New HDPLEX 200W LPS

[tboooe]

I have purchased 2 different power supplies from HDPlex without any issue and I am waiting for my 200w version that was supposed to be ready by end of Feb. Larry told  me this batch will include the ELNA caps.  I am going to ask if the hanges to the transformer as described above will also be included.  I will everyone posted.

[biosailor]

So, I sacrificed one XLR/2.5 mm cable, and cut the barrel plug away, exposing two cables, a white and and red one (see attached image 1). I stripped the two cables to expose the wires, and wound them around the individual probes of my voltmeter (image 2). I then set the A regulator to 12 V out, switched the power supply on (image 3). As you see, the voltmeter reads 0.00 V, so no output voltage at all (see image 4). Again the test with a 9 V battery reads 9.46 volts, so my voltmeter works well.

 

[TomWoB]

Good work and nice documented 👍

 

I assume you tried the other rails too (?) and if there is no power at all, the last chance „can be“ that there is a problem within the XLR plug?

But maybe you tried other cables too ... than itˋs clear this device is dead 😩

 

... or as really absolute last chance try carefully to contact the Ground & Positive Pin (1 & 2) direct on the device with the Voltmeter ...

[Lebouwsky]

5 hours ago, tboooe said:

I have purchased 2 different power supplies from HDPlex without any issue and I am waiting for my 200w version that was supposed to be ready by end of Feb. Larry told  me this batch will include the ELNA caps.  I am going to ask if the hanges to the transformer as described above will also be included.  I will everyone posted.

The batch that was supposed to be ready at the end of februari will be ready somewhere next week. 

[tboooe]

35 minutes ago, Lebouwsky said:

The batch that was supposed to be ready at the end of februari will be ready somewhere next week. 

Larry said this batch will also have the the changes to the transformer and additional heatsinks for the rectifier too.  Hopefully mine wont smoke!

[Chopin75]

6 hours ago, tboooe said:

Larry said this batch will also have the the changes to the transformer and additional heatsinks for the rectifier too.  Hopefully mine wont smoke!

Larry Replied back and it is true that the new batch of LPS would have the additional heatsinks to protect the rectifier. I

 

Below is his explanation for the smoked LPS (he asked me to post his answer):

 

"First, my engineer got the return unit yesterday and confirmed it is the rectifier got damaged.

See attached picture.

Since the incident, my engineer has been trying to replicate this in the lab and he did, the rectifier will generate smoke once the 19V rail exceeds 12A. 

Our current protection limiter is set at 15A which is enough to be triggered in case of short but not enough to be triggered for 12A. 

The reason for no rectifier damage or smoke in the previous several batch is because the power tube before it always got damaged first at this current.

In the new design with LT3045, we improved the heatsink for power tube and change the design a bit to greatly lower the chance of power tube circuit damage.

However, this improvement obviously exposed the weakness of the rectifier heatsink. 

 

The solution to solve this is two fold:

1. Lower the current limit for the 19V rail from 15A to 12A. This might trigger some unwanted restart for some PC customer in rare case. But that is a necessary trade off .

 

2: Change the heatsink to a much bigger one. My engineer ask the CNC shop to cut one for him for testing. See attached picture. The temperature is very good after 5 hours at 12A on the 19V rail last night and still running cool till now as I am writing this email.

 We will apply this new heatsink to the new batch due in a week or two besides other improvements.  

 

With those two changes applied, there is enough safe margin for robust operation of the rectifier.

 

 

All new batch including the replacement unit for you will have this new heatsink."

 

 

From what I understand is that a surge of > 12 A at the 19V rail has caused the rectifier to blow. (normally it is 10 A, with my rusty Physics, I suppose the current "A" fluctuates depends on resistance.  See pic.  The power tube in the previous model would blow by 12A and thus protected the rectifier (I presume that is a lesser damage?), but the latest model the power tube is modified such that it won't blow at 12 A so the current can reach 15 A and blows the rectifier. Now he has lower the limit to 12 A only and in addition has added larger heat sink to dissipate the heat so the LPS won't overheat easily to smoke again. So it looks like this is a double protection to prevent blowing of either the power tube or rectifier. 

