Chapter 7: Working with Power
Exam Objectives
Understanding the features, functions, and installation of ATX power supplies
Identifying features and functions of AC adapters
This chapter takes a look at two main items, power supply units (PSU) and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). Power supplies should actually be called power converters because the largest single function they perform is a conversion of power from 120 volt (V) or 240V to something that can be used by the computer system.
As a CompTIA A+ Certified Professional, you will at least have to add a component to a computer that requires power from the power supply (such as a hard drive), and you will also probably be required to troubleshoot and replace a power supply in the computer system. The information in this chapter gives you all the technical specifications and connector types you will need to know about a power supply. Together with the troubleshooting chapter (Book IV, Chapter 2), you will have all the information that you need to know about power supplies.
Knowing the Basics of Power Terminology
You should learn four terms that deal with power in computer systems: volts, ohms, amps, and watts. If you have a firm grasp on how they relate to each other, you can understand how power is measured and used within ...
