Converting Computer Atx Power Supply To Lab Bench Power Supply

In this review and tutorial i will show you how convert a computer atx power supply to bench power supply using a cheap atx breakout board.

Converting computer atx power supply to lab bench power supply.

Convert a computer power supply to a variable bench top lab power supply. 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. With these costing you only 25 and having short circuit protection thermal protection overload protection and. Prices today for a lab power supply well exceed 180.

But it turns out a obsolete computer power supply is perfect for the job instead. In my sophomore year of college at the university of minnesota i started into my main electronics classes and needed a good power supply for working on lab projects at home. My roommate adam told me about somebody online who had converted an atx c. There are a number of ways to convert a standard computer atx power supply unit into a usable bench top power supply.

I came across many great instructables explaining how to. Any atx power supply can be plugged into the adapter. 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. This design for an external adapter lets you use the power supply without modifying it.

It should be interesting to both those who want to do a conversion and to those interested in the evolution of a popular topic that has been done over and over on the site. Computer power supplies cost around us 30 but lab power supplies can run you 100 or more. 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.

Like many of you i wanted to use a lab bench power supply for my electronics. Adapt an old computer power supply to use on your workbench. Converting computer power supply to a lab bench using atx breakout board 8. This guide has almost every atx computer power supply to bench power supply published to date on instructables as of dec 2014 about 70 unique instructables.