"Brick" power supplies: any reason to buy a proprietary one?

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J

jhsachs

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Apr 10, 2009
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I've got a couple of expensive (high three-digit $$$) gadgets that are powered by "brick" style power supplies -- but I don't have the power supplies.

One requires 5VDC at 2.5A with positive polarity. The other requires 5VDC at 4.0A with positive polarity. The manufacturer of the gadgets sells power supplies separately for the benefit of unfortunate souls like me. They cost $60 and $80 respectively.

I can buy power supplies with the same specifications on Amazon or eBay for $6 to $10 each.

I have no doubt that $60 or $80 will buy me a very nice power supply -- probably better designed and better built than the one that costs 1/10 as much. But ten times better? Better in any way that makes a real difference?

If you're familiar with the innards of these gadgets -- in practice, not just theory -- whaddaya think?

Here are links to descriptions of the gadgets and their power supplies:

Gadget 1: AdderLink Infinity ALIF1000R
Product: http://us.adder.com/products/adderlink-infinity-0
Power supply page: http://www.adder.com/products/iec-power-supply-unit-5volt-dc-25a#description
Retail page with price: https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Adder-PSU-IEC-5VDC-2.5A-power-adapter/3348481.aspx

Gadget 2: AdderView CATX 5000
Product page: http://us.adder.com/products/adderview-catxip-5000
Power supply page: http://www.adder.com/products/adder-power-supply-unit-5volt-dc-4a#description
Retail page with price: https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Adder-PSU-IEC-5VDC-4A-power-adapter/4281986.aspx
 
Solution
Flying Head
Try the search again.
Product Index > Power Supplies - External/Internal (Off-Board) > AC DC Desktop, Wall Adapters
Form -> Desktop
Input Type -> Cord sold separately
Voltage output -> 5v
Current output -> 3A
Apply Filters -> Results 32
http://
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Chugalug_

Chugalug_

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Jan 28, 2016
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Those aren't power supplies, those are power bricks designed to connect, charge or provide power to a device, not primarily to run a system with the exception of a few OEMs. These are typically on low wattage levels, high capacity power brick adapters are about 125w on average.
Power supplies are different, they have connectors for the motherboard, SATA devices, PCIe connectors etc. with more complex designs and components to handle high wattage loads and keep thermals in check.
Much different.

True, they do act as conduits, but they're proprietary to a certain device, so unless you need a replacement for something there's no need to get one.
 
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Flying Head

Flying Head

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Apr 14, 2013
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The advantage of the OEM is it will work out of the box. The plug will be the right size and polarity. Be wary of the cheapest to be found. Places similar to Digi-Key are good places to browse. They would have a variety of plugs too, which would need attachment to the output cable. Plugs are difficult to match, there are so many. Especially if you have none to measure (O.D., I.D., length).
 
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J

jhsachs

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F.H., I didn't get to the connector problem in the OP, but I was concerned about it, and your solution sounds good. I found a few "universal" power supplies on Amazon, that's probably not the best place to look.

I visited Digi-Key's web site but had trouble finding anything appropriate. Their category "Power Supplies, External/Internal (Off-Board) > AC DC Desktop Wall Adapters" looks like the right one, but its product selection menu doesn't have a dropdown for output voltage, and that seems so basic that I wonder whether this is the right type of product at all.

Chugalug, I had trouble separating your advice from your comments on the term "power supply." I'd like to set the terminology issue aside; since the OEM calls them power supplies, as does Digi-Key, calling them something else seems pointless. Perhaps you can restate your thoughts with the terminology issue filtered out, and they will be clearer.
 
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A

aquielisunari

Judicious
Mar 31, 2011
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Would there be better safety features on the more expensive bricks?
 
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Flying Head

Flying Head

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Apr 14, 2013
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Try the search again.
Product Index > Power Supplies - External/Internal (Off-Board) > AC DC Desktop, Wall Adapters
Form -> Desktop
Input Type -> Cord sold separately
Voltage output -> 5v
Current output -> 3A
Apply Filters -> Results 32
http://
 
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Solution
J

jhsachs

Distinguished
Apr 10, 2009
224
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18,685
OK, I see the problem now: weird JavaScript. The filter list clips itself at the right margin of the window, and expands when the window is resized, but not when it is horizontal-scrolled. So I saw the list with the current and wattage columns clipped off, and when I scrolled it to see if there was more, there wasn't.

From no choices I've gone to too many: over 100 products rated at 2.5-3.0A or 4.0-5.0A. To spend about $50 instead of $200 I can deal with that, and will. Thank you for the pointer.
 
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