Re: Power Supplies, Saving Money, and switching vs. Linear?

[nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)]

Not quite. The regulated power supply that I recommended (and have tested
for X-10/Insteon co-existence) is a switch mode supply. Unregulated power
supplies cost about the same as regulated supplies (whether linear or
switchmode) so there's only a slight savings by eliminating an internal
linear regulator. There's a bit more saved by being able to design a
slightly smaller printed circuit board.

In the roZetta (and transceiver successor) designs, I'm still using a 3.3V
linear regulator to supply the xPort module from the regulated +5V supply.
The DIY designs leave the choice of power supply to the user (unregulated +
internal regulator, regulated linear or switchmode wall transformers)
although I still recommend the same +5V switchmode supply as it's the most
efficient.

I was reacting to the accusation that I was recommending getting drunk
instead of saving energy when I was actually equating a cheap drunk with the
"feel good" non-energy saving recommendations of others.

"Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>My best guess, although probably wrong, is that Dave was reacting to
>perceived criticism of his choice to use a regulated PS for his new project.
>If I recall, it was the most cost-effective solution.  Since Dave's new
>devices will all be run 24x7, there's really nothing to be gained from using
>a switch mode power supply.   I think, as so often happens, that the thread
>migrated to solar power and energy conservation in general so it seemed that
>we were still discussing Dave's power supply choice when in fact we were
>talking about reducing energy consumption across the board.