Power

Question 1

When comparing electricity to water, what would voltage resemble?

Answer 1

Voltage (Volts) can be compared to water pressure.

Question 2

When comparing electricity to water, what would Amperage resemble?

Answer 2

The amount of water coming from a tap. Low = Droplets, High = Stream

Question 3

What are Watts?

Answer 3

The amount of Volts and Amperage required for a component or device to function. V x A = W.

Question 4

What are Ohms?

Answer 4

Ohms are the resistance given by the wires electricity passes through

Question 5

What measurement is used to judge how much electricity can be pushed through a wire?

Answer 5

Wires have Amp ratings for this purpose

Question 6

How do fuses work?

Answer 6

Fuses have amp ratings similar to the wires around them. If electricity beyond the specified amount passes into a fuse’s tiny filament, it will break, denying the electricity access to your device and potentially saving it from a power surge.

Question 7

True or false: DC power flows constantly in one direction, and AC power alternates back and forth and is good for long distances?

Answer 7

True

Question 8

What do the Hot, Neutral and Ground wires do on a plug?

Answer 8

Hot wire carries the voltage, Neutral carries no voltage and acts like a water drain by returning the electric to the local source, the ground wire makes it possible for excess electricity to return safely to the ground in a short-circuit situation.

Question 9

What is the symbol for AC and DC current

Answer 9

DC is a straight line with dotted lines atop it. AC is a Wavy line. See: https://www.electrical-symbols.com/electric-electronic-symbols/electric-current-symbols.htm

Question 10

Are the AC to DC adapters laptops use interchangeable?

Answer 10

Non

Question 11

What is another term for a sag in electric power? And a complete loss of power?

Answer 11

A brownout and a blackout

Question 12

What is a Joule?

Answer 12

A unit of electricity

Question 13

How many Joules do authorities suggest your surge protection have at minimum?

Answer 13

2000 minimum.

Question 14

When referring to UPS (Uninterruptible power supplies) what do these terms mean: Online, Standby, Line-interactive.

Answer 14

Online implies the computer is always drawing power from a UPS even if the power isn’t down. Standby only powers the PC when the power is detected to have been lost from a wall socket. Line-interactive is similar to standby, but has special circuitry to handle moderate AC sags and surges without the need to switch to battery power.

Question 15

What is the standard AC Voltage in the UK

Answer 15

230v

Question 16

What voltages does Molex cover?

Answer 16

5 and 12v, usually used for fans. Same as Sata (though sata has a 3.3, it doesn’t use it)

Question 17

What is a rail?

Answer 17

Rails deliver power through 3.3, 5 and 12v lines to connectors. This is the process just after the transformer turns AC > DC and the power is split into different “tunnels”. A PSU can have multiple rails for the same voltages.

Question 18

What is over current protection

Answer 18

This protects rails from being overworked and shuts them down if they are in danger. Short version: Dampens the effects of harmonics.

Question 19

What is Active power factor correction

Answer 19

Protects against the waves of electricity that come pouring through your wall socket every time they bounce back and forth every 60 seconds. These can damage your equipment over time.

Question 20

What are the colours of 3.3v 5v and 12v and ground?

Answer 20

O R Y B

Question 21

What happens if you use a 120v wallsocket with a 230v PSU

Answer 21

The socket’s fuse may blow from being overworked

Question 22

What happens if you use a 230v wall socket with a 120v psu

Answer 22

The 230v would ram the PSU that’s responsible for toning down the volts and likely destroy it

Question 23

True or false: The wall socket will supply the amount of electricity it’s rated for. It’s down to the appliance to lessen the amount of electricity.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

How many pins is a p1 connector. Old version and new.

Answer 24

Old is 20, new is 20+4

Question 25

What is the 80plus rating

Answer 25

PSUs work at 80% efficiency when under 20-100% load

Question 26

What is the name of the psu part that changes ac to dc?

Answer 26

Rectifier