Power Supply

Chris · #1 07-23-2001, 05:33 PM

OK, back to square one. A few months ago I had to pull a power supply from my desktop machine to keep the SVX server going. We were even lucky enough to have a member ( I think it was zsvx ) send up a spare 400 watt ATX power supply. Unfortunatly it was DOA. I got used to using my laptop in place of my desktop machine but we have now come to another problem. Either the battery in my IBM Thinkpad has all the sudden chosen to fail, or the motherboard charging circuits have failed. Anyway I look at it, my laptop is out of service now AND I am moving. I must move to another county where I have applied to work in law enforcement and I need to get my desktop back in working order.

SHORT VERSION: We need to raise money for a CrapUSA 400watt ATX power supply for $60.

So, lets pull together and help me out just a bit. When I get paychecks rolling in again, it wont be so much of an issue.

Lets look at a few things. We have well over 30 VERY active members... almost HYPER active. All we need is $2 from 30 people to make this happen.
Please post your bid ammounts and when we reach the magic number I will supply paypal infomration. Better than that, I will provide the group with the recipt as well as pictures

I mean, its not like we have dues or anything

Thanks for your support
Chris
(SVX Admin)

immortal_suby · #2 07-23-2001, 05:40 PM

no problem, I'll gladly put in $20 when you put up the paypal info

Seraph · #3 07-23-2001, 06:02 PM

Where do you want me to send the check to? PM me and I will send you a check for another 20. And let me look around for other parts I have lying around too. I think I might have an 300W powersupply lying around... as well as a few lan cards and modems... If you want, you can have some too.
Lwin

Ron Mummert · #4 07-23-2001, 07:29 PM

E-mail me your snail mailing address & I'll drop you a $20.00 check pronto. Ron.

Aredubjay · #5 07-23-2001, 07:57 PM

Looks like the magic number has been achieved. As always, if you need further, let me know. If another 20 will get a better power supply, I can add it.

Thanks Matt, Lwin and Ron. Proof positive that this is OUR network. You guys are great!

vkykam · #6 07-24-2001, 07:42 AM

Chris,

If you are willing to take a 300W, give me the address and I'll drop one in the mail today.

Trust me, even with 5 SCSI HD's the 300W will be sufficient. What models are the HDs anyways (just so I can check the Amp draw)?

VK

Chris · #7 07-24-2001, 01:50 PM

Well, its not just the drives. You see there is 4 7200 rpm Barracuda 1/2 height drives in the machine. They run so hot that I have them each in 5.25" bays with drive fans. Then you have the draw of a full size RAID controller with 32 megs memory, 256 megs of ECC system ram, and TWO slot 1 Pentium 3 CPUs. I think the biggest draw is the HDs and all the fans. There is two in each drive bay (in two bays), two on each CPU, and one each on the front and back of the machine. Thats 10 fans! I put my Fluke meter on the 12 volt side and checked for amp draw. 8.45 full time draw and 10.8 peak for start-up. Good thing I have the drives set to stagger spin up. Honestly I have too much hardware in too small of a case and I should replace the older 1/5 height drives with low profile ones that run cooler. Eventually I hope to just buy a 2U rack mount machine and move the SVX board over to a new machine.

So you see, I am running about 80+ percent of a 300 watt. I am thinking that high load and slightly high temperatures killed the last one. I am hoping that a 400 watt will run cooler and with less than 80 percent load, last longer.
Thanks for the offer vkykam!

Chris
(SVX Admin)

Chris · #8 07-24-2001, 02:00 PM

For those of you who genrously bid money to help keep SVX-World Network going, THANKS. Once I get a job again and get caught up on stacked up bills, I will rebuild the machine a bit better, rack mount, and with redundant power supplys!

I prefer to do this through Paypal. It makes it really easy as well as MUCH faster. Paypal information is:
c_town@hotmail.com

or if you choose the good ole postal service, send check or money order to:
Chris Townsend
5921 South Tulip Place
Boise, ID 83716

Once the project is done, I will post pictures of the power supply, recipt, and the install

Then I can have my (hopfully not burnned up) power supply back and have my desktop for use back at dads house. I feel like such a looser. I have to borrow money to keep this going AND I have to move back home till I can get my own place again

Gosh, I havent lived at home since my college years back in 1990. Any bets on how long I am there before I end up taking out the trash and mowing the yard?

OK.. Thanks again for all the support. I promise I will make more apperances once my life starts to settle down a bit.

Chris
(SVX Admin)

Aredubjay · #9 07-24-2001, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris
I feel like such a looser. I have to borrow money to keep this going (SVX Admin)

Well one man's loser is another man's hero. You've done well by us. It's only fair we do right by you. Since there is no "central pot" and no one has really wanted to continue the idea of a "formalized" organization, just let us know. Those of us who can, will donate to the cause. Not only for this, but, let us know when you begin to upgrade. I'm sure some of us will be willing to pitch in, either monies or equipment.

Good luck on your new endeavor. Don't forget to put another liner in the can after you take out the trash -- my son ALWAYS forgets.

eddycat2000 · #10 07-24-2001, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris
Any bets on how long I am there before I end up taking out the trash and mowing the yard?

