Tagan ATX Power Supply - think bf u buy

[Brian C]

Hi... all, would like to share with all of u on this christmas.
Yesterday I received a spoilt Tagan PSU from my friend. I opened up the case... and I was shocked to see JENPO caps in the main rectification circuit.

Oh.. this is bad. TAGAN uses JENPO as mains reserviour cap. It is the cap U get for the expensive price u pay. Just not worth it.

I've repaired so many computer PSU. So far, I am quite confident in those PSU for OEM like Mineaba, Delta, AcBel, ASTEC (Best).... They use quality cap for almost the entire PSU circuit.

The TAGAN 380W PSU PCB.


The reserviour Capacitor


SMPS secondary output Filter Cap


I can't see any branded caps like Rubycon, Nichicon, Chemicon, OS-con, Samxon, etc... in it. So dissapointed.

[gonzo0815]

Re: Tagan ATX Power Supply - think bf u buy

Ugh, thats are very very ugly TNR crap caps. Now i know realy, why i have had the strange feeling to avoid Tagan......
Any way, is this a newer model? or something from the past?

[Brian C]

Re: Tagan ATX Power Supply - think bf u buy

It is not a new model... probably 2-3 year old TG380-U01.
TAGAN is quite a famous brand here.

[gonzo0815]

Re: Tagan ATX Power Supply - think bf u buy

Here too, especially warshipped & fanboyd from some local PC reseller groupes. But probably not because it is of good quality, but before the high price and marging they probably earn from them.
I don`t get it, why those mfk do build sutch PSU`s with that expensive heasinks and than do cheap out that bad on those caps. The only reason i can immagine is purpose, to make those psu`s short lived. Immagine, if all those psu`s would last more than five years without a minor hitch. Probably those mfk would have serious losses in their sales.

[Brian C]

Re: Tagan ATX Power Supply - think bf u buy

I agreed... However some PSU manufacturer do think of using good capacitor in critical circuit like rectification.

Here is the example.. AcBel 400W. The reservoir cap is Panasonic Brand.





I think the reason many PSU manufacturer use cheap cap. is for cost cutting purpose.

[gonzo0815]

Re: Tagan ATX Power Supply - think bf u buy

yep, cost reduction is possible, but lock at that Tagan, those heasink and other components a rather sturdy (thus expensive),does this make any sense to put that bad caps in there? ok, with the jenpo i could live, but those Fuyyuhy are fore me not to explain. Just silly or intentional calculated failure.

[linuxguru]

Re: Tagan ATX Power Supply - think bf u buy

AcBel also sometimes uses 2nd-tier caps - I recently found an AcBel 250W SFF unit full of LTEC LYZ series. None bulging, and the PSU was working fine with all voltages in spec. Curiously enough, both heatsinks were solid copper, rather than extruded aluminium. If they were willing to splurge on copper heatsinks, they could just as well have used higher quality caps too. I recapped them all with Chemi-con LXZ and swapped in the recapped AcBel - which weighed about twice as much as the generic el-cheapo '300 W' unit it replaced, mainly because of heavier magnetics, copper heatsinks, thicker wires and a ball-bearing fan.

[PeteS in CA]

Re: Tagan ATX Power Supply - think bf u buy

... which weighed about twice as much as the generic el-cheapo '300 W' unit it replaced, mainly because of heavier magnetics, copper heatsinks, thicker wires and a ball-bearing fan.

Heavy metal is goodness when it comes to P/Ss.