Power Supply Need help choosing AC Adapter for PicoPSU/Streacom F7C ALPHA Case

vlad1966

Average Stuffer
Original poster
Sep 21, 2017
57
31
OK, full disclosure up front: I'm not a genius when it comes to power. Basically, I know Volts x Amps = Watts, but that's about it. I used to just buy the best affordable ATX & later SFX power supplies for your "standard" affordable Mini ITX cases & called it a day.

However, I bought a F7C Alpha case a few months back & loved it, but messed it up by drilling out the hole for the AC connector, since I wanted to use a 192W brick from this kit that I bought (requires a large 4-pin DIN connector):

http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-160-XT-192W-Adapter-Power-Kit

I'd like to get another one of these cases & re-use if possible (I can buy something else if recommended) the 160W PicoPSU I bought from the above mini-box link, but this time WON'T be drilling out the hole for the AC connector (I believe the opening takes a 5.5 x 2.5mm DC Jack. Problem is, I'd like to build a decently powerful system in the F7C Alpha case using the 160W (200W max) PicoPSU, and most Higher-power AC Adapters have the larger 4-pin DIN plug. The system I'd like to use: Ryzen 5 2400G, NVME SSD, 2 or 3 SATA SSD's, no optical drive, 10Gbit Intel X540 NIC (maybe swap this at some point for a Quadro P1000 vid card).

So, considering the above, what kind of AC Adapter could I get? Would the popular Dell 330 Watt AC Adapter work?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CGA5JQM/?tag=theminutiae-20

It seems to include the right kind of 5.5 x 2.5mm jack, but it's 19.5V 16.9A. Would that pose any problems to the 160W PicoPSU I already have?

Or would something like this work:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GPBGSQZ/?tag=theminutiae-20

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:

Thehack

Spatial Philosopher
Creator
Mar 6, 2016
2,800
3,650
J-hackcompany.com
OK, full disclosure up front: I'm not a genius when it comes to power. Basically, I know Volts x Amps = Watts, but that's about it. I used to just buy the best affordable ATX & later SFX power supplies for your "standard" affordable Mini ITX cases & called it a day.

However, I bought a F7C Alpha case a few months back & loved it, but messed it up by drilling out the hole for the AC connector, since I wanted to use a 192W brick from this kit that I bought (requires a large 4-pin DIN connector):

http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-160-XT-192W-Adapter-Power-Kit

I'd like to get another one of these cases & re-use if possible (I can buy something else if recommended) the 160W PicoPSU I bought from the above mini-box link, but this time WON'T be drilling out the hole for the AC connector (I believe the opening takes a 5.5 x 2.5mm DC Jack. Problem is, I'd like to build a decently powerful system in the F7C Alpha case using the 160W (200W max) PicoPSU, and most Higher-power AC Adapters have the larger 4-pin DIN plug. The system I'd like to use: Ryzen 5 2400G, NVME SSD, 2 or 3 SATA SSD's, no optical drive, 10Gbit Intel X540 NIC (maybe swap this at some point for a Quadro P1000 vid card).

So, considering the above, what kind of AC Adapter could I get? Would the popular Dell 330 Watt AC Adapter work?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CGA5JQM/?tag=theminutiae-20

It seems to include the right kind of 5.5 x 2.5mm jack, but it's 19.5V 16.9A. Would that pose any problems to the 160W PicoPSU I already have?

Or would something like this work:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GPBGSQZ/?tag=theminutiae-20

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

I recommend using the minibox to ensure you have the compatible hookups.

Also the dell is not compatible because it is 19V.
 

robbee

King of Cable Management
n3rdware
Bronze Supporter
Sep 24, 2016
855
1,335
20A on a 5.5mm barrel connector? I'd be very carefull with that, but I'm sure @Thehack can provide better feedback.
 

vlad1966

Average Stuffer
Original poster
Sep 21, 2017
57
31
Indeed. Most 5.5mm barrels are limited to 10A. So if you want 120W you'd need a 4pin one. Minibox website sells a 192W one that is compatible with their picopsu.

I already have the 192W AC Adapter (4-pin DIN) from Minibox, but the Streacom F7C case only supports a 5.5mm barrel. Would I be able to use a 4-pin DIN-to-5.5mm barrel adapter ?
 

Stevo_

Master of Cramming
Jul 2, 2015
449
304
How much power does your present build use? Maybe list components. A 4-pin din to 5.5 barrel adapter may work if you can find one if you're below max spec on it.
 

vlad1966

Average Stuffer
Original poster
Sep 21, 2017
57
31
How much power does your present build use? Maybe list components. A 4-pin din to 5.5 barrel adapter may work if you can find one if you're below max spec on it.
Hey Stevo_

My current build will most likely be sold. It has a Micro ATX mobo & I want to go back to Mini ITX. The rest is: i3-8100, 16GB 2400 RAM, Radeon RX 570, 500GB Samsung 970 NVME, 256GB Samsung 960 NVME, 2 SATA SSDs, SF600 SFX PSU.

I'm sort of undecided about the system that will replace it - most likely Ryzen 5 2400 APU or i5-8400 or i7-8700T, Mini ITX mobo, & rest of components will be same, except for the vid card (none if I go Ryzen 5 2400, or LP RX 560/LP GTX 1050Ti If I stay Intel) and the PSU will go too.

Thanks
 

Stevo_

Master of Cramming
Jul 2, 2015
449
304
Yeah, I should have said target build, that looks fine for 120W even 8700T with the LP GPUs. I think the biggest problem will be finding an adapter for 4-pin mini-din to the barrel style, probably need to make your own short cable, those parts are certainly available. The mini-DIN panel mounts really require a drill press to do cleanly and have never seen a screw-on style that would allow just using a panel hole-punch to resize the hole.