Convert PSU to standalone

[galois427]

I want to convert my antec psu to a standalone psu. Besides shorting out the green wire with ground, is there anything else I would need to do? Can i safely run the psu without a load for an extended period?

 

[dampeal]

I would highly advise against running it without load for any extended periods...

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: galois427
I want to convert my antec psu to a standalone psu. Besides shorting out the green wire with ground, is there anything else I would need to do? Can i safely run the psu without a load for an extended period?

what you seem like your doing is a dual psu mod. Theres a lot of guides on how to rig a dual psu mod. It takes you merging 2 wires on the main rail with both psu, and crossing another wire on the slave psu.

Google it.

If you just want to jump the PSU to help with leak testing or fan testing, you can simply stick a paper clip to cross 2 wires on the main rail and jump start it.


Jump Starting a PSU

And its fine to leave it on for a while. I have used this method to leak test 24 hours in all my system on a spare PSU and its been fine. I still use the spare to leak test and its a 3 yrs going spare 😀

 

[galois427]

i plan on using the psu to power a battery charger for my rc. it requires like 12v @ 14a.

 

[dampeal]

welloriginaly you said no load, as in I took that to mean nothing running off of it... as long as there is somewhere for the power to go, like into the chager you should be fine.. but i wouldn't do it with a cheap PSU, the Antec will be fine..

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: galois427
i plan on using the psu to power a battery charger for my rc. it requires like 12v @ 14a.

ROFL.... i still think u risk frying the charger :X

You sure its 14A ?? That seems quite a bit high for a 12V charger. :\

 

[Zepper]

You should have at least a minimum load on all of the high current rails. Check the mfr's web page for minimum recommended loads. Some PSUs have the minimums right on the label.

.bh.

 

[soydios]

Even worse...a highly unbalanced crossload. Don't do this with an expensive PSU.

 

[herm0016]

you could just get a few power reisistors, the big wire wound cermaic kind using watts=current x voltage and voltage = current x resistance find the min. load and calculate the correct resistance to put on each rail. watch out though, they will get very hot. switching powesupplies require a min. load to keep the voltages constant, with out the load the voltage will differ more from what the specs are.

 

[Leros]

I used a cheap $15 300w PSU to power some cathode tubes for over 6 months. I was only pulling a very small amount of current off the 12v lines and everything was fine.