Date: 11 Oct 2010 Comments: 0

One problem that has always bothered both computer users and makers is the computer power supply unit efficiency problem. To understand how the problem comes about, it is important to take into consideration the two main roles served by the said power supply unit (abbreviated PSU). That is where it turns out that besides distributing the electric power tapped from the mains line to the various components of the computer, the power supply unit is also responsible for converting that power (usually in AC form) into a form that the computer components can actually utilize (the direct current form).

Now it is in the conversion of AC to DC that the inefficiency problem comes in. As it turns out, this conversion can only be done through a small (step down) transformer-like device, which is incorporated as part of the power supply unit. And like all transformers, it – unfortunately - ends up producing a lot of heat in the process of converting the AC to DC. To produce this heat, power is used: this being power that would have otherwise gone into feeding the computer’s components.

In most computers, the power supply unit’s efficiency is rated at 75%. What this means is that 25% of all power supplied to the computer go to waste, in the process of converting that AC to DC in the power supply unit. These can add up to substantial numbers, because what it effectively also means is that for every hundred watts of power fed into it, twenty-five end up being wasted.

But thankfully, computer engineers seem to be thinking long and hard about the problem. The end result is that we are seeing more efficient computer power supply units coming into the market. That is especially the case with server power supply units (servers being known for their huge power requirements); where we have seen some server power supply units being as much as 90% efficient.

Read more about the problems of solar chargers.

Tags: power supply, powering a device

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