ADD2PSU

Using dual PSU’s? The ADD2PSU might be worth your time and money. Let’s take a look.

Introduction

Whenever enthusiasts decide to upgrade they invariably run into a dilemma of where to spend their money. Upgrading to better hardware usually requires more power. Most of the time this has meant getting a new PSU to keep up with those needs. Recently, however, there has been an increase in the number of users who, instead of installing a higher wattage PSU, have instead opted to install a second PSU to meet their system’s power requirements. Usually this means cobbling together some system to turn the secondary PSU on and off. Whether using a paperclip or switch to manually control it, or using a home-built system incorporating a relay, these methods are usually crude or cumbersome, and in some cases, time consuming.

Enter DLL Industries and the ADD2PSU: a compact, easy to install, option for controlling that second PSU.

We’ll take a look at it today and see if it’s what they claim, and worth your hard earned cash.

This product is available for $19.95

Pictures & Impressions

The unit itself is a simple design consisting of a connection for a Molex from the PSU connected to the case switch, another connection for the 24-pin EATX plug of the second PSU, and a relay. The back of the unit is covered by double sided tape.

 The padded tape functions as both insulation and mounting material. No tools are required.

The packaging is very basic, with just the envelope with the product and instructions inside.

Installation

We installed the product with ease.

Deciding where to install it was the hardest part. The first location we chose was just out of reach of the wiring.

The tape mounting seems quite secure.

The second location was an easy reach, and had the added benefit of being behind the HDD cage area, effectively hiding the wires for us. Alongside is another view of the location, in which some of the wire management modifications to the case are visible.

Testing

As what this product sample does is quite simple the only way to test it is to use it.

In the system above, power supply 1 is running the ASUS M3N-HT Deluxe and the GIGABYTE GTX560 OC. To accommodate a second power supply we created an additional housing made from an old case, which was then mounted to the top of the system. Wire and air access are through a 120mm hole cut into the top of the case.

The second power supply is running the XFX 9800GX2, the EVGA GTX280, all the drives, and fans. Up until the ADD2PSU came along, PSU 2 was being controlled via a manually operated switch mounted in the face of the case, which was inconvenient to say the least.

We tested by turning the system on and off, so over the course of 2 weeks, while doing tests on fans, and CPU coolers, and other equipment, installing and un-installing software and drivers (repeatedly) this system was restarted over 100 times.

Over the course of the testing, the unit functioned flawlessly.

Conclusions

The ADD2PSU functions exactly as the company states. It is easy to install, and has a simple design which should prevent malfunctions. It can be installed in any location which the system wires allow, requires a minimum of space, and needs no tools.