 

I have to say Larry has provided speedy and great service, despite this rather unsetting incident. He did explain to me this is an issue of 19V rail only so I am glad that the 5 V rails are safe as my expensive USB bridge was attached to the 5V !  I fully understand for boutique small companies  products often are work in progress, and may not have been tested fully by many clients before market lounge, hence they are so much cheaper and improvements are continuing. (They can be imperfect, but the upper hand is likely great value for the money. I am ok with a bit of inconvenience )

So he is sending me a brand new LPS with all the upgrades discussed above and other stuff for the latest batch, due in 1-2 wks. 

 

 

[PeterSt]

On 2/25/2019 at 3:26 AM, Chopin75 said:

it just spontaneously smoked yesterday!   I was  using 19Vm and 2 of the 5 V for  SATA and USB bridge and it happened only few min after I turned off the main HDPLEX PC.

 

 

41 minutes ago, Chopin75 said:

From what I understand is that a surge of > 12 A at the 19V rail has caused the rectifier to blow. (normally it is 10 A, with my rusty Physics, I suppose the current "A" fluctuates depends on resistance.

 

 

Are you able to elaborate on this ? I mean, would you have an explanation of what would be drawing 228W+ via that 19V when the PC was turned off ? ... "Main HDPlex PC" ??

IOW, interesting ...

 

 

[biosailor]

13 hours ago, TomWoB said:

Good work and nice documented 👍

 

I assume you tried the other rails too (?) and if there is no power at all, the last chance „can be“ that there is a problem within the XLR plug?

But maybe you tried other cables too ... than itˋs clear this device is dead 😩

 

... or as really absolute last chance try carefully to contact the Ground & Positive Pin (1 & 2) direct on the device with the Voltmeter ...

Haven't tried the other rails too, except that I tried the 19 V rail with my Nucleus and it didn't power up the Nucleus. So my guess is, all rails are dead.

 

In the meantime, I settled things with Larry. I send the power supply back and he'll refund what I paid. The chapter is closed!

[Chopin75]

7 hours ago, PeterSt said:

 

 

 

 

Are you able to elaborate on this ? I mean, would you have an explanation of what would be drawing 228W+ via that 19V when the PC was turned off ? ... "Main HDPlex PC" ??

IOW, interesting ...

 

 

NOt entirely sure but my theory (and can be all wrong) is that after I switched off the main PC by turning off the Euphony OS, the LPS iwas still powered so could continue to supply the 19V as I did not turn off the main switch yet. It is possible the resistance change after turning off the computer has caused the surge of current. I will ask Larry about this. 

[PeterSt]

18 minutes ago, Chopin75 said:

the LPS iwas still powered so could continue to supply the 19V as I did not turn off the main switch yet.

 

That is how it would work, IMO, yes.

 

Quote

It is possible the resistance change after turning off the computer

 

I saw you writing something like that earlier. Now I understand what you mean. But think like this to let it happen :

 

1. You switch off the PC;

2. The ATX module (part of the PSU) now makes a wrong connection (per relais or maybe chip);

3. Because of #2 the output of the 19V (towards the ATX module) shortcuts;

4. The PSU (the main 19V DC supply) is now incurring for the maximum current possible, denoted by all what is in front of it;

5. If not all is carefully balanced, like the rectifier now digesting more current than it is designed for, that specific element breaks (the rectifier in your case, as I understand it).

 

Ad 2a.

The fault is there but may be hidden forever (because nothing may break specifically at that place). But, just the same that specific shortcutting element may break (smoke into dust) because that too is subject to the now abnormally high current.

 

Ad 2b.

