computer power supply

[rev_psilocybe]

Originally posted by indoubt
I've used a PC PSU to power an old carradio. The PSU is modified with a 10.000uF cap, a small bypass cap and a 17Watt resistor on the 5V to keep the supply from shutting down.

It works, it even works reasonable well after adding the capacitance but I don't think it will be as good as a regular supply. It remains a little noisy alhough the fan drops in speed after a minute or so because the supply is operating far from max.

Don't connect the other wires to get 24 Volt, I think they have a common ground ro zero and then you shortcut the thing instantaniously. different PSU might have different topologies though.

Did you have any problems before you added the Cap? Noise, underpowered?

[dnsey]

Did you modify your PSU at all? What rating? 250 -500w?

It's an old 150W AT supply with no mods at all (apart from removing the unwanted output wires). I've used another to power an LCD display and QH lamp (+12v) without any problem.
Computer supplies have the great advantage when experimenting of foldback limiting and shutdown if shorted or overloaded

[arte]

Computers PSUs are great imo. The only limit is the low voltage (you cant draw much AMPs between the -5 <-> 12v).

I have it to power my car amplifier driving two speakers with 12".
Its a cheap one but still its capable of deliver 7-8 amps constant (i have tested with a peltier element).

And as someone mentioned, you can really mess with them - they hardly brake.

Its even cheaper then bying a trafo with that rating, and on modern ones the ripple is very low.

So, use it!