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Bench power supply using PC power supply

by klilly1 on May 13, 2014

Table of Contents
Bench power supply using PC power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Intro: Bench power supply using PC power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 1: Supply's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 2:

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Step 3: Circuit Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 4: Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 5: Future improvements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 6:

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Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bench-power-supply-using-PC-power-supply/

Intro: Bench power supply using PC power supply

This comes in handy for testing most DC circuits that use 1.2 VDC up to 20 VDC. Total cost was less the $20. I know that this doesn't have the best looking wiring on the
inside but I rushed placing components because I really needed it do for testing components at work.
Warning: In this project you wont be inside the PSU but if you do open it make sure to give a day or to unplugged for the capacitors to discharge. The wires coming out of
the PSU only have 3 Amps so besides a quick shock there wont issues.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bench-power-supply-using-PC-power-supply/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bench-power-supply-using-PC-power-supply/

Step 1: Supply's
1. Tape
2. Screw Driver
3. Computer PSU
4. Cable
5. Soldering Iron
6. Drill & Bits
7. Wire cutters
8. Wire strippers
9. Volt Meter
10. Test leads with patch banana clips (red & Black)
superglue or epoxy

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bench-power-supply-using-PC-power-supply/

Step 2:
Step 3: Circuit Components
Switch
2 LEDs of any color (Red and Green)
2 Resistors 330 OHM
Heat Shrink Tubing
External Enclosure
Drill and Bits
LM317, LM338K, or LM350T Voltage regulator
100nF Capacitors (ceramic or tantalum)
1uF Capacitors Electrolytic
1N4001 or 1N4002 Power Diode
120 Ohm resistor
5k Ohm variable resistor
Binding Posts

ATX Power Supply Extension Cable ( comes included with most PSU)

Image Notes
1. ATX Power Supply Extension Cable

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bench-power-supply-using-PC-power-supply/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bench-power-supply-using-PC-power-supply/

Step 4: Circuit
I tested the circuit on a bread board first.
note: the voltage regulator can have different pins from what is shown. make sure to look up the stats sheet.

Step 5: Future improvements.

Add a USB port to it by connecting it to the 5 DCV.
Add a cigarette lighter to the 12 DCV if I can get it to fit inside case.
a built in voltage meter.

Step 6:
Related Instructables

multipurpose
power supply
(with USB) by
kartik negandhi

ATX power
supply to
benchtop power
supply by
gman1881

Yet another
"pimped" ATX
bench PSU
(Photos) by
Djandco

Yet Another
ATX Benchtop
power supply by
MoTinkerGNome

A Maker's Guide
to ATX Power
Supplies by
LynxSys

Make a bench
power supply
mostly from
recycled parts
by newtonn2

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Comments
7 comments

Add Comment

lhj734017 says:

Jul 1, 2014. 2:59 PM REPLY

where in the schematic is the diode supposed to go? I only see the location of the LEDs. I see the diode attached to one of the legs of the regulator chip in the
picture but im having trouble following your wiring

klilly1 says:

Jul 1, 2014. 5:27 PM REPLY

Thanks for noticing that it goes in between the output leg and + 12 VDC I'll edit that when I get a chance.

jedii72 says:

May 31, 2014. 7:48 AM REPLY

Cool project. Question: I was told that when you combine the + and - 12V, yes you get a loss, but you should not sure any of the Outs (+5 or +3) at the same
time because the phase difference the 12Vs are using simultaneously will mess up the Vout. Have you experienced any such problem? Note: it was an electrical
engineer trying to explain that to me, but since I'm not an engineer I may have lost something in the translation so my understanding my be wrong.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bench-power-supply-using-PC-power-supply/

klilly1 says:

May 31, 2014. 11:14 AM REPLY

thanks this is all DC voltage so the phase will be constant also you do get voltage loss because the regulator needs to use some of it to work. I hope that
helps. I could also explain why I use a negative and a positive voltage to get double the voltage.

mstone25 says:

May 14, 2014. 11:55 PM REPLY

Ah sorry ignore my comment, I see you are using + and - 12V. :)

klilly1 says:

May 15, 2014. 5:13 PM REPLY

yeah I'm using +12 and -12 the and the most voltage I get out of it is about 20.1 VDC because of the loss.

mstone25 says:

May 14, 2014. 11:52 PM REPLY

You do know that you can't get higher Vout than Vin don't you? In fact you'll lose about 1.6V across the regulator so best you'll get is around 10.5V with a Vin of
12V

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bench-power-supply-using-PC-power-supply/