You aren't a loser dood. Trust me, I'm in exactly the same spot. If it weren't for my wife working I'd be livin' in a cardboard box. Try not having a job for months and watching the money slowly but steadily go away...makes for a real happy relationship sometimes. Oh, yeah, I take out the trash and just got done mowing the lawn, it's really not a bad trade off for room and board on someone else's nickle.

Amusing isn't it how in Ideeho, a right to work state, all the employers seem to think that the people that work for them should be able to live on 6 bucks an hour. I negotiated one job up to 10 bucks, and they only called back later, (after I had accepted the job), to tell me that they found someone willing to work for less money.

1994SubaruSVX · #11 07-24-2001, 04:20 PM

tell me when and the money is in the mail. i love this place.....i would say it is my home away from home.

Ron Mummert · #12 07-24-2001, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by eddycat2000

You aren't a loser dood. Trust me, I'm in exactly the same spot. If it weren't for my wife working I'd be livin' in a cardboard box. Try not having a job for months and watching the money slowly but steadily go away...makes for a real happy relationship sometimes. Oh, yeah, I take out the trash and just got done mowing the lawn, it's really not a bad trade off for room and board on someone else's nickle.

Amusing isn't it how in Ideeho, a right to work state, all the employers seem to think that the people that work for them should be able to live on 6 bucks an hour. I negotiated one job up to 10 bucks, and they only called back later, (after I had accepted the job), to tell me that they found someone willing to work for less money.

Eddycat, if you'd move to the Wash.DC area & dispensed the advice you've given on this site, you'd be labled a "Consultant" & be paid $200 bucks an hour. Of course, you'd have to put up with the rush hour from hell. Chris, you may qualify for an audition for the next "Holiday Inn guy", JUST KIDDING!! I've drawn some unemployment in my time, so I know the feeling. I hated it when my dad said, "Things'll work out, take it easy", but things did work out. Now that I AM my dad, I can only repeat the same tired phrase. But... things will! Ron.

vkykam · #13 07-25-2001, 08:54 AM

Most 300W PS have between a 12A and 15A rating on the +12V, so it *should* be sufficient.

The problem is, most power supplies that come with cases on the market, and most power supplies from not-so-reputable manufacturers are overrated. It's a pretty common (and shady) practice to have a manufactuer slap on a 300W rating on a 230W or 250W power supply.

So if you decide to get a CrapUSA (as you would put it), just be careful of what you are buying.

Or, someone chip in $20, I'll cover the rest, and I can get you a Enermax power supply, 350W, with dual fans (yes, more fans, that's what you need!). Or $40 for the 431W model.

Full specs at http://www.enermax.com.tw/products/switch-main.htm

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris
Well, its not just the drives. You see there is 4 7200 rpm Barracuda 1/2 height drives in the machine. They run so hot that I have them each in 5.25" bays with drive fans. Then you have the draw of a full size RAID controller with 32 megs memory, 256 megs of ECC system ram, and TWO slot 1 Pentium 3 CPUs. I think the biggest draw is the HDs and all the fans. There is two in each drive bay (in two bays), two on each CPU, and one each on the front and back of the machine. Thats 10 fans! I put my Fluke meter on the 12 volt side and checked for amp draw. 8.45 full time draw and 10.8 peak for start-up. Good thing I have the drives set to stagger spin up. Honestly I have too much hardware in too small of a case and I should replace the older 1/5 height drives with low profile ones that run cooler. Eventually I hope to just buy a 2U rack mount machine and move the SVX board over to a new machine.

So you see, I am running about 80+ percent of a 300 watt. I am thinking that high load and slightly high temperatures killed the last one. I am hoping that a 400 watt will run cooler and with less than 80 percent load, last longer.
Thanks for the offer vkykam!

Chris
(SVX Admin)

eddycat2000 · #14 07-25-2001, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ron Mummert

Eddycat, if you'd move to the Wash.DC area & dispensed the advice you've given on this site, you'd be labled a "Consultant" & be paid $200 bucks an hour.

Consulting is about the biggest load of hooey I've ever heard of. In my last position the "consultant" decided that they needed a dispatcher...but that they also needed another service writer. So they moved the dispatcher to a service advisor position and hired me. 10 months later when they had a very unprofitable summer, the "consultant" suggested that they didn't really need a dispatcher. Not once in those 10 months did I call in sick, was never once late, and even stayed late for meetings and such when asked. (The guy that was the dispatcher before me even called in sick one time because his dog ate a mushroom and he had to take it to the vet, must've been serious he was gone all day.)

As far as consulting on auto repairs, c'mon, I've been in the business for twenty + years, and it's hard enough to get people to buy real repairs.

Seraph · #15 07-25-2001, 11:09 AM

Leo or Randy

one of you guys might have to take over my task of sending 20 over to chris. I am going though my funds and i am getting low as well -- esp. with my car not moving -- I have no idea how much I will need to spend on that.

Sorry chris.

Lwin