Which is better (gives less problems)? ADD2PSU or PSU joiner cable

[ambroseg1]

Which one is better?

 

[SinnerG]

I would go with the isolated unit like add2psu.
Or do what I just did. R30 Bosch relay from Midas and a PSU connector from old motherboard, or molex connector and some wire. Hook it up and done.

 

[Ant_Shrew]

Personally prefer PSU joiner cable.
Less components that can give trouble.
Also I dont have to many spare molexes in convenient places

 

[ambroseg1]

I am leaning towards the PSU joiner as Ant_Shrew has suggested for the same reason he mentioned. I just think its less to go wrong.

 

[Dibzzz]

Prefer the ADD2PSU

Build plenty machines and yes the cable is easier and less components but it can cause issues with loose cables that will turn off half the rig.
Probably seen over 1000 ADD2PSU go through my shop and had maybe 2 or 3 come back as faulty.

They both work and quite cheap to replace compared to other components in your rig.

Just my 2 satoshi worth

 

[SinnerG]

In my opinion, you're crossing power feeds, but either way it is such a small current really. Have also used psu joiner cable years ago and no issues. But having coughed up R3k for a PSU now, I like the isolation better.

 

[ambroseg1]

In my opinion, you're crossing power feeds, but either way it is such a small current really. Have also used psu joiner cable years ago and no issues. But having coughed up R3k for a PSU now, I like the isolation better.

Crossing power feeds using either of the two options mentioned?? How am I crossing power feeds, when the added PSU is powering risers and GPUs only? Wont it be crossing power feeds if I power the risers with one PSU and the GPUs with another?

 

[SinnerG]

Crossing power feeds using either of the two options mentioned?? How am I crossing power feeds, when the added PSU is powering risers and GPUs only? Wont it be crossing power feeds if I power the risers with one PSU and the GPUs with another?

You're sharing ground and power on the black and green lines shared on the adapter. Doubt anything to worry about though.

 

[WiZard]

You're sharing ground and power on the black and green lines shared on the adapter. Doubt anything to worry about though.

The ADD2PSU also connects the grounds together. Not doing so would be dangerous.

 

[SinnerG]

Have the schematic for that? Can't quite tell from the board. Are you indicating the switch of the relay is pulling down the power-on pin of the 2nd PSU to the 1st PSU ground?

 

[WiZard]

Have the schematic for that? Can't quite tell from the board. Are you indicating the switch of the relay is pulling down the power-on pin of the 2nd PSU to the 1st PSU ground?

To the common ground...

If you look carefully, you will see the two molex ground pins are connected to the ground plane, as are pin 1 and several other pins of the ATX connector...

 

[SinnerG]

Yeah, I can see them now. Very fine tracks.

I'll keep my isolated setup right now. I don't see the harm in the isolation on the power-on pin. Unless of course I'm missing something fundamental in where the danger lies.

 

[SinnerG]

Ok, hang on, I see what you're getting at with the sharing of ground. I see the point of that. I can tie my grounds across my relay, but the entire rig shares ground anyway, not necessarily through just those pins. Metal frame, all cards bolted in (backplate on cards grounded anyway), motherboard on stand-offs on plate tray bolted to frame and I have ground jumpers where metal is isolated anyway (plastic frame connectors). I can see the use of the tie in in the add2psu devices given the use of wood frames or loose rig setups.