Variable power supply Mydaq

Hello im thinking of buying a Mydaq but im not sure if I can use for what I need it.
In class IM not allowed to use the Ni-Elvis 2 board unless a TA is present and if i run out of time theres no way for me to make up the lab.
so i have a breadboard at home from radioshack(electronics learnig kit) and the volatges go up in increments of 1.5 to 9v.
but in my lab i need to test the following voltages -5v,-10v,0v,5v,10v
from my research it seems i need a variable power supply so i can control the voltages going in into the board.i know with the elvis 2 board we can switch the voltages right from the computer.
so my question is does MYDAQ havea VPS where i can control the voltages from -10 to 10V in increments of 5? and im able to specify the increments of voltage?
also is it possible to get MyDAQ just the interface without the software?
thank you

Thanks for that link Mark W, thats' a great idea for low current situations!
Looking at page 37 of the myDAQ user manual here, it say that the analog output provides up to 2mA of current.
The ELVIS prototyping board can source up to 500mA of current.
Anthony F.
Product Marketing Engineer
National Instruments

Similar Messages

Variable power supply not working in virtual elvis

When i make a virtual elvis 3d schematic i cannot get any output from the variable power source, i have played with it alot and still no output. please help.

Thank you for your time to help me out,
I got it to work using the shift+P and shift+n hotkeys. A suggestion I have is to remove the shift restraint for the GUI interface P and N buttons that appear on the screen after you highlight variable power supply, as it is non-intuitive for a user to know you must hold shift then press GUI buttons as well. I suggest coding those visual buttons to alias SHIFT+P and SHIFT+N operations when you click on them for ease of user interface.

Creating a myDaq Voltage Variable Power Supply

Hi Everyone,
Just received my NI myDaq the other day and just starting to play around with it.
I was a little disappointed to find out that the Power Supplies were not Variable (i.e. fixed 5V and +/- 15V), but that's what I get for not reading the fine print .
I figured a Variable Voltage Power Supply would be a fun good first project, but have no idea where to begin. I was hoping you guys could give me some advice/point me in the direction to look.
I plan on using myDaq for primarily breadboarding for EE post-labs.
Since the 5-V supply allows for the most current to be drawn, I figure that would be the first supply to be built.
Can anyone point me in the direction to move towards?
Thanks!
-Ernie
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Hello Ernie,
Depending on the required output voltage and and current, there are a few approaches you can try.
Buffering the Analog Output(s) is the most straightforward method. You could probably get to +/- 12V if you pick an opamp with small enough headroom requirements and add 20% gain. You'd use the +/- 15V rails to power the opamp (be sure to consider rail tolerance), and you should limit your output to the 32 mA spec of the +/-15V rail. The buffer is essentially a linear regulator, so be careful of the power dissipation in the amplifier at high currents.
If you want higher output currents at the lower voltages, consider a switching regulator. There are a variety of topologies depending on the input-to-output voltages. Look for Buck to step down a higher input voltage to a lower output voltage; Boost to step up; Buck-Boost to step up or down. There are others, but these are simplest to start with. You can use myDAQ's analog outputs to inject an error voltage into the regulator's feedback to allow programmatic output voltage control. Take a look at power supply chip vendors' websites (TI, Analog Devices, Linear Tech, National Semiconductor, etc.) for app notes and component recommendations.
Another approach is digitally-controlled switching regulators. These provide extensive control and read back capabilities through a digital interface to the chip. Google "digital power" for ideas.
If you need even higher power, you'd need to bring in an external supply or battery, but the control could still come from the myDAQ AO or digital interface.
It can be a challenging exercise, but I hope this helps get you started.
Charles Y.

Designing variable output power supply

hi
could anyone help me out in designing variable output power supply ?
as i am new to this please post the circuit and also the step by step procedures in developing the circuit.

Hi rckz,
The link below has an example of a variable power supply.
http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://howcircuits.com/downloads/circuits-and-diagrams/power-supp...
You can try to find the components in Multisim by right-clicking and going to Place Component. You can look through the database and place them on the schematic and then wire them as shown in the schematic.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Tayyab R,
National Instruments.

Spontaneous Shut-off problem (power supply?)

