Power Supply Mod

[Kevin]

Is it possible to modify a power supply to work alone? I've got a 100W power supply I pulled from an old system and I want to rig it so I can test equipment on it instead of connecting it to a computer...

 

[woodie1]

Don't see why not. Many people use one to power extra hardware on their rigs.

 

[dszd0g]

I have a friend that has modified an AT power supply to be a power supply for lab equipment. He has a number of voltage dividers, pots, and a few function generator circuits in a massive collection of wires and boards going all over the place. So it can be done.

If it's an ATX power supply one has to short the power pins together to turn it on.

The major thing to be careful with is the minimum and maximum current draw. A lot of power supplies will instantly die if you turn them on with nothing connected to them. You have to either look at the specs for that particular power supply or guess (and take the associated risks). It sounds like you are using an old power supply that you really don't care about anyways.

 

[Kevin]

Maybe I'll just build a little box with the emtpy motherboard, start button and powersupply connected. I was messing around with it last night and was able to get it to power by pressing the button but shutdown I had to manually unplug it...

 

[Talon02]

I've done both AT and ATX and they work great


<----- Has a micro ATX 135 watt in his drive bays to run fans and a CC

 

[CubicZirconia]

Green to Black

That should start it up.

 

[Kevin]

Originally posted by: CubicZirconia
Green to Black

That should start it up.

Kickass, I'll have to try it tomorrow, thanks...