How to Hack a computer atx power supply

Hi everyone, this is my first instructable and it's about how to Hack an ATX computer power supply and then put it in a nice little case so it's ready for use. I have made several of these before and decided to make an instructable about it. I will try to include as much detail in this instructable so sorry if I'm abit too wordy.

Yes i am aware that there are plenty of other hacks of this type but mine will be in lots of detail for anyone who has never hacked one before. This hack is paticularly useful when experimenting with motors, arduino or other mico controller circuits, to power a battery charger and any other electronic project that requires external power. I used the first one I made for about a year and it is still going strong, this is just V2.

First of all I would just like to say that the steps in this instructable are based around an Eagle DR-A350ATX power supply, unless you are useing the same power supply then the information in the instructable should be used as a guide only. I also take no responsibility for any injuries, property damge caused by steps given in this instructable, however if you follow the steps correctly you shouldn't have any problems. Also one final not you are working with potentially high voltages (paticularly inside the PSU its self) don't make the same mistake as me and work inside the PSU case while it is switch on or you may get a nasty shock.

TOOLS:
philips head screw driver
wire cutters
wire strippers
soldering iron
crimpers
files
drill with drill bits
Dremel (Optional)


MATERIALS:                                              COST
1 ATX switching power supply                $20 for a used one or pull one out of an old comp
1 switch                                                  $2
12 banana plugs                                    $ 14 (at jaycar)
1 project box/ tupaware container          $ 5 (at jaycar)            
heat shrink tube                                    
crimping connectors                              
various bit's of wire                                
zipties               
superglue or epoxy                                   

all of these materials can be bought online at jaycar.com.au

Plese forgive my spelling it is rather bad :(

Thanks and have fun

Step 1: Removing the power supply from a computer case

You can skip this step if you already have your PSU out of the computer case if not then read on.

Firstly  you will need to remove the side pannel of your computer which is usually held in place by several screws on the rear of the case. Once these screws have been removed  slide the panel towards the rear of the case and then lift it up and out (Your case may be different). Next identify the PSU and disconnect all of the wires leading from it, now remove the four screws that hold the psu in place on the rear of the computer case. Now just pull the power supply out and your done.

Comments

[Gelfling6]

Some PSU's require a minimum load on the +5V (not the +5Vsb) to maintain the switching circuit.. anything from a 10-Ohm (gets a little warm) to 35-Ohm (keeps pretty cool) 10-5W resistor across the +5V to GND.. negligible power loss.. I've run across a few supplies, which had the resistor hard-soldered to the board between the wire groups. But, if you choose the 10-Ohm, HIGHLY suggest placing it across the air vent (but not totally blocking it) inside the case, and if needed, turning the cooling fan so that it draws air OUT of the case. (standard for most rear-vented PSU's, but I've run across a few Dell supplies which were forcing it through (because they were drawing the air from the CPU, up, and out of the computer case.. Simple enough to re-mount..)

[ve3wva]

I find on newer power supplies you must connect the BROWN wire (3.3v sense) to an ORANGE wire (3.3v) otherwise the power supply will shut off as soon as you put a load on it. The sense wire looks for a voltage drop on the 3.3v circuit; if it sees voltage drop (or in this case NO VOLTAGE) it turns off the supply.
Again, thanks for the info! I find myself referring back to it all the time!

[ve3wva]

If I were you, I would EDIT this part of the instructable...it is great that you put in bold, TRY THE GREEN WIRE FIRST, because if they try any others, they will let the magic smoke out of the power supply... Take out this part "Now place the free end into one of the other coloured wires and turn on the PSU" and replace it with "short the green wire to one of the black wires" Connecting a black wire to say a yellow wire will short 12 volts directly to ground, and that would be a very bad thing! Thanks for the tips! Great article other than that!

[ve3wva]

of course, I guess that would only be bad if the power supply is on.... duhhh, but guess better safe then sorry... Thanks again for the great info!

[Abbaheart]

I need a regular bench power supply and don't have the money but I have most of the stuff to do this. I am hoping to build something to use a tractor battery but need a safer alternative until I have my project predictable enough to connect to a battery.

My question is this; The fuse that is in the power supply will blow before a breaker blows or damage to my apartment (Right)? I will have the assistance of some one who deals with high amounts of electricity all the time in his job but if any thing happens when he is not around I will be in trouble with my land lord. I am also going to see if I can do this with an isolation transformer that he may have. Otherwise I will barrow one.

My power supply is from a Dell. Model: AL - A300ATX

Last question; Is there anyway I could get shocked just by touching the enclosure of the PSU or do I have to literally be stupid enough to touch an unsheathed wire?

[HACKER_PRO]

the power supply will turn off if too much current is drawn, or there is a voltage spike etc. So it will not trip you breaker or do damage to your apartment you don't have to worry about it. '

If the PSU s is in it's metal case it is unlikely that you will receive a shock, however if the top part of the metal case is off and you accidentally touch a part of the PSU you most likely will get shocked (speaking from experience) so if you think it is stupid, then probably ask here first.

and that power supply will be fine.

what are you actually using it for just out of curiosity?