Hi-- I have a first generation G5 iMac.
Last year, there was about a week in which it would spontaneously shut off. I read there were possibly some power supply issues with the early units, so I took it in to an Apple Store hoping they would diagnose such a problem and fix it; they ran it for a couple hours, said there were no problems, and sent me home. Over the last month, it has started happening again, and has happened at least seven times. I do regular backups and I've been lucky, but I know one of these days it's going to happen while I'm doing something important. I wouldn't mind taking it back to the Apple Store, but it's not an easy trek, and it happens so unpredictably that I think the odds of getting it to do it at an appointed time is slim, in which case I'm afraid they're just going to send me home again.
Just wanted to know if anyone else has dealt with such a problem, what the fix was, and how I might convince the tech guys to delve a little deeper even when they don't actually witness the event.
Thanks,
dave

Miriam--
Dave, if, in fact,as Charlie suggests, the cause of
your shutdowns is a variable power supply, it should
easily be cured by the addition of a Universal Power
Supply
While an excellent idea (I wouldn't have a computer without connecting it to a UPS any more), a UPS won't necessarily solve the problem of the unexpected shutdowns. My iMac was on a UPS and it still would shut down.
There are two kinds of UPSs. The most common is a battery backup. Most of the time, the computer is actually getting power from the mains. If the UPS detects a failure of the mains, it'll switch to providing the computer with battery power. But there will be a very small fraction of a second where there will be not power at all supplied to the computer. If the computer's power supply is healthy, it should be able to bridge that tiny interruption until it starts getting power from the UPS. But if it's not healthy enough, the computer will shut down.
The second kind of UPS is what you are describing, where the UPS provides power to the computer at all times. These aren't as common, though, and are more expensive. I'm not sure if APC even sells this kind. At least, I couldn't find any at their web site that I could be sure were this kind.
When I had the shutdown problems with my iMac, I initially thought it might be a problem with the UPS, since the iMac would shut off if the power was interrupted long enough for the UPS to notice. I could easily test it by just pulling the plug going to the UPS. Earlier, I had been able to do that without problems in order to test a script I was writing to shut down the computer in case the of a power failure (for some reason, the software built into OS X to do this wasn't working right).
But when I was having the shutdowns, the iMac would shut off right away as soon as I pulled the plug on the UPS. Luckily, I was able to test my UPS at work on another computer and try a UPS from work on my computer and rule out the UPS. Now that my power supply unit has been replaced, the iMac will once again survive the switch from the mains to the UPS's battery.
charlie

NC6320 Power Supply Pinouts required please

I have an NC6320 which the PSU has failed on. Whilst waiting for the new one to arrive I bought a Trust universal adaptor, the HP adaptor supplied with it has fallen apart and I am now stuck. I need to know, when looking into the HP plug the voltages as you look into the end,
i.e O o .
These represent the outer metal connection the inner metal connection and the pin. They appear to be separate once you cut open the adapter
I have a variable power supply and I have cut up the broken adaptor, which the connections have broken on so I cannot find out from that, has anyone any info on which is the +ve and the 0v?
If anyone can I help I would be most grateful
regards
Richard

Posting for others who also later find their way here for answers:
The power supply N193 for my Pavilion DV7 notebook uses the center "ID" Pin so that HP can control which power supplies are used on their products, only their own. I suppose there could be two reasons for this, one to make sure the proper power supply is used and second to keep competitors from selling us replacement power supplies but the former reason is probably the real one.
I've done a search on this subject because my power supply has been slowly becoming erratic and today finally failed. I cut the DC side of the cable off near the power supply and have tried to measure voltages coming from it, nothing, zero. There are three wires, the center "ID" wire needs a voltage there or the computer won't power on. Here's the info I found on another web site called fixya dot com which I used as a guide to allow me to use another manufacturers power supply with the old connector plug from the HP power supply which died. I simply put a 1/4 watt 47K ohm resistor between the center ID wire of the cable and the +19 VDC wire and insulated it from the ground wire using tape. After you do that you can just wire the plus and minus or ground wires of the new power supply to the DC power cable from the bad HP power supply together as normal. The +19V wire goes to the inner shell of the DC plug and its ground goes to the outer shell of the plug. I was able to get the replacement off the shelf power supply on a military base in Afghanistan, where I am at. I can't wait two weeks to get something in the mail, had to fix this myself.
I would have included the full URL to fixya.(com) but this web site won't allow us to put URL's so here's the info:
Here is a cut and paste of the text:
I found the solution - and implemented it, it works. The blue (ID) line needs to show 7.5v. The simple way to acheive this is to simply put a 47k resistor from the +19.5v line to the ID line. Apparently there is a pull down at the computer end that means it ends up at 7.5v.
I cut the cable about 6" from the old HP power supply. I then soldered a female power socket onto the loose cable and soldered the 47k resistor between the ID line and the +19.5 line. I then plugged this onto my two pin power supply and the plugged it into my computer. It works very nicely.
Not wishing to junk the HP power supply unecessarily - it was still producing the 19.5v - I then soldered a power plug onto that ignoring the ID line. That now works as well. It seems that the circuitry that provided the 7.5v ID voltage in the HP power supply became flakey. I could have just opened up the power supply (I have already done that) and disconnected the blue line from the circuit board and just tied it to the +ve line via the 47k resistor and then wrapped it with the usual insulating tape.

