Enclosure for computer (ATX) power supply

Oct 20, 2009 10 Replies

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Marc Hillman 16 years ago

I'm getting back into electronics after 35 years. Had this GREAT idea for a cheap power supply for my breadboard projects - buy a cheap computer power supply which provides +/- 5 & +/- 12V, put it in a box, and voila! a simple cheap lab supply. Easy - right?

No - try as I might I cannot find a simple aluminium box with internal dimensions at least 150x85x180 for under $100. Ideally I'd like one of those tarnsformer enclosures that come with a handle, but where does one get a largish aluminium box these days? Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

(Can anybody suggest a better newsgroup for this question? There seems to be a lot of off topic, and childish, stuff here)

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Bruce Varley 16 years ago

Before you go to any trouble it would be worth checking the exact specs of these things including low load behaviour and high frequency noise. They're designed specifically for digital service, with a defined load range. For low signal analog work, for example, you might find the rails are devilishly noisy, and that sort of noise can be hard to filter.

Hope that's on-topic and grown-up enough for you. Cheers

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Rheilly Phoull 16 years ago

What the hell are you guys talking about electronics on this NG !!! It's people like you that clog up normal dialog on politics and commerce that the group was designed for. Why not bug out to a more appropriate NG ??

Cheers ............. Rheilly P

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petrus bitbyter 16 years ago

"Rheilly Phoull" schreef in bericht news:dKqdnZuSxbgLWEDXnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@westnet.com.au...

Yeah, this group is at least as noisy as a PC power supply. :)

petrus bitbyter

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Davo 16 years ago

And while you're at it you could put a mother-board and hard drive in and you'll have a free computer along with your power supply.

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Bob Larter 16 years ago

A mini-tower PC should do the job nicely, & will cost bugger all.

W . | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because \|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est ---^----^---------------------------------------------------------------

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Nick Andrew 16 years ago

If you're just after a computer switchmode power supply, can't this be obtained from any computer left out on the street for council pickup?

Nick.

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who where 16 years ago

Don't laugh. My desktop machine has the +12V taken out through the rear panel to a flying lead. Comes in *very_handy* (tm) when programming two-way radios.

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ian field 16 years ago

A bit of skip raiding got me a pile of fibre-optic network repeaters, each one contained a PSU module with separate switchers for the 5 & 12V outputs, so either rail can be used on its own without loading the other.

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Bob Larter 16 years ago

Indeed. ;^)

W . | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because \|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est ---^----^---------------------------------------------------------------

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Bob Larter 16 years ago

I've done the same thing when I've needed 5V or 12V for some device or other. The easy way is to run an HD extension power cable out an unused expansion slot.

W . | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because \|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est ---^----^---------------------------------------------------------------

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