the PSU.

 

[Palindr☻me]

Hi

I'm concerned about overburdening my no-name 400w PSU.

I've quite a number of large fans and various devices and Molex Y-splitters
to power same.

My question is:
Does plugging your monitor (19" Hitachi CM721f) into the PSU's power out
connector, use many watts? (i.e. as many as the monitor consumes.)

You will be pleased to know that the monitor doesn't use a
single one of your 400W - as far as the monitor is
concerned, the power supply just acts as a switched
extension cord.

However, like any extension cord, it does have a maximum
current rating for the socket that you plug the monitor in
to. This will normally be on a label next to the socket
and/or in the specification sheet for the power supply. This
is normally rated in amps. There may be a different figure
for the amps rating at 110V and the amps rating at 220-250V.
Take that rating in amps (say 2A) and multiply it by your
household voltage (say 250V). That gives 500 - the maximum
number of watts that you can take from the socket.

Your monitor will also have a label on the back saying how
much power it uses. As long as that is less than the watts
figure you worked out above, then you are fine.

For a 19 inch monitor, this shouldn't be a problem. However,
if you use a Y cable adapter and try to power two of them
via the PC power supply, you will probably exceed the power
supply's designed rating for the socket.

If you think, "Why would anyone want two monitors?", then
you probably haven't tried it! I use a 17" monitor as my
main work area and an old 15" monitor alongside for
everthing else. I reckon it is far, far better than a 21"
monitor - and a lot cheaper..However, I can't power the
combination from the power supply mains outlet as the total
power is more than the rating of the socket.

 

[Palindr☻me]

| I'm concerned about overburdening my no-name 400w PSU.

You really should do better to find out how makes these things.

If this means what I think it means, I agree. All of the computers that
I have seen which have failed dramatically (smoke, flames, dents in the
metalwork where the capacitor bodies have impacted, etc) have done so
because the power supply failed. The ones that have fried completely (eg
taking out the hard drives, keyboard, graphics card,etc) have done so
because the power supply failed. These have all been "no-name" supplies
and I have yet to find a single faulty power supply made by one of the
reputable market leaders (Digital & Compaq not included).

So, to paraphrase, find out who makes these things and buy better..

 

[Darren]

Thanks very much for all the feedback.

The power supply is an 'Omni'.

I'll shop around for an Antec/Enermax etc

Thanks

Darren

 

[w_tom]

When seeking a supply, then remember, a supply that is
missing essential functions can both fail and take out
keyboard, motherboard, etc. No acceptable supply will both
fail and then damage other computer components. So that a
supply does not harm other computer parts, the supply must
state, in writing, that it includes essential functions. Many
do not. IOW its manufacturer must supply a long list of
numeric specifications. Missing spec numbers are how inferior
supplies get dumped into the market - sold only on price.

For example, what are the specs for that Omni? Did they
even bother to provide specs? When selling to the naive, a
power supply vendor may hype watts rather then list essential
internal functions that were standard on power supplies even
30 years ago. The naive assume more watts means higher
quality - the Tim Allen concept of "more power".