Power Supply Trimming Routine

Can someone share a power supply trimming loop? I would like to enter a nominal voltage and have a Upper Limit, Lower Limit as variables and loop until the measured voltage is between the upper and lower limits. Thanks.
Tony

The problem with trimming a power supply is that you really need an outside device to measure the supply output, typically a DMM. So since we are mixing who different devices, I find it better to just make the trimming loop in TestStand.
But the loops are not hard.
Meas = NaN
Set supply voltage to DesiredV
While(Meas < LL || Meas > UL)
Set supply voltage (SetV = SetV + (Meas - DesiredV)
Measure with DMM (set measured voltage to Meas)
End
There are only two ways to tell somebody thanks: Kudos and Marked Solutions
Unofficial Forum Rules and Guidelines

What should power supply temperature be?

I have major fan issues with my mac pro. It is super loud all my temperature readings seem pretty good ranging from 25-35 degrees, except for power supply. It has temperature of 62 (location 1) and 58 (location 2).
Is that normal or does that seem high?

I don't know if there's a 'right' temperature and there are a lot of variables.
My Mac Pro (less than a year old) is typically always on, and my power supply comes in (currently) at around 113 degrees farenheit (45 celsius), as I kick back and surf the web. It's quite a few degrees hotter when I'm putting the machine to serious work, converting or rendering video or audio files.
Depending on the work you're doing, the age of the machine (the older a system is, the more likely dust will have accumulated, causing it to run hotter), the environment (smokers, pets, etc, all contribute to dust accumulation), you could easily see temperatures that high or even higher.
Dust is probably your machine's worst enemy, those micro-fine particles settle on the components and act as an insulator, over enough time they can cause components to fail. For a bit of light maintenance, power the machine off, open it up, and use a can of compressed air to blow as much dust out of your system as possible (you may be surprised how much can accumulate in there).
Hope that info helps!

Universal power supply

Probably in the "dumb" question catagory and I think I already know the answer.......maybe someone familiar with this topic can explain it a little bit or point me in the direction of some reading material that explains what's happening with the power supply ..........when making use of the "universal" power supply capabilties in a foreign country that is using 240/50HZ power with a 120V/60HZ US model powerbook, will there be any speed differences in the computer when playing music sequences/pro tools sessions....will the audio "slow" down due to the difference from 60HZ to 50 HZ......how does the power supply compensate for the differences? Hope this makes sense!

it was a legitimate question......not too sure why you're so astounded with my inquiry
It certainly is a legitimate question, as is any question which falls within the Terms of Use. And I'm not astounded with your question. Both times I was clearly referring to the issues itself, not the question; as I said:
astounded as I'd be if there were any difference in any facet of PB operation on 120 vs 240.
I would, as I said, be astounded if this turned out to be an issue which had never before been identified.
One further point: if the voltage step-down occurs as I posted earlier, it shouldn't matter what application is running, as it would be running on the same DC voltage no matter what the external power source.
Guess I could run pre recorded test tones and measure.
Please let us know if you do run tests on both 120 and 240; I'd run tests with batt too. As I'm sure you already know, it's important to rule out as many other variables as possible. One thing I would pay particular attention to is the setting for Processor Performance in Energy Saver>Options. I wonder if it's possible that going back and forth between the different power sources could change settings such as this. In any case, real world beats theory almost every time, so it'll be interesting to hear about what you find.

ATX vz µATX Power supply form factor.

There are two types of power supply (socket??) available in the market nowadays. They are ATX and µATX.
- How are they differing from each other?
- Are they interchangeable each other?
Say I have MSI785GM-E51 mother board which has ATX form factor while the power supply is µATX, can I use them both/powered the M3A785GM-LE/128M with those ATX power supply?
Or can I convert the µATX to be ATX form factor?

