SPCR

(This doesn't directly involve PC PSUs, but this seems the most reasonable place to post it.)

I've been using a borrowed Adcom GFA-555 for a couple weeks & watching it through my Kill-a-Watt. This amp has a pretty sizable power supply, and the KaW has shown some interesting data.

The 555 draws about 45W/70VA idling (a bit more when it's hot). But it sucks a lot more to charge its capacitors when first powered up. I've seen this hit between 275-375W; it's very inconsistent because the KaW samples too slowly. Tonight I looked at power-on VA for the first time. 830! The power factor goes way out of whack with that 1st second's hugely capacitive load.

I just googled for some pics of the inside of that amp, and not only does it have large capacitors, but it also has a large toroidal transformer, which means the inrush current will be even higher. The power factor can't really be 830 though; it is by definition between 0 and 1.

I read it as 830VA....not a power factor of 830.

Yes, it's 830VA at 300ishW, so power factor is well below 0.5.

The 555 has 60KuF at 80V. It's a fair bit of energy!

Now you know why lights flicker when a big amp is is turned on.

Either that, or someone is getting it in the Big House.