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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: TheGoose on April 22, 2010, 01:15:07 AM

Title: picoPSU-120
Post by: TheGoose on April 22, 2010, 01:15:07 AM
Ok, just about to get one of these, I know there have been some horror stories about these, true? Anyone using it? Caveats you might add? I am going to build an even smaller g1200 that should be pretty cool. Will be:

2"H 17"W 11"D

http://www.mini-box.com/s.nl/it.A/id.417/.f?sc=8&category=13
Title: Re: picoPSU-120
Post by: countzero on April 22, 2010, 01:50:12 AM
what kind of horror stories exactly ?
Title: Re: picoPSU-120
Post by: TheMagicM on April 22, 2010, 01:52:00 AM
I had one of those on my EFIKA board.. worked perfectly.
Title: Re: picoPSU-120
Post by: Vairn on April 22, 2010, 01:52:53 AM
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=36569

might be a useful read.
Title: Re: picoPSU-120
Post by: TheGoose on April 22, 2010, 01:57:59 AM
I can not find the thread here but someone blew up an a1200 with this. They were soldering to the MB I recall, so could have been user error...

I think it should work great with an adapter from amigakit.

Um looking closer I don't see it providing a -12v...
Title: Re: picoPSU-120
Post by: tone007 on April 22, 2010, 02:08:26 AM
Quote from: TheGoose;554803
Um looking closer I don't see it providing a -12v...


Manual says it does.
Title: Re: picoPSU-120
Post by: TheGoose on April 22, 2010, 02:22:26 AM
Quote from: Vairn;554802
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=36569

might be a useful read.

thanks tone, All

Think I'm a go now with all this, it will work...
Title: Re: picoPSU-120
Post by: delshay on April 22, 2010, 05:03:38 AM
the pico PSU i done this a long time ago.... that thread is missing a few *important* things.

my old project powered the following.

A1200 desktop

DCE scandoubler/Bvision with switcing cct. Blizzard PPC 240Mhz 256Mb ram

Elbox EIDE MKIII

Prelude sound card


PICO PSU

it powered everything fine no problems,but the PICO PSU *gets hot*. it is stated that when you reach *peak output* a fan must be added to keep it cool.

if a fan is not added it seems to throw out some kind of spike and crash my system.

not all PICO PSU 5v rail output the same... some output around 5.03 while some output around 4.96-8v.  


*all* important voltage power lines *must* be connected if you are building a *power* amiga otherwise it will not work... in other words if you are going to add lots of add-ons. ( devices ).


PICO PSU PRESENT  

3.3v is added on my A1200 motherboard it`s there on the TRAPDOOR and CLOCKPORT connector but only the Indivision use the 3.3v from the PSU  

if you have a 300Mhz+ Blizzard PPC/Bvision it`s likly *not to work*. voltage drops below 4.90 with Blizzard card 334Mhz but i will test again on a slower card.
Title: Re: picoPSU-120
Post by: delshay on April 22, 2010, 05:11:28 AM
add a rocker switch like on the old commordore PSU or from any other device with the same type of switch for a better look/finish.

-12v yes
-5v no
Title: Re: picoPSU-120
Post by: mfilos on April 22, 2010, 06:04:53 AM
I'm using a PicoPSU 120W for over 1.5year (along with Ian's ATX adapter), that powers my full A1200D PPC along with all the things you see on my signature. No problem @ all and everything works like a charm.
As Delshay said... the only thing you should worry about is the heat. Adding 2xmini VGA heatsinks in the 2 hot components (the yellow square) plus a mini fan blowing air to the PSU and you're set! You can check some pics of it inside my A1200 if you click on the link in my signature.
Title: Re: picoPSU-120
Post by: delshay on April 22, 2010, 10:04:16 AM
Quote from: mfilos;554819
I'm using a PicoPSU 120W for over 1.5year (along with Ian's ATX adapter), that powers my full A1200D PPC along with all the things you see on my signature. No problem @ all and everything works like a charm.
As Delshay said... the only thing you should worry about is the heat. Adding 2xmini VGA heatsinks in the 2 hot components (the yellow square) plus a mini fan blowing air to the PSU and you're set! You can check some pics of it inside my A1200 if you click on the link in my signature.



i will test your set-up,but is that a Elbox Fast Eide MKIII and you don`t have built-in switcing between Bvision and Indivision. my A1200 motherboard has a standard 15pin VGA socket which outputs both Indivision/Bvision.