The motherboard mentioned is mATX not ATX 785GM E51. M=mATX (µATX). It's made to fit the smaller cases but can also be used in the larger mid-tower & full tower cases if that's what you have.
µATX PSU has a different size case and mounting dimensions to fit the small mini tower PC cases and also the smaller HTPC cases. Power connections are pretty much the same between the 2 but mATX generally don't have as many power plugs for HDD & ODD.
Due to physical dimensions and different mounting they are not interchangeable.
There are many variables involved in selecting a PSU beginning with what type the PC case itself requires. If you need suggestions on what to get we need to know what CPU, on-board or dedicated graphics you will use, how many HDD's.

Always getting errors when trying to control YOKOGAWA 7651 power supply on Labwindows/CVI

Hi,
I'm trying to set the voltage on the YOKOGAWA 7651 power supply through labwindows/cvi. I've set up a numeric slide on my userinterface with callback function "yoko7651dcvolts" and constant name "YOKO7651DCVOLTS".
I always get this error when I run my program:
"FATAL RUN-TIME ERROR: "DcSource.c", line 53, col 65, thread id 0x00001F3C: Invalid argument type: found 'pointer to double', expected 'pointer to int'."
This error points to the third argument of the GetCtrlVal function below. The program/compiler wants me pass the variable "yoko1volts" as integer, but I want to (and should) be able to set voltages as floating numbers.
Plus, even when I declare "yoko1volts" as integer, it stills doesn't work. All I get is zero, zero, and zero...on the power supply meter everytime I press the numeric slide.
This is the section of the C code that is problemic:
int CVICALLBACK yoko7651dcvolts (int panel, int control, int event,
void *callbackData, int eventData1, int eventData2)
double yoko1volts;
switch (event)
case EVENT_COMMIT:
GetCtrlVal (yoko76511Panel, YOKO7651_1_YOKO7651DCVOLTS, &yoko1volts); // to read the values entered on the numerical meter on the user interface
yk7651_set_volts (yoko76511Panel, yoko1volts); // set the entered values as voltage on the instrument
break;
return 0;
This is the related h-file:
#define YOKO7651_1 4
#define YOKO7651_1_YOKO7651SWITCH 2 /* control type: binary, callback function: yoko7651switch */
#define YOKO7651_1_YOKO7651DCVOLTS 3 /* control type: scale, callback function: yoko7651dcvolts */
Please help, how can I fix this issue?
All the drivers (including the YOKOGAWA 7651 power supply) are properly installed and mounted. As a matter of fact, I can successfully turn the power supply on and off with the code below:
int CVICALLBACK yoko7651switch (int panel, int control, int event,
void *callbackData, int eventData1, int eventData2)
int yoko7651switchstate;
switch (event)
case EVENT_COMMIT:
GetCtrlVal (yoko76511Panel, YOKO7651_1_YOKO7651SWITCH, &yoko7651switchstate);
SetCtrlVal (yoko76511Panel, YOKO7651_1_YOKO7651SWITCH, !yoko7651switchstate);
yk7651_output (yoko76511Panel, !yoko7651switchstate);
break;
return 0;
It's just setting the voltage on the power supply that is very problematic. Any help is appreciated...Thanks.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

I second Al opinion of a disconnection between the UIR and the variable that holds the panel handle.
As a side note, I noted that the problematic line is reading the value of the controll whose callback is executed:
#define YOKO7651_1_YOKO7651DCVOLTS 3 /* control type: scale, callback function: yoko7651dcvolts */
int CVICALLBACK yoko7651dcvolts (int panel, int control, int event,
void *callbackData, int eventData1, int eventData2)
double yoko1volts;
switch (event)
case EVENT_COMMIT:
GetCtrlVal (yoko76511Panel, YOKO7651_1_YOKO7651DCVOLTS, &yoko1volts); // to read the values entered on the numerical meter on the user interface
yk7651_set_volts (yoko76511Panel, yoko1volts); // set the entered values as voltage on the instrument
break;
return 0;
In a situation like this, I would try using GetCtrlVal (panel, control, &yoko1volts); instead, that should get rid of all problems in panel handle / control ID.
Despite this solution is working, in any case I would deep into the problem as an incorrect panel handle can lead to erratical behaviour in other places of the program.
Proud to use LW/CVI from 3.1 on.
My contributions to the Developer Zone Community
If I have helped you, why not giving me a kudos?

UPS (uninterruptible power supply) best suited to Mac Pro?

