Convert Pc Power Supply To Bench

Adapt an old computer power supply to use on your workbench.

Convert pc power supply to bench. Lab bench power supplies are very cost prohibitive but luckily power supplies for desktop computers can easily provide 30a for under 20. Computer power supplies have all the voltages you ll need and some very impressive current capabilities. While a commercial bench power supply is certainly a worthwhile investment there is a cheaper solution that you might want to consider.

The standard computer power supply unit psu turns the incoming 110v or 220vac alternating current into various dc direct current output voltages suitable for powering the computer s internal components and with a little bit of imagination it is possible to convert atx psu to a bench power supply. How to convert an atx power supply to a lab bench power supply 30 march 2013. But it turns out a obsolete computer power supply is perfect for the job instead.

There are already a lot of tutorials online that show how to convert an old computer power supply into a bench power supply but most of these designs require you to permanently modify it. Computer power supplies cost around us 30 but lab power supplies can run you 100 or more. By converting the cheap free atx power supplies that can be found in any discarded computer you can get a phenomenal lab power supply with huge current outputs short circuit protection and reasonably tight voltage regulation on the 5v line.

For instance a computer power supply can make a great bench power supply for your workshop. I wanted a power supply to use on my desk with a breadboard for electronics based projects. A dc power supply can be hard to find and expensive.

Prices today for a lab power supply well exceed 180. With features that are more or less hit or miss for what you need. Converting a pc power supply works but often it involves splicing wires and limits the supply to only bench use and building one from scratch is definitely an undertaking.

Convert a computer power supply to a variable bench top lab power supply. With these costing you only 25 and having short circuit protection thermal protection overload protection and. You can keep the 20 pin molex connector attached and connect directly into it or cut it off completely and group together the individual wires keeping the same colours together reds to reds blacks to blacks etc.