NAS Super-Low Noise Linear Power Supply

[Marco]

I'd been talking to Duncan (Tubehunter) about building me a dedicated linear PSU for my Seagate (5TB) NAS drives (suppling music files to the RPi), to replace the stock switch-mode units, which like all items of that nature, chuck a lot of noise into the mains.

My thinking was that as well as reducing that pollution, which could have been having an adverse knock-on effect on my main system, ultimately receiving its power from the same mains supply, it may also improve the sonic performance of the RPi, so I bought all the necessary bits, gave them to Duncan, and this is what he came up with:



















Total expenditure on parts: £165.00

Links to main components...

Power module for PSU: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1218280144...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Casing: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1421515382...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Transformer Toroidal 80VA 2x15V o/p: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/toroid...32333836373326

FN9260 IEC950 2 fused inlet filter,4A: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/iec-fi...38383936323426

Other sundry items sourced from Maplins.

Could it be the best linear PSU out there, with which to power a NAS hard-drive? I think so... It should form a formidable partnership with the Paul Hynes SR3DR-05 linear PSU, powering the RPi. Can't wait to try it out!

Marco.

[Marco]

Duncan is also making me up a mains lead for the PSU, using this MS HD 13A plug, from Hi-fi Collective: https://www.hificollective.co.uk/pow...wer_ms328.html





And a Yarbo pure-copper IEC plug, again from Hi-fi Collective: https://www.hificollective.co.uk/pow..._iec_plug.html





Yes, I like my copper!

The wire itself will simply be some good quality stuff Duncan had bought a while ago, on a reel, from RS. No serious skimping on any aspect of the design of this PSU. All are simply sensible choices, free from any 'foo'...

Marco.

[Stryder5]

I was impressed that you managed to customise the fuse "MARCO".

Duncan is also making me up a mains lead for the PSU, using this MS HD 13A plug, from Hi-fi Collective: https://www.hificollective.co.uk/pow...wer_ms328.html





And a Yarbo pure-copper IEC plug, again from Hi-fi Collective: https://www.hificollective.co.uk/pow..._iec_plug.html





Yes, I like my copper!

The wire itself will simply be some good quality stuff Duncan had bought a while ago, on a reel, from RS. No serious skimping on any aspect of the design of this PSU. All are simply sensible choices, free from any 'foo'...

Marco.

[Marco]

I was impressed that you managed to customise the fuse "MARCO".

Not sure what you mean, Gary... That's just the one that came with the plug.

Marco.

[struth]

Not sure what you mean, Gary... That's just the one that came with the plug.

Marco.

Reading the lettering on fuse it looks a bit like marco

[Marco]

Ah, I see... It says MARBO - a well known fuse make. Good one!

Marco.

[WESTLOWER]

Looks good Marco although there is some debate to the effectiveness of a linear PSU on a NAS drive
Any concrete findings on this?
This is a route I was considering but was talked out of by an engineer twice !

[Marco]

Looks good Marco although there is some debate to the effectiveness of a linear PSU on a NAS drive
Any concrete findings on this?
This is a route I was considering but was talked out of by an engineer twice !

Hi Adam,

I'll let you know once it's installed, as the unit is currently at Duncan's, awaiting arrival of parts to make the mains lead. You're quite right in terms of the effectiveness issue, as objectively it appears to make little sense.

My view is that even if it doesn't, it's just a cleaner way of powering the drives, as I absolutely detest the cheapo SMPS units, supplied with this kind of stuff - and it looks sexy!

Forget what anyone else thinks, is my advice, and go with what your gut instincts say could work

Full report to come!

Marco.

[WESTLOWER]

Look forward to your impressions Marco
I have to say, I am very tempted.
I did the linear psu on the Rpi3
I have heard arguments both ways regarding the NAS
So it will be interesting.
Your right it looks a darn sight nicer than the stock PSU!!

[Marco]

Look forward to your impressions Marco
I have to say, I am very tempted.
I did the linear psu on the Rpi3
I have heard arguments both ways regarding the NAS
So it will be interesting.
Your right it looks a darn sight nicer than the stock PSU!!

I doubt it'll have the same dramatic sonic effect as fitting a linear PSU to the Pi itself, but you never know! Plus, like you say, the new unit looks a damn sight nicer, and befitting of being part of a high-end music streamer (at least in terms of performance, if not price)

The plan is also to have some nice wooden wall shelves installed downstairs, in what will become my music streaming 'NAS station', so the Seagate drives, PSU and router will all sit together and look nice and tidy, streaming music wirelessly to the RPi in the lounge next door (and also to my main system upstairs).

Happy days!

Marco.