SergeModular

STS PS2A is Power One also. I have a PS2a and a PS6a that I'm changing out for two mid-size Power One supplies using the new Random*Source enclosures.

You can see the full thread over at the MuffWiggler site:

MUFF WIGGLER :: View topic - Random*Source PSU for Serge/4U/... landed! [1 available!]

They are saying that this is the same as the PS6a, but it's not. To the best of my awareness, the PS6a uses this Power One supply:

While the R*S supply uses this one:

Perhaps this is what's used in a PS4a? I don't know because I don't have one. The PS2a is smaller than that, though I haven't yet tracked down which Power One supply it is.

Perusing the above thread, the first thing that stands out is the very nice and very heavy enclosure. The enclosure on my PS6a is quite flimsy in comparison. Plugging the grounding banana cable into it will bend the enclosure wall if great care is not exercised. Plus the PS6a is much larger. I can fit both R*S PSU's into my wooden cabinet no problemo while the PS6a and PS2a are both too large (almost the same size enclosure as each other). I'm using a heavier gauge wire on the internals of the PSU than my PS6a as this *may* help with grounding and noise issues. Certainly going with smaller gauge wires will contribute to noise contamination. Plus the R*S enclosure uses 2 sets of four rubber feet to further isolate any transformer hum.

Additionally, the R*S PSU eliminates the need for distribution strips. It will accept up to 5 panels, though 4 are recommended for maximum power headroom. Since I'm sporting 8 panels, I'll distribute the hungriest ones equally between two R*S PSU's. STS uses 5 pin male XLR sockets while only using 4 pins. The R*S PSU uses 4 pin female XLR sockets. This doesn't break with any 'standard' as one will be making their own XLR to Molex cords anyway. Being 5 pin vs. 4 pin, and male vs. female ensures that no unwanted connections are possible. If you ever plug and unplug your panels, Molex are inferior connectors. XLR are made just for this purpose. Plug the Molex end to your panels and never unplug them again (except when you want to sell a panel).