ATX Bench Power Supply Enclosure

by simon.w.nordberg

21K29211

Intro: ATX Bench Power Supply Enclosure

Here's an enclosure I built a while back!

STEP 1: Materials

  • 1 ATX Power Supply
  • Plexiglass 60x40cm (23.6x15.7 inches)
  • A Few Pieces of Wood
  • 1 On/Off Switch
  • Wire Lugs
  • 1 LED
  • 1 Resistor
  • 2 1m Wires (39.3 inches)
  • 2 Crocodile Clips
  • 3 Red Male Banana Plugs
  • 3 Red Female Banana Plugs
  • 1 Black Male Banana Plug

  • 1 Black Female Banana Plug

STEP 2: Tools

  • Drill
  • Jigsaw
  • Sanding Paper
  • Screws
  • Box Cutter
  • Table Saw

STEP 3: Construction

Drill a hole for the fan and AC power connector. Use the box cutter to deburr the edges.

I used a wood base and wood in the upper corners to fasten the screws.

STEP 4: Countersink

Countersink the screws and deburr the edges for that smooth look! ;)

STEP 5: Installing

Be careful when drilling in plexiglass. It cracks easily.

Usually the ATX is turned on by shorting the green and black wire. This was not true for me.

Make sure you search online for ATX color coding and wire placement in the connector. If you are not sure or your wires does not follow the color coding, check the ATX connector as these are uniform on all ATX PSUs.

I hooked up an LED to the 3.3 wire to create an ON indicator.

I choose to only use 3.3v, 5v and 12v but there is usually wires for -5v and -12v as well.

I cut off the unused wires, insulated them and tuck them back in the casing.

STEP 6: Thoughts

I have heard that you can connect the positive voltages and use the -5v and -12v wires as ground to get even higher outputs since it's the voltage difference that determines the output voltage. However since I'm not even sure this is true and i'm not an electronics expert in any way and, I decided it was a bit unsafe.

10 Comments

rpotts2 9 years ago

Nice! Very cleanly done. have you considered making it modular for when the ATX burns out? how far do you plan to go with it?

TDHofstetter 3 years ago

Very seldom does anyone ever see a burned-out ATX power supply. You really have to abuse one to hurt it.

simon.w.nordberg 9 years ago

I built it so that the front screws right off. And the ATX is attached with screws through the backplate. Unscrew those and the ATX pops right out. No plans to upgrade it right now though ;)

Andre82693 8 years ago

Hi everyone i'am new to instructable I'm looking to build a power supply out of a computer power supply i need 12v 4amp but the power supply says 12v 12amp for a amplifier please help me thank you

TDHofstetter 3 years ago

Andre, that'll work just fine. If you like, add a 4A fuse to the 12V output to limit your current draw.

TDHofstetter 3 years ago

Why would you not use polycarbonate instead of acrylic? Polycarbonate is nearly indestructible; you cannot crack it by countersinking it or overtightening the screws. Another alternative is UHMW polythylene, although that's opaque.

FS-Sturmgeist 4 years ago

What exactly are the enclosures dimensions?

russ_hensel 9 years ago

Just a note to let you know I have added this instructable to the collection:

Encyclopedia of ATX to Bench Power Supply Conversion

>> https://www.instructables.com/id/Encyclopedia-of-A...

Take a look at about 70 different approaches to this project. This topic is one of the most

popular ( to write ) of all instructables.

N3crojoker 9 years ago

What do you use this for. Once you modified them?

simon.w.nordberg 9 years ago

I use it for my electronics projects. Got sick of using batteries for testing. They are great since they deliver a steady supply of power.