PSU ? : Build or Buy?

faithblinded · 3rd June 2004, 10:14 PM

Ok, so I need to come up with a 12V@7A PSU to run 120mm fans, cold cathode lighting, IR/RF remotes, and other non Audio 12V items. This will be for projectors similar to what some members are doing in the Video forum. So heat is a concern, consequently I think I want to use a switching mode power supply. Please correct me if I'm wrong, as I'm no expert, barely even a novice lol.

My question is this:

Will I be able to build one cheaper than I can buy one surplus from a place like AllElectronics.com ? I can get 12V@7A from them for around 10 bucks. Is it worth my time to build it cheaper, since the quality of the power isn't as crucial as it is for, say, an Amp? Can I actually build it cheaper? I haven't seemed to find transformers very cheap anywhere. But of course I'm fairly new at all this, and even the paper copies of Mouser, Digikey, and Allied catalogs I have are quite a task to go through for me.

Any advice is appreciated.

Faithblinded

bigparsnip · 4th June 2004, 12:57 AM

for $10 at 7A you would be alot better of just buying the thing as direct coupled switchmode is rather dangerous and best avoided if you can. The other option is to pick an old, cheep computer PSU as you can quite aesily trick these into turning on without being in a computer and they can normaly kick out quite a bit of 12V current.

3rd June 2004, 10:14 PM	#1
faithblinded diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: in a hole	PSU ? : Build or Buy? Ok, so I need to come up with a 12V@7A PSU to run 120mm fans, cold cathode lighting, IR/RF remotes, and other non Audio 12V items. This will be for projectors similar to what some members are doing in the Video forum. So heat is a concern, consequently I think I want to use a switching mode power supply. Please correct me if I'm wrong, as I'm no expert, barely even a novice lol. My question is this: Will I be able to build one cheaper than I can buy one surplus from a place like AllElectronics.com ? I can get 12V@7A from them for around 10 bucks. Is it worth my time to build it cheaper, since the quality of the power isn't as crucial as it is for, say, an Amp? Can I actually build it cheaper? I haven't seemed to find transformers very cheap anywhere. But of course I'm fairly new at all this, and even the paper copies of Mouser, Digikey, and Allied catalogs I have are quite a task to go through for me. Any advice is appreciated. Faithblinded

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4th June 2004, 12:57 AM	#2
bigparsnip diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cambridge	for $10 at 7A you would be alot better of just buying the thing as direct coupled switchmode is rather dangerous and best avoided if you can. The other option is to pick an old, cheep computer PSU as you can quite aesily trick these into turning on without being in a computer and they can normaly kick out quite a bit of 12V current.

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