Load Tests
Contents
We conducted several tests with this power supply, as described in the article “Hardware Secrets Power Supply Test Methodology.”
First, we tested this power supply with five different load patterns, trying to pull around 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of its labeled maximum capacity (actual percentage used listed under “% Max Load”), watching the behavior of the reviewed unit under each load. In the table below, we list the load patterns we used and the results for each load.
If you add all the powers listed for each test, you may find a different value than what is posted under “Total” below. Since each output can have a slight variation (e.g., the +5 V output working at 5.10 V), the actual total amount of power being delivered is slightly different than the calculated value. In the “Total” row, we are using the real amount of power being delivered, as measured by our load tester.
The +12VA and +12VB inputs listed below are the two +12 V independent inputs from our load tester. During this test, the +12VA and the +12VB inputs were connected to the power supply’s single +12 V rail (the +12VB input was connected to one of the power supply’s EPS12V connectors).
| Input | Test 1 | Test 2 | Test 3 | Test 4 | Test 5 |
| +12VA | 6 A (72 W) | 13 A (156 W) | 19 A (228 W) | 25.5 A (306 W) | 32 A (384 W) |
| +12VB | 6 A (72 W) | 13 A (156 W) | 19 A (228 W) | 25.5 A (306 W) | 31.5 A (378 W) |
| +5 V | 1 A (5 W) | 2 A (10 W) | 4 A (20 W) | 6 A (30 W) | 8 A (40 W) |
| +3.3 V | 1 A (3.3 W) | 2 A (6.6 W) | 4 A (13.2 W) | 6 A (19.8 W) | 8 A (26.4 W) |
| +5VSB | 1 A (5 W) | 1.5 A (7.5 W) | 2 A (10 W) | 2.5 A (12.5 W) | 3 A (15 W) |
| -12 V | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) |
| Total | 165.4 W | 345.0 W | 507.8 W | 680.9 W | 851.4 W |
| % Max Load | 19.5% | 40.6% | 59.7% | 80.1% | 100.2% |
| Room Temp. | 44.5° C | 44.6° C | 44.8° C | 46.7° C | 49.8° C |
| PSU Temp. | 48.6° C | 46.1° C | 45.5° C | 48.5° C | 50.6° C |
| Voltage Regulation | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Ripple and Noise | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| AC Power | 188.8 W | 388.3 W | 576.0 W | 788.0 W | 1011.0 W |
| Efficiency | 87.6% | 88.8% | 88.2% | 86.4% | 84.2% |
| AC Voltage | 116.9 V | 114.9 V | 112.4 V | 109.6 V | 107.3 V |
| Power Factor | 0.977 | 0.989 | 0.992 | 0.994 | 0.994 |
| Final Result | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
The efficiency results for this power supply were simply amazing, at the levels required for the 80 Plus Silver certification (88% minimum efficiency at 50% load and 85% minimum efficiency at 20% and 100% loads), except on the full load test. Sentey could easily get this power supply certified as 80 Plus Bronze. Yet, for some unknown reason, this power supply is labeled as having the standard 80 Plus certification. We honestly believe that this was a mistake done by Sentey.
Let’s discuss voltage regulation on the next page.
