A fellow co-op at my work was talking about how he used an old computer PSU as a bench power supply. Hes into doing a lot of projects and stuff for fun.
I have a decent 350 W PSU that I dont use anymore since I needed a 24pin for my latest upgrade. Though I'm not into side projects as much as my coworker seems to be, I was thinking I may as well do a similar thing considering that old PSU is sitting in the basement collecting dust (already tried flipping it, no one bought). I'm in school for CompE too but I've liked messing with electronic/computer crap since before that.
I mean it has 3.3 V, 5 V, and 12 V lines and each one can source a good amount of current so it seems like those would be pretty useful voltages to have.
I didnt get into specifics with him but I'm wondering a few things"
1) Should I tie all common lines together? Like should I tie the several GNDs together, the multiple yellow/12 V wires, etc?
2) He mentioned something about a couple of resistors needed if you are going to use it as a bench supply. He mentioned a pretty big/5 W load resistor but I'm not sure where that needs to go.
3) He talked about modifying it for variable voltage. I think he just used a pot and whatever supporting circuitry is necessary (some caps to smooth out ripple?)? He said it would go from like 3 V to 12 V on his 12 V line. But I'm not sure if it would stay constant when loaded down or if he just metered it with no load.
I'm not sure how easy the variable voltage is on something like that. My roommate who is also a co-op at said job was trying to fix these modified 13.8 V/40A PSUs someone broke. I guess someone was trying to make it variable and broke it but I dont think my roommate ever got them all fixed cause he said its very difficult to make it variable like that without schematics and good knowledge of all that. Plus when variable voltage models are much more $$ I dont think its very easy to do but correct me if I'm wrong.
Anything else I should know? Surely some of you guys must've done this with your old PSUs. And I think I'd want a DMM if I'm gonna have a bench supply too. I've only used Flukes but they are too much $$ and likely more than what I need. The coworker I mentioned said his $50 Craftsman suited him well.
I have a decent 350 W PSU that I dont use anymore since I needed a 24pin for my latest upgrade. Though I'm not into side projects as much as my coworker seems to be, I was thinking I may as well do a similar thing considering that old PSU is sitting in the basement collecting dust (already tried flipping it, no one bought). I'm in school for CompE too but I've liked messing with electronic/computer crap since before that.
I mean it has 3.3 V, 5 V, and 12 V lines and each one can source a good amount of current so it seems like those would be pretty useful voltages to have.
I didnt get into specifics with him but I'm wondering a few things"
1) Should I tie all common lines together? Like should I tie the several GNDs together, the multiple yellow/12 V wires, etc?
2) He mentioned something about a couple of resistors needed if you are going to use it as a bench supply. He mentioned a pretty big/5 W load resistor but I'm not sure where that needs to go.
3) He talked about modifying it for variable voltage. I think he just used a pot and whatever supporting circuitry is necessary (some caps to smooth out ripple?)? He said it would go from like 3 V to 12 V on his 12 V line. But I'm not sure if it would stay constant when loaded down or if he just metered it with no load.
I'm not sure how easy the variable voltage is on something like that. My roommate who is also a co-op at said job was trying to fix these modified 13.8 V/40A PSUs someone broke. I guess someone was trying to make it variable and broke it but I dont think my roommate ever got them all fixed cause he said its very difficult to make it variable like that without schematics and good knowledge of all that. Plus when variable voltage models are much more $$ I dont think its very easy to do but correct me if I'm wrong.
Anything else I should know? Surely some of you guys must've done this with your old PSUs. And I think I'd want a DMM if I'm gonna have a bench supply too. I've only used Flukes but they are too much $$ and likely more than what I need. The coworker I mentioned said his $50 Craftsman suited him well.
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