Can more rails be added to a single rail PSU?

[weetoots]

I have an Antec TrueControl 550 with a single +12v rail. Can the PSU be modded to add more rails?

Thanks,

Al

[Ben333]

It can be done. It may be a bit hard... you will need to buy the new components... and give the PSU another circuit board or make the one it has larger...

[JamesXP]

To add more rails?

Uh.... What are you trying to do... Make your PSU more powerful or add more connectors?

[Ben333]

Rails = 2x the amps... nothing to do with more connectors
And its not a noob project... so be careful and do some research, the PSU can give a nasty shock :p

[weetoots]

I guess my ignorance of rails shows. With all the power hogs that we add to the case/motherboard, I was thinking (:confused:), am I spreading my power around to fit the need. Maybe someone can explain the need for more rails, is it hype?
Thanks,

Al

[Ben333]

Its like having two 12V PSUs... If you have one part that draws 20A or 240 watts, then you need another rail for other things. I guess multi rail is cheaper than one big rail. I would chose a 40A over 2x 20A any day... :p hope that helped.

[JamesXP]

Single rail is said to be better, I'd stay away from 'modyfying' your PSU.

And ben, I know what a rail Is I was just thinking he might mean the amount of connectors on his PSU.

[weetoots]

I was thinking more of spreading the power around, as in house wiring, not as to how many connectors there are per se.
To me, if one line is taking all the load, something is going to pop. Now that I see what multi-rail is, I see a need to map out your load, so there arn't too many extras, like fans, on the one line.

I would never go into something I know very little about, that is why I asked the question. This computer industry has so much hype, I just wanted the truth, which I know I will get from most of the listers.

Thanks,
Al

[[Spectre]]

The short answer is no an end user can't.

[JamesXP]

Yay. A PSU person has talked.


Most people prefer Single Rail PSUs

Say the amp of your pci rail is... 5A(Made up) but your card draws say 9A your pci connector doesn't have enough juice, but your normal rail has 18A..


That's not a real cicrumstance BTW :)


Your psu was made for single rail and that's what it's good at.

[[Spectre]]

Rails = 2x the amps... nothing to do with more connectors

This is not exactly correct. Since most multi12v rail units in production are really single 12v units (with exceptions) that have artificially limited rails you are still limited by the transformer/rectifiers on the 12v rail. The total power is simply allocated in such a way that the OCP circuit only allows so much current down one set of wires. When you see a listing for a multi 12v rail unit most of the time the 12v rail outputs are not cumulative as the total wattage/voltage will show a number less than the sum of the multiple 12v rails listed.

Yes there are excpetions and some units can put out an additive amount.

[JamesXP]

EG:

Corsair HX520 says it's a 3x18 infact its a single 40A.

[[Spectre]]

EG:

Corsair HX520 says it's a 3x18 infact its a single 40A.

Yep you are correct. Seasonic doesn't even bother with setting an OCP on its rails.

[Ben333]

James, sorry but it sounded like you were asking what a rail was. And yes the mod is possible, no its not worth it :p agreed?

[[Spectre]]

And yes the mod is possible, no its not worth it :p agreed?

Can you find an example of a user who has taken a single 12v rail unit and added a second 12v rail from scratch to increase its capacity? IMO this one is so very improbable for an end user to get working let alone working correct that it falls into the short answer no section.

[Ben333]

You can't say its impossible. If I had two of the units it would be easy. All I want to say is that it is POSSIBLE... not telling anyone to try it.

[[Spectre]]

You can't say its impossible. If I had two of the units it would be easy. All I want to say is that it is POSSIBLE... not telling anyone to try it.

Ok, how exactly would you propose to do it? Sure in theory almost anything is possible but practically some things are as good as impossible.

[JamesXP]

[H]ardOCP PSU Reviewer & Editor

[Jhonas]

I wouldn't open up a unit that A) has 240V flowing through it when turned on and
B) supplies power to all of my 700 pound pc. I like to keep the electricity on the inside of the comp. Thoeretically you could do it, and theoretically, theory and parctice are the same thing. In practice theyre not.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

You can't say its impossible. If I had two of the units it would be easy. All I want to say is that it is POSSIBLE... not telling anyone to try it.

If you had two of the units, it wouldn't be easy. You'd have to work around enclosure size and cooling needs, not to mention rework the design so everything plays nice together.

As for impossible vs. possible, it's possible for me to do a headstand on top of the Sears Tower while eating an orange. I could have safety nets, harnesses, and parachutes up there with me but there's no way I'd go to the trouble when I could just eat that orange on the ground.

If you want a multiple 12V unit, just buy one. I guarantee the capacitors in that old Antec are on their way out already, and I guarantee there's no way to mod it for dual 12V that would be worth the expense ;)

[Ben333]

james, why quote his job?
If you guys donate to me then i'll be glad to do this mod. bring it!

[Oklahoma Wolf]

If you guys donate to me then i'll be glad to do this mod.

Just a prediction - you're probably not going to be seeing any donations :p

[Ben333]

I know i won't :p but if I did then I seriously would :p

[[Spectre]]

I know i won't :p but if I did then I seriously would :p

Contact me through my email address and I might be able to come up with two identical units after the next roundup (be a couple weeks but i have to get the mtested for the review) for you to take a single 12v rail power supply and cannabalize a second unit to add a legitimate second 12v rail (transformer and all) that meets specs in the same housing as the base model.

[Ben333]

^^ will do. But I do not gaurntee anything so make them cheap units. I'll pay for one if you give the other. let me research this a bit and I'll get back to you. I still feel its possible.

[jonnyGURU]

^^ will do. But I do not gaurntee anything so make them cheap units. I'll pay for one if you give the other. let me research this a bit and I'll get back to you. I still feel its possible.

Anyone remember the Ultra X-Finity 600W (pre-FlexForce model.)

Two "stacked" Wintech 300W PSU's. :D

Hell... what about that OCZ 2000W at CES early this year? Two stacked Topower 1000W PSU's. :D

[Ben333]

^but I need to fit mine in the origional case. And I only need two 12V, one of all other.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

I still feel its possible.

Of course it's possible... I could do it myself just from spare parts I have lying around here. But I won't - don't have the time or the inclination.