Proprietary Circuitry
To reiterate, PCPower&Cooling's Turbo Cool 850/1KW models set a new standard for high end, high current, power supply design. The company gave added meaning to the term proprietary circuitry as they spec'd their own circuitboards. When the 850SSI was introduced few manufacturers where willing to go to such klengths due to cost anfd even those whom wanted to build a "better mousetrap" were limited since most out source just about every aspect of design and construction.



When a power supply is operating around 75 ~ 80% efficiency, unused power is lost forever as heat. Devices such as Field Effect Transistors (FET), which run hot, require large aluminum heatsinks to dissipate heat and until recently the added weight of these components contributed to the PSU-litmus test; "weight = quality."



The TC1KW we'll be evaluating today is a fairly efficient design at 85% yet there's still a tremendous amount of weight and cooling required to create this monster especially when compared PCPower's newest design. I'm currently in the final stages of testing the Silencer 750 EPS12V which requires an entirely new understanding of circuit design. Insofar as the TC1KW she's still far ahead of the industry, especially in the implementation of proprietary circuits.

As we investigate the internals from a side view you will note there are three distinct heatsinks, each corresponding to a specific power stage. Basically the photo below (and corresponding thumbnails) details an independent module running along the length of the unit. Below from right to left: AC power enters, reaches a rectification stage, PFC circuitry (1st Heat Sink), to the Blue Capacitor, to power field transistors (2nd HS), onto the transformer to the secondary side where it's rectified (3rd heatsink) and then through inductors (large copper wound rings) and capacitors to the individual Rail/s.





Below rotating the unit 180-degrees we see the opposite side of the "module" and what would normally be a daughterboard or the PCB except it's on its side. It’s the placement of multiple mother/daughter-board at right angles which makes this PSU so unique.





In thumbnails above note the pragmatic placement of transistors onto what looks like brass plates. Power field transistors and other devices are mounted to these plates which are in turn attached to the aluminum heatsinks. Undoubtedly a costly construction method from a material perspective and labor intensive standpoint this is what places PCPower ahead of the "pack."

Proprietary Circuitry ->