Hello
May i get some advice please?
I need to buy an uninterruptible power supply because of the powercuts round here. I live in the UK
I'd like to use it on my Mac. I have a Mac Pro Quad Core Intel Xeon, 12 GB RAM, 4 HDDs, with two monitors and a 9 port USB hub which has the occasional attachment
I've been looking at APC's units but have come to a snag in finding out what kind of wattage I should look for in a UPS.
I have read that it can be variable, based on many factors.
So instead of being overwhelmed/confused etc I thought I'd just ask you guys
Anyone recommend me what I should be looking for in a UPS that'll serve this purpose, and any makes and models you have found to work very well?
If possible, nothing at 'enterprise level' in cost, i don't have that kind of budget.
Thanks!

readers saying that the 'newer' models were not built as well, noisey fans, and APC filtering for coax + phone + rj45 caused interference. The SMART CyperPower does not interfere (losng that and having sporatic cable for a month).
I like cyberpower - some for personal reasons.
the new APC SMART 1000VA is nice. The APC XS does not filter properly and lacks features of the RS series (I have both).
So I still have some APC models, but before I was faced with a failure I wanted to try a different brand and got burned by Belkin's junk.
Come a storm, I use the APCs for the house and they have those auxillary 24A power packs you can plug in which will power a couple lamps for 8 hrs plus, or power Mac Pro for an add'l hour.
http://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-CP1500PFCLCD-Compatible-1500VA-Tower/dp/B00429N 19W/
http://www.amazon.com/APC-BR1500G-BACK-UPS-10-Outlet-1500VA/dp/B003Y24DEU
http://www.amazon.com/APC-SMC1500-Smart-UPS-Interface-Uninterrupted/dp/B007ZT2KK M/

ASA 5512 - monitor power supply status via snmp oid

Device – ASA 5512 running 9.1(1).
Show version:
ASA-1# sh ver
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software Version 9.1(1)
Device Manager Version 6.6(1)
Compiled on Wed 28-Nov-12 11:15 PST by builders
System image file is "disk0:/asa911-smp-k8.bin"
Config file at boot was "startup-config"
ASA-1 up 8 hours 38 mins
Hardware:   ASA5512-K7, 4096 MB RAM, CPU Clarkdale 2792 MHz, 1 CPU (2 cores)
            ASA: 2048 MB RAM, 1 CPU (1 core)
Internal ATA Compact Flash, 4096MB
BIOS Flash MX25L6445E @ 0xffbb0000, 8192KB
Issue: looking for a snmp OID to poll power supply status (Inbuilt Power Supply - no redundant power supply in this scenario). Possibly what we see in show environment.
CSE analysis:
I tried using the OIDs belonging to CISCO-ENTITY-FRU-CONTROL-MIB , like cefcFRUPowerOperStatus and cefcFRUPowerAdminStatus but it didn’t return anything.
NOTE: I have done all the snmp walks from the Linux server. Do I doubt it’s something to do from the snmp manager side.
Couple of observations. The CISCO-ENTITY-FRU-CONTROL-MIB talks about the field replaceable power supplies, so I doubt if it’s going to return the value for inbuilt power supply.
Second, I noticed that there are snmp traps supported for power supply and threshold setting. See configuration below. Is it that only traps works for power supply and environment related details?
Snmpwalk on cefcFRUPowerStatusEntry returns nothing:
[root@tonbenso-eagle bin]# ./snmpwalk -v2c -c public 172.16.169.29 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.117.1.1.2.1
SNMPv2-SMI::enterprises.9.9.117.1.1.2.1 = No Such Object available on this agent at this OID
Snmpwalk on cefcFRUPowerOperStatus returns nothing:
[root@tonbenso-eagle bin]# ./snmpwalk -v2c -c public 172.16.169.29 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.117.1.1.2.1.2
SNMPv2-SMI::enterprises.9.9.117.1.1.2.1.2 = No Such Instance currently exists at this OID
Snmpwalk on cefcFRUPowerAdminStatus returns nothing:
[root@tonbenso-eagle bin]# ./snmpwalk -v2c -c public 172.16.169.29 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.117.1.1.2.1.1
SNMPv2-SMI::enterprises.9.9.117.1.1.2.1.1 = No Such Instance currently exists at this OID
[root@tonbenso-eagle bin]#
login as: root
I tried polling the ciscoEntityFRUControlMIB to see what all values it return. It just returned enterprises.9.9.117.1.3.1.0 = INTEGER: 2. Meaning cefcMIBEnableStatusNotification is FALSE (value 2). Meaning cefcModuleStatusChange, cefcPowerStatusChange, cefcFRUInserted, cefcFRURemoved, cefcUnrecognizedFRU and cefcFanTrayStatusChange are prevented from being sent.
Snmpwalk on ciscoEntityFRUControlMIB
[1]+ Stopped                 ./snmpwalk -v2c -c public 172.16.169.29
[root@tonbenso-eagle bin]# ./snmpwalk -v2c -c public 172.16.169.29 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.117
SNMPv2-SMI::enterprises.9.9.117.1.3.1.0 = INTEGER: 2
Object
cefcMIBEnableStatusNotification
OID
1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.117.1.3.1
Type
TruthValue
Permission
read-write
Status
current
MIB
CISCO-ENTITY-FRU-CONTROL-MIB ; - View Supporting Images
Description
"This variable indicates whether the system
produces the following notifications:
cefcModuleStatusChange, cefcPowerStatusChange,
cefcFRUInserted, cefcFRURemoved,
cefcUnrecognizedFRU and cefcFanTrayStatusChange.
A false value will prevent these notifications
from being generated."
Found couple of bugs:
CSCty32558 – but then this is for 5585 and I see it is fixed in 8.4
CSCul90037 – New state
Show snmp-server oidlist:
http://www-tac.cisco.com/Teams/ks/c3/getLargeFile.php?srId=632222409&fileName=20141030-013905_ASA-show-snmp-server-oidlist.txt
Show tech:
Sh run | in snmp:
ASA-1# sh run | in snmp
snmp-server host asa 172.18.123.228 community *****
no snmp-server location
no snmp-server contact
snmp-server community *****
snmp-server enable traps entity power-supply-presence power-supply-temperature -----à I was talking about this trap above
any help will be appreciated.