It is to be carefully examined whether the possibility exists that at the motherboard end (say somewhere near the 24pin connector going into it), the motherboard shuts off as directed (by you), but next in there the shortcut appears for whatever logic the MoBo designer had in mind. Mind you, the Power Good (now zero) or whatever already tells that no power is to be delivered by the PSU but nothing tells me nor you, nor maybe Larry that this power is cut in time. And what may be suspect is the capacitor banks still containing supply towards the logic, while it should but cut at the same time (or even earlier) when the MoBo is told to shut off BUT which is in cooperation with the OS, so not easy (me thinks).

 

Supposed Larry is told that this all would not have happened when you right after the shut down *also* switched off the power at the PSU, he may scratch his head and think "oh shoot".

All IOW, it can't be emphasized enough that this happened when the PC had shut down already (while your PC when running may not even use 50W - just making up something). Something short cuts after shut down, in your (MoBo ?) situation.

[Dutch]

After reading all this I’m kind of ‘surprised’ nobody has reported yet his house burned down due to a failing HDplex PSU.

 

edit; and I do own one early 100W one myself. It came with a loose transformer inside and a power switch that is always lit whether it’s on or off. It also hums.

 

QC still seems to be dealt with.

[octaviars]

I have the old 200W modell (No LT3045 and the 19V outputs share the ground). I have encountered some problems with it.

 

First: I run all four rails and power ISP fiber modem with 5Vdc, router with 19Vdc, switch with 12Vdc and a NUC with Roon ROCK with 19Vdc and all loads are small perhaps 1.5A on 5Vdc and around 1A on 19Vdc and it runs hot and by that I mean so hot I think it will be damaged by it so I cool it with a fan, no big deal but to run 10A on the 19Vdc rail I think it will have a meltdown

 

Second: Twice after some power surge or something on the net it has shutdown and needed to be powered down and restarted to put out power again but this is normall I think as the circuits to keep it safe are working (fingers crossed that it will do this if something goes really wrong).

 

Third: Both my 19Vdc outputs stoped working (both the 19V and the 19-5V at the same time). I contacted Larry and he directly told me it was the potentiometer at the back that changes the 19-5V output that was broken (it was broken as the ohm was really strange on it and this affects both 19V outputs) he sent me a replacement (not exactly the same one) and this new one was not made to be mounted through a hole so I bought one from Elfa distrelec that was the exakt same one that was originaly mounted and soldered yhis one in and it works as it should right now.

 

If you look on forums there have been lots of problems with the old 160W and the old 200W so once again see this with the new 200W is a bit well not so good. To put four rails in this small box and the be able to draw this amount of power from them is perhaps not the best way of doing things.

[Chopin75]

14 hours ago, Chopin75 said:

NOt entirely sure but my theory (and can be all wrong) is that after I switched off the main PC by turning off the Euphony OS, the LPS iwas still powered so could continue to supply the 19V as I did not turn off the main switch yet. It is possible the resistance change after turning off the computer has caused the surge of current. I will ask Larry about this. 

Regards to why mine smoked after I turned off the PC. I was wrong about having high current surge. Here is Larry's explanation:

 

"I understand there is concern or suspicion that my LPSU might cause internal high current after shut down. This might be the reason cause smoke on the rectifier.

 

However this theory is proved false in our lab.

 

A simple wattage meter on the AC input will show only 4W after the PC shutdown.

 

Another proof is that 12V rail has the same design as 19V yet 12V rectifer has never been damaged.

 

 

Last we have replicated the issue.

 

The rectifier structure is basically two copper with PN in between.

 

Once the PN is damaged by high current, the two copper will generate a lot of current due to they are very close and PN separate them is no longer function.

 

The heat from high current will cause silicon on the rectifier to smoke and after silicon is consumed, the fuse will be cut. "

 

 

It sounds like the4 chronic high current surge has already damaged thre rectifier structure and at some point the meltdown occurred so it was likely incidental that mine smoked after PC was off. And may perhaps explain there was no high voltage or current that has damaged my PC.  We shall see how they new design works out.  

[Lebouwsky]

The 200w I’m expecting somewhere at the end of this month will be on 24/7. This worries me a little bit since we’re having small children. Is this project work risking the safety of my family? To answer this I must estimate what the risks are and how big the chances are they will occur. Is catching fire one of them besides failing?

