Test protocol
12 V power supplies from Ukrainian stores
Power supplies from three reviews, purchased from Ukrainian stores. They differ in enclosure and power, so they’re named by type and specifications, as in the reviews themselves.
- 14models
- 3review recommends
- 2026–2026review years
In brief: In the table 14 models: review recommends 3, with reservations 9, does not recommend 2. Lowest ripple in the test: 100 W power supply, 12 V 8.3 A, metal case, 100 mV. Highest efficiency: Ultra-compact 100 W power supply, 12 V 8.3 A, 89.5 %. Highest current: 120 W 10 A desktop power supply, 10 A.
Quick guide: what to choose
Best in its testSealed 100 W 8.3 A power supplyProtection is set correctly, ripple and heating are within limits; the author considers it a reasonably good 100 W supply.
Runs coolest100 W 12 V 8.3 A power supply, sealed case with enhanced reliabilityA good supply with low ripple and heat, higher efficiency and active PFC, but a relatively high price.
Most compactUltra-compact 100 W power supply, 12 V 8.3 AThis compact supply manages about 7 A, but the author advises roughly 6 A for continuous use; ripple spikes are very large.All models
| Model | Output | Ripple, test | Max. efficiency | Temperature rise | Review conclusion | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 W desktop power supply, 12 V 3 A2026 | 12 V / 3 A | — | — | 138 °C | With reservations | It works for low-power, undemanding loads, but delivers less than rated, has noticeable ripple, and raises safety concerns. |
| 100 W power supply, 12 V 8.3 A, metal case2026 | 12 V / 8.3 A | 100 mV | 84 % | 103 °C | With reservations | A budget supply with low high-frequency ripple, but noticeable low-frequency spikes and a hot transformer at full load. |
| 100 W sealed power supply, 12 V 8.3 A2026 | 12 V / 8.3 A | 800 mV | 87.5 % | 58 °C | With reservations | It handles heat well and operates steadily, but ripple reaches 800 mV at maximum current. |
| Ultra-compact 100 W power supply, 12 V 8.3 A2026 | 12 V / 8.3 A | 650 mV | 89.5 % | 95 °C | With reservations | This compact supply manages about 7 A, but the author advises roughly 6 A for continuous use; ripple spikes are very large. |
| 36 W 3 A adapter2026 | 12 V / 3 A | 400 mV | 84 % | 130 °C | With reservations | Actual maximum power is about 30 W, with 20–25 W sustainable; ripple is moderate. |
| 36 W 3 A desktop power supply2026 | 12 V / 3 A | — | 84.5 % | 126 °C | With reservations | Delivers 3 A with little thermal headroom; the overcurrent threshold is very high and there is no thermal protection. |
| Sealed 36 W 3 A power supply2026 | 12 V / 3 A | 800 mV | 84 % | 70 °C | With reservations | The protection is set correctly and heat is not a concern, but output ripple is high. |
| 72 W 6 A desktop power supply2026 | 12 V / 6 A | — | 85.5 % | 126 °C | Not recommended | Heating limits sustained current to 3.5–4 A rather than the rated 6 A; ripple reaches about 650 mV. |
| Waterproof, enclosed, 100 W 8.3 A2026 | 12 V / 8.3 A | 1000 mV | 86 % | 98 °C | With reservations | Neatly made, but the author advises limiting it to 75–80 W because of heating; ripple is high. |
| Sealed 100 W 8.3 A power supply2026 | 12 V / 8.3 A | 230 mV | 86 % | 60 °C | Recommended | Protection is set correctly, ripple and heating are within limits; the author considers it a reasonably good 100 W supply. |
| 120 W 10 A desktop power supply2026 | 12 V / 10 A | — | 85.5 % | 135 °C | Not recommended | Neatly assembled, but actual power is only about 60 W instead of 120 W, and it overheats at 6 A. |
| 100 W 12 V 8.3 A power supply, perforated case2026 | 12 V / 8.3 A | — | 86.5 % | 92 °C | With reservations | A decent conventional supply, though its protection threshold is high and ripple could be lower. |
| 100 W 12 V 8.3 A power supply, sealed case2026 | 12 V / 8.3 A | 170 mV | 85.5 % | 78 °C | Recommended | A robust supply with typical performance; the author notes only a slightly undersized input capacitor. |
| 100 W 12 V 8.3 A power supply, sealed case with enhanced reliability2026 | 12 V / 8.3 A | 100 mV | 88 % | 46 °C | Recommended | A good supply with low ripple and heat, higher efficiency and active PFC, but a relatively high price. |
Conclusion — a brief summary of the review’s findings. See the review itself for details and measurement conditions. Prices are as of the review date and may have changed since then. A dash means this value isn’t mentioned in the review; it’s often shown in the specs photo. The scales show how each model compares with the others on this page: green — good, yellow — average, red — poor.
Frequently asked questions
Why aren’t the power supply brands listed in this table?
The branding was obscured in these reviews by agreement with the sponsor, so the power supplies are named by enclosure type and specifications, as in the author's reviews. See the reviews for details.
Which enclosure is better: sealed or covered?
In these tests, sealed power supplies ran noticeably cooler: 46–78 °C versus 92–138 °C for adapters, desktop power supplies, and enclosed power supplies. Their ripple isn't always lower, so check the specific model.