Hi
I've got an ASA with redundant power supplies. An ASA5585. So I have the need to monitor them. :-) So how can we do it?
Also I've made a SNMP-Walk through the ASA v8.4(2)8 and it doesn't show up any ENV-MIB values. The
1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.13 tree is not available. Are you shure it's available on the ASA?
Funny is also that the command "show snmp-server oidlist" from the 8.4 configuration guide is not available on the real CLI. I think the documentation guys were faster than the coders. ;-)
Kind regards
Roberto

I had an Intel-iMac fried by lightening. UPS, surge protectors but it happened as I was reaching to unplug. Cold now. Could it just be the power supply? Can I replace that myself?

This is the full question since I couldn't get it all in the box.
I have some complex questions regarding an iMac, a Time-Machine backup, and iTunes on an iPod.
I live about halfway up an extinct volcano about 12 miles north of San Jose Costa Rica. Some months ago, we had a thunderstorm and as I reached to unplug my computers lightening struck about 50 meters from my house. I had an iMac with a 3-Tb external backup drive, a PC laptop and a laser printer on the same power strip. There was a definite surge and the light brighten and then power was lost for a few minutes.
When power was restored, the PC and the laser printer seemed to work fine but the iMac was cold.
First questions: Is is possible that the power supply was fried and not other essential parts? Would it be worthwhile to replace the power supply? Can I, with limited experience and tools do it or need I take it to a technician? My concern is that if the hard-drive is good, there is personal information on it that I don't want to risk.
Next question: Do I need to replace the hard-drive before taking it for service? How hard is that, can I do it? I have seen videos of the drive replacement on-line.
Those are my iMac questions, now the questions about backup restoration.
If there is a saving grace with this it is that the Time-Machine backup seems fine although I have only accessed the data through Finder. I replaced the iMac with a Macbook Air with significantly less mass storage and I can't just move files to the Macbook. My problem is that I have an iTunes library of some 10,000 songs on the backup and until recently on a 160 Gb iPod which was old and it crashed. I have replaced the iPod but have not tried to restore the iTunes library to it because of my confusion about how to do that. Can anyone tell me how I might do that or give me any insight into the process?
Thanks for any help you can give.

