Using power supply outside of computer

[the jimmy]

I want to use a spare power supply outside of the computer, does anyone know how to get it working since it's not connected to a motherboard?

 

[Mashed1316]

Hello there, Here:

Info: Can I use two Power supplies with one computer?? - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net

Although i would NOT recommend it.. i'd rather have one GOOD PSU than 2 PSUs and probably busting up a 2k$ PC

 

[the jimmy]

Hello there, Here:

Info: Can I use two Power supplies with one computer?? - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net

Although i would NOT recommend it.. i'd rather have one GOOD PSU than 2 PSUs and probably busting up a 2k$ PC

My power supply will in no way be connected to a computer. I have a cable that has a IDE/SATA connection on one end and USB on the other, I want to look at the contents of some old hard drives without opening my computer and using one of it's power cables.

 

[kodi]

Use a Piece of wire or straightened paper clip to connect the Green wire on the 24 pin plug to any of the black ones

 

[the jimmy]

Use a Piece of wire or straightened paper clip to connect the Green wire on the 24 pin plug to any of the black ones

I'll give it a try, thanks

 

[seekermeister]

Instead of the wire, connect that to spare motherboard and RAM, and you have a great testbed for components...at least for video cards or fans

 

[theog]

Use a PSU Tester,



Power Supply Tester II : PSU Tester : Maplin

 

[seekermeister]

Use a PSU Tester,

View attachment 135174

Power Supply Tester II : PSU Tester : Maplin

Yes, I would have said that, except that a wire is cheaper.

 

[theog]

Use a PSU Tester,

View attachment 135174

Power Supply Tester II : PSU Tester : Maplin

Yes, I would have said that, except that a wire is cheaper.

But not SAFE.

 

[seekermeister]

I'm not sure what you mean by not safe, because it is only 12 volts and isn't going to shock anyone. As far as it shorting out to something else, that could be prevented by using an insulated wire.

 

[kodi]

If you do this often you need one of these.

 

[seekermeister]

If you do this often you need one of these.

Hmm, I don't do it all that often, but I like that anyway. It's inexpensive and simple.

 

[the jimmy]

If you do this often you need one of these.

Thanks, I'm handy enough to make my own, besides the shipping from down under would kill me

 

[seekermeister]

Just out of curiosity, what would shipping probably cost on a little item like that "down under"? I know that I have ordered things from overseas, and the shipping has always been pretty nominal, unless I got impatient and had to have it now.

EDIT" OOPS! That's coming from down under, rather than the other way around. It still shouldn't cost too much, but I found that their shipping calculator didn't work, and I didn't feel like registering for an account.

 

[alphanumeric]

I'm not sure what you mean by not safe, because it is only 12 volts and isn't going to shock anyone. As far as it shorting out to something else, that could be prevented by using an insulated wire.

Todays PC power supplies are switching power supplies. To work correctly they require a load. Using a paper clip or piece or wire to jump start them is not recommended. In some cases the power supply could fail in a very bad way. The power supply tester has load resisters in it to allow you to safely power it up with no motherboard connected. Many people have used a paper clip and got away with it. If the power supply is high quality with short circuit and overload protection it probably won't self destruct. Its still not good for it though.

 

[DocBrown]

I bought several Y-splitter power cables. Linked them together & came out the back of computer in one of the empty slots. Works great with a Tri-Head USB adapter

 

[the jimmy]

Just out of curiosity, what would shipping probably cost on a little item like that "down under"? I know that I have ordered things from overseas, and the shipping has always been pretty nominal, unless I got impatient and had to have it now.

EDIT" OOPS! That's coming from down under, rather than the other way around. It still shouldn't cost too much, but I found that their shipping calculator didn't work, and I didn't feel like registering for an account.

You're probably right, that was my first impression

I bought several Y-splitter power cables. Linked them together & came out the back of computer in one of the empty slots. Works great with a Tri-Head USB adapter

Good solution

 

[the jimmy]

Todays PC power supplies are switching power supplies. To work correctly they require a load. Using a paper clip or piece or wire to jump start them is not recommended. In some cases the power supply could fail in a very bad way. The power supply tester has load resisters in it to allow you to safely power it up with no motherboard connected. Many people have used a paper clip and got away with it. If the power supply is high quality with short circuit and overload protection it probably won't self destruct. Its still not good for it though.

Interesting, did you have to look that up or do you have an electrical background? Just curious

 

[kodi]

If you are using it outside the case it means that you will be testing something with it,if you feel like it just plug a fan or something similar into one of the molex connecters and you have a load on the PSU.
I have used this method on very old and very new PSU's without any problems.

Have a Happy Birthday Today

 

[alphanumeric]

Todays PC power supplies are switching power supplies. To work correctly they require a load. Using a paper clip or piece or wire to jump start them is not recommended. In some cases the power supply could fail in a very bad way. The power supply tester has load resisters in it to allow you to safely power it up with no motherboard connected. Many people have used a paper clip and got away with it. If the power supply is high quality with short circuit and overload protection it probably won't self destruct. Its still not good for it though.

Interesting, did you have to look that up or do you have an electrical background? Just curious

I'm an electronic technician by trade. I have been trained in PC repair and maintenance. At one point in my career I did a short stint in a repair facility and one of the things I worked on were switching power supplies. They weren't PC power supplies but the principles of how they work are the same. I'm retired now.