So, this is something that's been bugging me for a while and I was wondering if anyone could point out what I'm missing.
I've seen around here several people driving custom and/or high power battery chargers using Meanwell switching power supplies. Unless I'm missing something, the desired characteristics in a power supply in this case are steady, clean power (thus switching, not transformer) and high current levels. So, here's what's been bugging me. Why Meanwells? Sure, they're high quality and have easy hookup right out of the box, but I feel like the easy hookup probably isn't so much a need for the people using them, and they're quite expensive for what they do, imo.
Why not use PC power supplies?
They're a lot cheaper. If you get a high quality one, you'll have just as clean and reliable power. I mean, let's face it, they're designed to power a lot more sensitive electronics than battery chargers. Then, if you pick the right high-powered one, you can pull quite high current levels at 12V.
Take the power supply currently in my PC, the Corsair TX750. 750W PSU, it can put out a constant 60A on the single 12V rail, 24/7, and it costs $110. Compare that to the nearest Meanwell supply I could find, the SP-750-12. Same 750W rating, puts out a steady 62.5A @12V, and it costs $272.50! For that money, you could get a Corsair AX1200, 1200W supply pushing a steady 100.4A on the single 12V rail.
So...am I missing something?
I've seen around here several people driving custom and/or high power battery chargers using Meanwell switching power supplies. Unless I'm missing something, the desired characteristics in a power supply in this case are steady, clean power (thus switching, not transformer) and high current levels. So, here's what's been bugging me. Why Meanwells? Sure, they're high quality and have easy hookup right out of the box, but I feel like the easy hookup probably isn't so much a need for the people using them, and they're quite expensive for what they do, imo.
Why not use PC power supplies?
They're a lot cheaper. If you get a high quality one, you'll have just as clean and reliable power. I mean, let's face it, they're designed to power a lot more sensitive electronics than battery chargers. Then, if you pick the right high-powered one, you can pull quite high current levels at 12V.
Take the power supply currently in my PC, the Corsair TX750. 750W PSU, it can put out a constant 60A on the single 12V rail, 24/7, and it costs $110. Compare that to the nearest Meanwell supply I could find, the SP-750-12. Same 750W rating, puts out a steady 62.5A @12V, and it costs $272.50! For that money, you could get a Corsair AX1200, 1200W supply pushing a steady 100.4A on the single 12V rail.
So...am I missing something?