Ridiculous bids on GetAFreelancer.com

Someone posted today the following project on the above site:

Hack a PC power supply to work from 12 vdc. Hello, I need plans on now to re-wire a standard ATX power supply to operate on 12 vdc. (I dont expect this to cost more then $50:)

What's interesting there are already 3 bids. Three people promised to do it for $50 in 2 to 7 days. In my view it is hardly possible at all, i.e. essentially a new design is required, which can't cost $50 even if done in the cheapest district in India. Am I missing something?

/MM

Reply to
MM
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Why building, if you can buy it? Would cost about $38, maybe cheaper on eBay:

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If you are crazy, you could integrate it into the computer case.

--
Frank Buss, fb@frank-buss.de
http://www.frank-buss.de, http://www.it4-systems.de
Reply to
Frank Buss

I'm surprised that someone hasn't created a PC power supply that's UPS-ready... 12V battery input (13.3V to 15.1V DC input)... eliminating one conversion.

...Jim Thompson

--
| James E.Thompson, P.E.                           |    mens     |
| Analog Innovations, Inc.                         |     et      |
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Reply to
Jim Thompson

Sure, but the question was whether it is possible to redesign an ATX power supply in 2 to 7 days to work from 12V DC for $50? Using an external DC to AC inverter doesn't qualify! :) Besides, a 450 W (which is more typical of todays PCs) inverter will probably cost a little more than $38. I can see it only possible if one had a ready solution in his pocket, but who would be willing to sell his hard earned experience for $50?

/MM

Reply to
MM

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People have. I do not know this company, was just the first hit:

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I've seen them cheaper, too. Very practical if you must mount a "real" PC inside a vehicle. Also comes for 24VDC (European trucks) and 48VDC (industrial). A client had to do that, mount a major system that could not possibly be operated from a laptop inside a huge semi-trailer. My job was the analog stuff. "Ahm, could we make the interface bus 45 feet long ...?"

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/
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Reply to
Joerg

r
o
f

it

Is the $50 for the work, or for the cost of the power supply?

Reply to
Richard Henry

For the work!

/MM

Reply to
MM

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Yea, they have been around for some time.

What's really neat are the mini-ITX power supplies, just a tad bigger than the Molex power connector.

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Cheers

Reply to
Martin Riddle

I very much suspect the people offering to provide the solution are just going to mount a standard, cheap 120V AC inverter on top of the power supply, as others here have suggested.

The purpose-build "12V to standard PC motherboard connector" power modules are pretty neat though... if not exactly the cheapest route.

Reply to
Joel Koltner

::Richard Henry

Joel Koltner wrote:

I was thinking that someone had already "scratched an itch" and could see that for a marginal cost of zero to forward a file, he could get $50.

Reply to
JeffM

Hell, i will promise to do it the very day after i cash your check!

Reply to
Robert Baer

Why bother when you can buy them off the shelf for less !

--
Best Regards:
                     Baron.
Reply to
Baron

But first you'll have to wire $12 to Nigeria to cover fees :-)

--
SCNR, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/
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Reply to
Joerg

On a sunny day (Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:08:29 -0700) it happened Joerg wrote in :

No problem, just buy a 12V to AC(whatever) converter for 26Euro19,

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makes 28$29, so 21$70 profit, shipping cost for client.

Reply to
Jan Panteltje

On a sunny day (Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:31:36 GMT) it happened Jan Panteltje wrote in :

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Oops, 34$82, so only 15$17 profit...

Reply to
Jan Panteltje

operate

do it

ne in

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.

These supplies show up in surplus stores all the time. I gather they are pulls from junked datacenter servers. Usually 48 volt input, i.e. a series connection of a few gel cells.

Reply to
miso

You may want to wait for the check to clear before making promises.

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Reply to
Jamie

Well, if the switcher part works even a little with 12 VDC in, then the guy's $50 buys a couple of snips with wire cutters and soldering wires from the AC input to the switcher part... A sticker warning about connecting the bomb to mains, another $50 :)

Reply to
Anssi Saari

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