 

Before used in my home I’ll probably let it run around 200 hours on a spair system in my garage with no combustible material in a range of 1 meter around it.

[Dutch]

@Lebouwsky, I’m not sure if I had anything to do with it (your question) but just as an fyi, I was being a bit sarcastic in my latest remark about me being surprised that nobody had reported his house burning down.

 

Of course with any electrical appliance there’s always some risk but I am in no way inferring that with the HDPlex this is bound to happen some day. I think only a well trained specialist with one of HDPlex PSU’s on his workbench can judge it’s safety and safety measures.

[TomWoB]

@Lebouwsky

For sure: safety FIRST ! 

 

... that's why I prefer "official certified products" like a SBooster LPS.
SBooster "BOTW P&P Eco" power supplies have the following approvals:

OK, I know that SBooster don't a 200W LPS in the portfolio 🤔 ... but especially for high current products safety approvals are A MUST !

[biosailor]

19 minutes ago, TomWoB said:

@Lebouwsky

For sure: safety FIRST ! 

 

... that's why I prefer "official certified products" like a SBooster LPS.
SBooster "BOTW P&P Eco" power supplies have the following approvals:

OK, I know that SBooster don't a 200W LPS in the portfolio 🤔 ... but especially for high current products safety approvals are A MUST !

 

Absolutely, safety first!!!

[LTG2010]

21 hours ago, Lebouwsky said:

The 200w I’m expecting somewhere at the end of this month will be on 24/7. This worries me a little bit since we’re having small children. Is this project work risking the safety of my family?

Your board will not draw much current and is unlikely to stress the components. Hopefully your unit will have the problem resolved.

You could also install a lower rated fuse for added safety if it's a worry. I do wish some manufacturers would test their products more thouroughly.

[Lebouwsky]

34 minutes ago, LTG2010 said:

Your board will not draw much current and is unlikely to stress the components. Hopefully your unit will have the problem resolved.

You could also install a lower rated fuse for added safety if it's a worry. I do wish some manufacturers would test their products more thouroughly.

Thank you for your respons. A good friend of mine, who is an engineer, basicly said the same. 

 

The addressed problems are below what one would expect, at least in “western” standards. In case of low current the risk of fire is estimated very low so far. Nonetheless, I will test/ burn in for 200 hours in a safe environment. Still looking forward to it.

[Lebouwsky]

Larry informed me the earlier mentioned problems are being solved by a lower current limmit and a bigger heatsink. I feel confident they’re taking this seriously. This has caused some delay, shipment will be next week.

 

[soares]

On 3/11/2019 at 1:30 PM, TomWoB said:

@Lebouwsky

For sure: safety FIRST ! 

 

... that's why I prefer "official certified products" like a SBooster LPS.
SBooster "BOTW P&P Eco" power supplies have the following approvals:

OK, I know that SBooster don't a 200W LPS in the portfolio 🤔 ... but especially for high current products safety approvals are A MUST !

Just to remind that if you prefer you can order sboosters with up to 3 rails:

https://www.sbooster.com/OEM/

 

[austinpop]

4 minutes ago, soares said:

Just to remind that if you prefer you can order sboosters with up to 3 rails:

https://www.sbooster.com/OEM/

 

 

Very interesting! Thanks for the pointer. Has anyone had any experience with these units?

[soares]

Unfortunately no Rajiv, but as a user of Sboosters since they start making LPS (I am on their 3rd version), I would save some space and get rid of all the spaghetti...

:-) 

 

Jorge

[Chopin75]

Pinkfaun also recommends this:

 

http://www.faradpowersupplies.com/

 

 

This is dedicated single V only, no adjustment which should make it better for sound and more reliable.  It uses some sort of supercap too. Does HDPlex use similar way of employing super cap to charge/discharge ? 

 

[PeterSt]

2 hours ago, Chopin75 said:

Pinkfaun also recommends this:

 

Really ?

(it is their own)