I just received a new ATX power supply. When I was looking at this thing, I thought it might be a good idea to use an ATX PS to house a gainclone. and here is why:
this thing is about the right size,
has two heafty heatsinks inside (at least mine does),
has all the right connectors you may need,
is incredibly cheap,
is readily available,
has a nice rust-proof finishing to it,
may have the resistors / capacitors you need for your gainclone,
it has a fan for active cooling, in case you want to crank up a little bit.
Has anyone tried it?
this thing is about the right size,
has two heafty heatsinks inside (at least mine does),
has all the right connectors you may need,
is incredibly cheap,
is readily available,
has a nice rust-proof finishing to it,
may have the resistors / capacitors you need for your gainclone,
it has a fan for active cooling, in case you want to crank up a little bit.
Has anyone tried it?
millwood said:
Why don't you try? 😉
Some of us already buildt GC's inside discarded computer equipment. 😎
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=16202
Hi!
I have built my GC power supply inside an old ATX supply case. Not very beautiful, but it seems so fitting... (supply -> supply).
I think you would be pushing your luck trying to fit both supply and GC inside an ATX supply case...
For me, getting / making cases for DIY equipment is always the greatest challenge, since I am not very good at metal works (and very short-tempered with something like that)...
So normally I have to buy cases, which often costs more than the electronics inside...
Bye,
Arndt
I have built my GC power supply inside an old ATX supply case. Not very beautiful, but it seems so fitting... (supply -> supply).
I think you would be pushing your luck trying to fit both supply and GC inside an ATX supply case...
For me, getting / making cases for DIY equipment is always the greatest challenge, since I am not very good at metal works (and very short-tempered with something like that)...
So normally I have to buy cases, which often costs more than the electronics inside...
Bye,
Arndt
I will give it a shot.
Yes, Cradle22, it would be tough to get both PS and amps into one ATX box. I am thinking about two boxes, one for PS and another for a 4/6 channel amp.
On a slightly different thought, has anyone thought about using Pentium heatsinks + fans for active cooling? not just for your gainclone but for power amps in general? I am thinking about slot-type P2/p3 heatsinks that are really big and cheap too. Put in a thermalstat to activate the fan when the temp goes up.
The tough part I guess is to get +12vdc.
here is a link to an example.
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=50077046&pfp=SEARCH
Yes, Cradle22, it would be tough to get both PS and amps into one ATX box. I am thinking about two boxes, one for PS and another for a 4/6 channel amp.
On a slightly different thought, has anyone thought about using Pentium heatsinks + fans for active cooling? not just for your gainclone but for power amps in general? I am thinking about slot-type P2/p3 heatsinks that are really big and cheap too. Put in a thermalstat to activate the fan when the temp goes up.
The tough part I guess is to get +12vdc.
here is a link to an example.
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=50077046&pfp=SEARCH
millwood said:
just use a regualtor. or if the rails are to high a voltage, use two: get the voltage down with a 24v one, and then a 12v one.
Yep, IEC mains connector right there for you already. No need to cut any holes.millwood said:
Cheap?? Dead ones are even cheaper! 🙂
I have been thinking of doing this one day too. A fan blowing air on the transformer (as well as everything else) would enable you to work it hard with no fear of getting smelly. Nice size too.
Matttcattt said:
I am more thinking about a resistor (or a mosfet). My rail is going to be about 40v. and the fans run off 12vdc/0.6a. so a resistor of (40-12)/0.6=40-47ohm / 20w will do it. Alternatively, I can serial two or three of those fans together.