Hack_PRO

[Abbaheart]

I am using it for just to do experiments with audio and eventually pic (programable intigrated circuitry)

Thanks for your advice

[Lectric Wizard]

Unless it is a very old supply the green wire is always the power on control. grounding it to the negative (black) wire tells the ps to turn on. It doesn't really provide a "Load" to the supply. Old supplies don't have a power on wire,they just sense the load.

[Lectric Wizard]

The 10 ohm resistor provides a .5 Amp load on the 5v supply. Some PSs will not start without a load & all Switch mode power supplies do not like running without some sort of load on them. (prevents that ka-boommmm sound) . If your are hooking more than one power supply in series, say to get 24v you need to "lift" the ground on all but the first supply, so that the grounds don't short out the supply below. This usually is as easy as putting nylon washers & screws in the mounting holes for the circuit board . BUT remember you no longer have the protection of a grounded output on that supply. Cheers!

[qazxsw21000]

So, let me get this right.

All we want to do is use a switch to short a black wire and the greed wire. Then we make it easier to connect stuff by replacing the disc plugs with whatever? If I am correct, which I am assuming I am, then I can go ahead and start hacking.

[HACKER_PRO]

yes you are correct as long as the black and green wire are shorted the power supply will turn on and work. You can replace the plugs with whater sort floats your boat.... Have fun :P

[pro5200]

I have a PSU from my old computer pentium II, I think you are way more simple than in other instructions that I have tried, without success, there is described using a 10 ohm resistor power> 10W, I have connected the red and black wires to the power resistor, and green wire to black wire I connected to the switch, but the psu still would not start, can you help me?

[HACKER_PRO]

Hi mate,
I am a bit confused as to where this 10 ohm resistor is coming from?? All you need to do is just wire the green wire to a black one there should be no red wire involved... the idea being that by shorting the green wire to ground you "TRICK" the PSU that there is a computer connected and it needs to turn on.

so first just try twisting the green and black wire together and try turning it on

If it still doesn't turn on then check on the housing of the PSU for a sticker that has voltages and wire colours on it and find the wire that does not have a voltage rating... Try shorting it with a ground wire.

If this doesn't work just reply and I will try to solve your problem

[pro5200]

Thanks for the comment,
as a refrence a 10 ohm 10 W power resistor, I found from this instructions :
1. http://www.instructables.com/id/Convert-A-Computer-Power-supply-to-a-Bench-Top-Lab/step2/Wiring-It-all-Up/
2. http://www.instructables.com/id/Converting-a-computer-ATX-power-supply-to-a-really/
I am a beginner in electronics, so I just follow their guidelines
BTW, I've let go of the resistor and just connect the green wire and black, as you say, but I still did not turn on the PSU, the PSU fan is not running. After I connect to the 220 ​​V AC there is electric current coming out of each cable
I do not have a multimeter to test the voltage coming out, I've just check with the screwdriver test pen.
I am still confused so, to more clearly, if I had time I'll post my PSU photo : )

[HACKER_PRO]

hmmm that is most interesting.... so after you apply power to it then there is current coming out of the wires... but the fan is just not switching on....

before you pulled the PSU apart was i actually working, sometimes PSUs just die... if this is the case you can pick up another one for 15 bucks at a computer store, they usually have some old ones lying around.

as for not having a multimeter I use a $40 one but before that i used a 5 dollar one... wasn't super accurate but it did the job for 2 years... i recommend buying one.

a pic would be fantastic... also can you please tell me what the make and model of ur PSU is so i can pull up a spec sheet to help you further.

[qazxsw21000]

"(Make sure you unplug the PSU before you do this!)"

'Cause there is always that one person. I have seen something similar happen to my physics teacher. I had a transformer in reverse to a 12V linear supply. He didn't cut the power before touching the transformer. He took a slight shock and litteraly said, "Bad words."

[russ_hensel]

On most of these supplies the ground is really the ground ( the wall ground ). Keep this in mind, as putting these supplies in series can result in a surprize.

[HACKER_PRO]

Sorry i'm not following you.. are you meaning two completely seperate supplies??

if so you are 100% right, otherwise i'm completely lost

:)

[russ_hensel]

Right 2 supplies. The ground may also ground circuits you meant to be floating. Still good and useful supplies.

[Marcaine Art]

It does thanks :-)

[rimar2000]

Very useful, thanks for sharing. I am using one of these to move a cooler in my dorm.

[HACKER_PRO]

Thanks very much

[Marcaine Art]

I'm curious what kind of applications this could be used for?

[HACKER_PRO]

well this can be used for any application that requires a 12, 5 or 3.3 volt power supply. It is fully regulated and stabilised, however the one thing to note is the current output of the 12v as it is only about 4 amps on my PSU.

I use it to power battery chargers, motor drivers, bread boards and anything really.

hope this helps