Is is possible that the power supply was fried and not other essential parts? Would it be worthwhile to replace the power supply? Can I, with limited experience and tools do it or need I take it to a technician? My concern is that if the hard-drive is good, there is personal information on it that I don't want to risk
Quite possible, but working on iMacs is not easy, & PSU might be prohibitive.
Hopefully the Drive might have info on it, but even pulling that out can be a chore.
If you don't know the model, find the Serial# & use it on one of these sites, but don't post the Serial# here...
http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html
http://www.appleserialnumberinfo.com/Desktop/index.php
How to find the serial number of your Apple hardware product...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1349
I have replaced the iPod but have not tried to restore the iTunes library to it because of my confusion about how to do that. Can anyone tell me how I might do that or give me any insight into the process?
I'd get an external drive & restore the whole works to it, then boot from the External drive.

Shock Therapy - An Athlon64 / FX Power Supply Guide

I used to make a hardware list of all the components I would like to incorporate in my next
computer build. Normally...at the bottom of that list would be the power supply, not that I
didn't think it was important, it's just that my other hardware was so interesting! Today, power supplys
seem to take a back seat to blazing-speed CPU's, Dual-Cored processors, glitz and glamour
video cards...not to mention supersonic, heat-sinked RAM and modular, gizmoe'd PSU's promising not
only over-achiever specifications, but eye-candy as well. The lowly PSU....tucked up somewhere inside
it's dark and lonely loft....effortlessly supplying us with the energy required for important 3D imaging
or just funning with the latest games.
What a power supply does is rather simple. It converts your office or home's socketed electricity to
usable 3.3v, 5.0v and 12.0v energy...that's all. A power supply that cannot efficiently do this will-
over time-cause computer crashes, continuous reboots and shutdowns, and worse...expensive component damage.
And now, with faster processors such as AMD's Athlon64 and FX line of CPU's, never has there been a time, when
choosing the right power supply is so important! This article is written for those using these high-powered CPU's!
Well...Do we have your attention!?
If you are experiencing these problems, or still scratching your head over that last RMA....could be
your PSU is trying to tell you something.
To begin with, a power supply's ratings refer to its maximum output under ideal conditions. No power
supply is 100% efficient. In high-quantity manufacturing, power supplys may not put out any more than 60% of
their advertised specifications. In any PSU, that rating can be further reduced by the effects of heat
and electro-magnetic radiation. That's where "switching" power supplys come in. A switching power supply draws
only as much current that is needed from the AC input. Buying a hefty PSU with this feature will guarantee
that you will be paying no more for electric service, than you would with a cheaper, less powerful unit.
One of the most common causes of power supply inefficiency, and ultimately failure is dirt. Dust and
foreign materials can cause the beginning of the end for a power supply, by attacking the fan first.
It begins by slowing the fan down...thus creating heat through friction, then ultimately burning it out.
PSU's with high-quality ball bearing fans are a must. They are far more durable, and not as likely to
become noisier as time goes by.
As a general rule...a failing PSU will usually emit abnormal sounds, followed by unstable voltage readings....
then the computer crashes or lock-ups, with random shutdowns, and sometimes...refusal to even power-up.
If you think your power supply is on its last leg...better to deal with it now, or face the more serious dilemmas later on.
APM (Advanced Power Management)
APM is a feature originally developed by partners, Microsoft and Intel. It relates to a systems ability
to utilize different states in regards to a systems utilization of power. On, Off, Standby and Suspend
are examples...these are BIOS features, not PSU functions. APM only requires of the power supply, the
function to turn power on or off through an electrical signal, and the presence of stand-by voltage.
All ATX power supplys are required to incorporate this feature. However, if some components in a computer
are not APM-compliant, your system may encounter errors or freezes when going into hibernate or stand-by
modes.
ACPI (Advanced Control Power Interface)
It's the latest power management control that was developed by a conglomeration of IT corporations. This interface
is O.S. derived, rather than BIOS, and all ATX power supplys should be ACPI-compliant. You should not have to be
concerned about this feature.
Line-Conditioning Circuitry
A power supply component that helps control power levels, spikes and surges in
the most unreliable of home sockets.
EMI Filter
This circuitry smooths the fluctuations of incoming AC currents, also known
as Electro-Magnetic Interference - EMI filters are usually found in higher-end power supplys.
PFCC