What I don't know is their start-up current (hopefully not too big).
you can look to some of the prior postings to see how the regulator circuit can be adjusted to provide a higher output voltage.
it's kind of "coals to newcastle" but you can use the ATX switcher to drive another DC-DC switching circuit. I use an off the shelf computer supply to drive the internal workings of a spectrum analyzer by taking the 12 Volt output to drive 4 different flyback regulators.
the problem with any of these switching designs which don't use some kind of slew control is that the sharp on-off transient propagates through the system. even with an amplifier with good power supply rejection these sharp spikes modulate the output causing distortion.
it's kind of "coals to newcastle" but you can use the ATX switcher to drive another DC-DC switching circuit. I use an off the shelf computer supply to drive the internal workings of a spectrum analyzer by taking the 12 Volt output to drive 4 different flyback regulators.
the problem with any of these switching designs which don't use some kind of slew control is that the sharp on-off transient propagates through the system. even with an amplifier with good power supply rejection these sharp spikes modulate the output causing distortion.
another idea is to use those hard drive coolers: they are pretty sleek and are cosmetically superior to the ATX PS boxes. But you cannot fit a toroid in there.
I just got an antec HD cooler from Compusa. it has a massive aluminum heatsink, two 12v fans (wish it had three instead), and two temperature sensors (said to be able to adjust fan speed automatically). I plan to house four chips there to get it going.
it costs $30 a piece. and the Compusa branded oens costs $20 a piece, with a blue heatsink.
it costs $30 a piece. and the Compusa branded oens costs $20 a piece, with a blue heatsink.
any links to the HD coolers? i was thinking of using one in my 6 channel car amp that i am building, as the chips (16 of them 
) are mounted onto a piece of aluminium, not a heatsink, i thought that i could fix one to the underside. i chose instead, to cover it with old CPU heatsinks, and mount 4 PC fans (out of a huge PC (had 8 in the back, it was anchient)) under these. see diagram.
) are mounted onto a piece of aluminium, not a heatsink, i thought that i could fix one to the underside. i chose instead, to cover it with old CPU heatsinks, and mount 4 PC fans (out of a huge PC (had 8 in the back, it was anchient)) under these. see diagram.Attachments
matttcattt, here is the link.
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=297034&pfp=BROWSE
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=297034&pfp=BROWSE
Hey, this is fun!
This baby would be handy for any force cooled device.
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=50278552&pfp=BROWSE
As the volume goes up, the heatsinks get hotter, the sensor speeds up the fan. but the music is louder and you don't hear it.
Yeah, I know symphonies go from fortissimo to pianosssimo instantly.....😱
This baby would be handy for any force cooled device.
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=50278552&pfp=BROWSE
As the volume goes up, the heatsinks get hotter, the sensor speeds up the fan. but the music is louder and you don't hear it.
Yeah, I know symphonies go from fortissimo to pianosssimo instantly.....😱
matttcattt: try searching for part number 297034. Or go under "computer upgrade->cooling", and it is on page three or so. priced at 29.99.
Neat ATX article in QEX
the November/December issue of QEX has a really good article describing the modification of an ATX power supply for amateur use -- the same techniques could be used for a GC -- the supply in question was a 300 watt using the TL494 regulator.
Basically the author strips out most of the components which provide the 3.3, 12 V regulation, modifies the transformer for ham transceiver use and beefs up the LC filter so that it will remain stable on loads from 1 to 30 amps. He also had to modify the base-drive transformer since the one that came with the unit was poorly designed.
Dead ATX supplies cheaper than dead flashlight batteries, but useful for the cores, PCB etc. particularly if they use the TL494.
QEX should be available in the U.S. at most university libraries and large municipal libraries.
the November/December issue of QEX has a really good article describing the modification of an ATX power supply for amateur use -- the same techniques could be used for a GC -- the supply in question was a 300 watt using the TL494 regulator.
Basically the author strips out most of the components which provide the 3.3, 12 V regulation, modifies the transformer for ham transceiver use and beefs up the LC filter so that it will remain stable on loads from 1 to 30 amps. He also had to modify the base-drive transformer since the one that came with the unit was poorly designed.
Dead ATX supplies cheaper than dead flashlight batteries, but useful for the cores, PCB etc. particularly if they use the TL494.
QEX should be available in the U.S. at most university libraries and large municipal libraries.
ir said:
uhh, right -- exploding caps and all
ATX supplies have been modded since they were introduced, the QEX article does it right, with attention to keeping things from blowing apart.
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