Bvison overclocked ( 100Mhz as standard ) when using OS3.9 this card can go faster but it is limited by the software.

Bvision are limited in top end speed by the hardware,but *my Bvision(s)* it`s the other way round it now the software thats the problem.


poor photo of Bvision(s) done this way for a reason.  http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=3219  



*** this is where the  power drain is...83Mhz bus ( 334Mhz ) on the Blizzard card*** the Pico PSU can not cope with this card at this speed.

68060 is clocked at 72Mhz but is now Beta at 73Mhz

the voltage jrops to around 4.86 when card is added. the voltage needs to be at the very min 4.94 but even at this voltage setting it will sometimes crash. the voltage must read 4.98 and above for it to be stable.


i don`t know how you have added in your Pico PSU but my A1200 motherboard(s) has a ATX PSU Socket,so i can choose what PSU i can use.

but the most amazing thing about my A1200 is there is not a single cable/or wire to be seen when veiwed from above,but somehow it is all connected.
Title: Re: picoPSU-120
Post by: mfilos on April 22, 2010, 10:24:49 AM
@Delshay
I'm aware of your setup mate. You have stated it in the past and it must be great. Bravo.
If you see the updates you'll notice that I don't use FastATA anymore since I use ACard mounted to BPPC SCSI. Sayonara FastATA...
Also my BVision/Indivision change via (BMON/SMON) switch. If you made it automaticaly... then Bravo again...

Fact is that I don't make a competition with you lol. I just replied to TheGoose since he asked about PicoPSU, and I think I can reply with all that hardware of mine power supplied by the same PicoPSU that he asked in the first place.

That's all...

Cheers
Title: Re: picoPSU-120
Post by: delshay on April 22, 2010, 10:40:04 AM
Quote from: mfilos;554833
@Delshay
Fact is that I don't make a competition with you lol. I just replied to TheGoose since he asked about PicoPSU, and I think I can reply with all that hardware of mine power supplied by the same PicoPSU that he asked in the first place.

That's all...

Cheers


im just stating the load on the Pico PSU as some users have ask me how to install a Elbox Eide into the A1200 desktop without keyboard modification and there is always going to be someone out there who wants everything including the kitchen sink inside a A1200 desktop.
Title: Re: picoPSU-120
Post by: countzero on April 22, 2010, 12:17:00 PM
what needs to be said about the picoPSU is that it's not a PSU as you know it. It's a DC converter. To get 120w of power from a picoPSU, you must feed it with a DC adapter capable of giving 10A of 12v. It may not be so easy to find one. (though you can always settle for something less, if you don't need full 120w)
Title: Re: picoPSU-120
Post by: delshay on April 22, 2010, 12:41:15 PM
Quote from: countzero;554845
what needs to be said about the picoPSU is that it's not a PSU as you know it. It's a DC converter. To get 120w of power from a picoPSU, you must feed it with a DC adapter capable of giving 10A of 12v. It may not be so easy to find one. (though you can always settle for something less, if you don't need full 120w)


im in the process of testing the pico again with 12v 16A to 18A ( this is all iv got ) what i hope should fix the problem.

if it fails to work i have 2 more tricks which will not fail.
Title: Re: picoPSU-120
Post by: TheGoose on April 22, 2010, 03:55:41 PM
I should be safe, I won't be adding a PPC and a lot of stuff. My thought is to use less, low power stuff like CF card and DF0: terminator. Maybe an accelerator, but right now, it will just be an 020 A1200 with WB 3.1, super clean and quick.

Do plan on using the PCMCIA slot with a CF or SD adaptor for transfers.
Should be fun, getting one of these, with the switch...

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=942

I will need to cut off the end and solder it to my MB - no connector on the board, just pins left, like in the pics above...