Power Factor Correction Circuitry...smooths out sudden, initial spikes in power
delivery - reducing amplitude and preventing circuit overloads.
Connectors
There are five main connectors found on the latest version ATX power supply.
1) ATX main power connector - 20-pin, 24-pin, and 20 to 24-pin adapter.
2) ATX 12v power connector (4-pin to CPU)
3) Molex peripheral power connector
4) Floppy power connector
5) Serial ATA power connector
On newer SLI-certified power supplys, you'll find two 6-pin video card connectors.
Know What You Need
When purchasing a power supply, make sure your parts list is all-inclusive...know ahead of time, what you expect to
install in your system. You should also visit the motherboard manufacturer's site, as well as the CPU's. Most of the
products will have specifics regarding power supply requirements needed for that specific component. Unfortunately, you
really won't know how well the PSU performs until it is installed and running your system (hopefully!) This is the main reason we
recommend the most popular brands - power supplys that have shown a duration of manufacturing quality over the years. Those are
as follows: Antec, Enermax, OCZ, PC Power and Cooling, Tagan, and a few newcomers such as SeaSonic and Silverstone are
worth looking into.
If you believe you have found the PSU of choice, remember this: AMD recommends a minimum 350 watt power supply to run
Athlon64 and FX CPU's. To that, add the 30% for power lost to heat, and the subsequent electro-magnetic radiation. Hold on with that
calculator...throw in an additional 40% to 60% for the "potential" inaccuracies of specifications inherent in mass-produced electronics.
Pay special attention to outputs on either single, or dual rail +12v lines. A motherboard, CPU, and graphics card can consume up to
150 watts alone - before hooking up your remaining components. If running an SLI configured board, look for a PSU that is certified
to run that configuration...there's only a few PSU's that lay claim to that!
Broken down, you can look at it this way: An Athlon64/FX processor can use up to 90 watts off the +12v rail. High performance RAM
can take in about 25 watts for each stick of 256MB system memory from the +3.3v line. PCI cards will use about 10 watts each, while
an AGP video card can consume about 50 precious watts alone from the +5v or +12v. Hard drives? A 7,200 RPM drive...about 15 watts
each, taken from the +5v and +12v rail. Finally, but not absolutely is the optical drives...robbing about 20 watts each, also from
the +5v and +12v lines. So you see....not only is the +12v amp ratings of concern, but also the +5v line!
In doing the math...on a system incorporating an Athlon64 (say a 4000+), 2 sticks of high-end RAM, 2 or 3 PCI cards, 1 mid-to-high
end AGP video card, 2 ~ 7,200 RPM hard drives, and a couple of CD/RW or DVD/RW opticals...you're looking at a "base" requirement of 270 to 325 watts. That's for a running system...now figure boot-up loads, 30% for heat and radiation bleed-off, then a 40% safety factor for manufacturing inconsistencies...you've got a power supply in the 450 to 520 watt range!
Modular Power Supplys:
The pins that are used for the modular plugs are not very good at passing current. It's basically electrical resistance between the male and female components, and voltage "drops" are likely. In real world events, they will become loose, dirty, corrosive, and eventually burn. You can figure about 10% less efficiency with a modular power supply.
Now you can understand how manufacturing "tolerances" that are inaccurate by 40% to 60%, can have such a devastating effect on
the performance of your new system. If you follow these simple guidelines, bearing in mind the hardware you will be using, and what
your intended use of the computer is for...then it will be one less dramatic incident when pushing the power button for the first time!
Here's a neat little tool....a bit out of date - that can give you a basic idea of what you'll need in a PSU.
You can apply the percentages above, for an even more accurate assesment of your PSU requirements!
http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/Power_Supply_Calculator.php?cmd=AMD

Quote
In doing the math...on a system incorporating an Athlon64 (say a 4000+), 2 sticks of high-end RAM, 2 or 3 PCI cards, 1 mid-to-high
end AGP video card, 2 ~ 7,200 RPM hard drives, and a couple of CD/RW or DVD/RW opticals...you're looking at a "base" requirement of 270 to 325 watts. That's for a running system...now figure boot-up loads, 30% for heat and radiation bleed-off, then a 40% safety factor for manufacturing inconsistencies...you've got a power supply in the 450 to 520 watt range!
Well, except the CPU, my system has all that you mentioned there (I even have 3 optical drives). And my 350W PSU has been rock solid for more than a year (BeQuiet, = Tagan, IIRC). I don't think a 4000+ needs 100W more than my 3200+ . And that link you posted says that the minimum recommended PSU for my system is 506W xD. Come on.
Oh, and in the place I work there are 6 amd64 with GeForce 6800 GT and 2GB RAM with 380W Antec PSUs. All 100% stable, of course.
I would only go for >400W if I wanted to do extreme OC (with overvolting), or SLI. Otherwise, a good brand 350W PSU is more than enough.

Variable power supply Mydaq

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