Off-The-Shelf Linear PS for Pi?

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BillTheCat

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Joined 2016
Howdy, folks.

I'm looking for an off-the-shelf linear power supply that will convert 120VAC (IOW, a standard wall outlet) to 5V/3A DC (I think!) so that I can run a Raspberry Pi3 and also power my DAC separately. If there isn't one power supply that'll do it, or if for some technical reason I need two units, so be it.

Rumor has it that many believe that powering the Pi and DAC separately results in a real performance benefit, so I figured I'd give it a shot. Since I'm not an electronic whiz, I look for advice from those-in-the-know about these things.

Thanks in advance!
 
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BillTheCat

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Joined 2016
mkane77g said:
Traco Power AC/DC Power Supplies 5 Volt Power Supplies with Chassis | 5Vdc Enclosed Power Supplies in Stock | 10 - 1,500 Watts | TRC Electronics

PBA15F-5-N - Cosel - TRC Electronics
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Are these linear power supplies?

AndrewT said:
I would expect that a Member who is already good with digital and switching would automatically want to use those skills and stay with a switching style of PSU.
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Sorry to say, I'm not even sure what this means. Seems there's some thinly veiled innuendo, but I'd be grateful if you can lead me to it. Perhaps you could just say what's really on your mind? :eek:
 
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SanjeevM

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Joined 2017
I have tried the Allo adapter, the IF I adapter, and a 10000mAh Battery bank from MI.

The best sound is when I use the third one !!

It seems that no amount of filtering and cleaning AC can work better than a pure DC source.

On a practical side, charging a battery bank may be a pain, but the pleasure that you get from the pristine pure sound and clear notes deep bass makes it pale in comparison.
 
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BillTheCat

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Joined 2016
scottjoplin said:
A linear power supply comprises a transformer, a rectifier, and smoothing capacitors, it may also include a regulator. The power supplies in that link are switch mode power supplies. Do you specifically require a linear power supply?
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Yes, that was my point in my reply above.

I know how to power the Pi and DAC separately, but a linear power supply is claimed to provide enhanced performance by reducing or eliminating line noise.

Since I don't have the skill or time to dabble with a DIY solution, I was looking for something off the shelf.

Thanks!
 
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BillTheCat

Member
Joined 2016
scottjoplin said:
A linear power supply is not inherently less noisy than a SMPS, there are good and poor ones of both kinds
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Given the objective of maximizing the performance of a Pi-based DAC, would you say a good switching supply would do as well as an LPS?

I already have a couple of the Meanwell RS-15-5's on hand. Would you say this is adequate? Also, do you think this is enough to power both the Pi and the DAC, or should I use two?
 
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AndrewT

R.I.P.
Joined 2004
BillTheCat said:
Are these linear power supplies?


Sorry to say, I'm not even sure what this means. Seems there's some thinly veiled innuendo, but I'd be grateful if you can lead me to it. Perhaps you could just say what's really on your mind? :eek:
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Members who are conversant with linear tend to stay with what they already know.
Members who are digital/switching tend to be more comfortable with what they already know.
You as a Pi specialist is already digital/switching. You already have switching PSUs. To me that means you know about switching so a switching PSU may be what you should use.
No innuendo, just common sense.
 
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BillTheCat

Member
Joined 2016
AndrewT said:
Members who are conversant with linear tend to stay with what they already know.
Members who are digital/switching tend to be more comfortable with what they already know.
You as a Pi specialist is already digital/switching. To me that means you know about switching so a switching PSU may be what you should use.
No innuendo, just common sense.
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I'm not sure where you got the idea I was a "Pi specialist". I'm nothing of the sort. And if I knew what I was *really* doing, I wouldn't be asking, now would I? Or, did you think I had nothing better to do than to invite all sorts of silliness in the form of comments?
 
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BillTheCat

Member
Joined 2016
scottjoplin said:
One of the Meanwell power supplies will be fine, have you tried it, is it noisy? Have you means to measure noise if you can't hear any?
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As I said in another thread, to do a proper analysis would entail multiple configured variants of Pi/DAC/PS/SD/Software assemblies to do a proper A/B/C/D... testing. That would also tie up four or five hundred dollars, when all I'm really after is just one. So I figured I'd just get right to it and ask from those of you who have likely already gone down this path.
 
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