uses for old psu parts

[willawake]

dont throw away them old psus. L&C actually have some uses. here's one.

fan switches, its not a very advanced mod at all but i needed this and i had to make something at least before the weekend is out. otherwise i will feel lazy.



heres the 3.5 bay plate marked and clamped. i was intending to use the dremel cutting wheel but it was too big. you can see the psu switches have two points, we are just gonna split the 12v yellow wire to each fan and put a switch in between.



i decided to donate a routing bit to plastics only. it worked well but i guess i will have to burn the plastic off the bit in the end to clean it.



finished and the switches inserted. the clamp made a small damage to the bay plate in the middle because it had a slightly raised lip, i just cut that off with a knife later and looks nice.



and then inserted in the case and looks nice. one switch for each fan. you can see also the crappy vents i cut into the grey part of the case, they really help airflow but look like shit. so i will chop that out when i get some mesh and then it will look nice.

oh yeah and i would like to congratulate myself that i did not get injured much this time or make a mess of it. of course i did burn my thumb again but it doesnt hurt so the future is looking brighter.

warning : wear eye protection when using a dremel. i am serious about that.

[stretch0069]

Re: uses for old psu parts

if you didn't draw blood, you didn't work hard enough.

i know what you mean about uses for dead stuff. I just don't have a collection anymore. When I moved to VA, a lot of stuff got thrown out.

[Rainbow]

Re: uses for old psu parts

I also use transistors (big ones and small ones too), diodes, resistors, etc. from bad PSUs. One crappy PSU (those that look like 100W inside and are marked 200W) has enough components to fix 5 or even more other PSUs Most manufacturers use the same components.

[arneson]

Re: uses for old psu parts

That does look Good Will.
Had a Dremel jump out of my hand and got my arm.
Big scar from that ER visit.

[PeteS in CA]

Re: uses for old psu parts

I'm not allowed to play with chainsaws, .

Transistors labelled (xxx)13007 or (xxx)13009 are probably pretty popular. IIRC, the 13009 is the same voltage and a higher current version of the 13007, and could be substituted. In +5V and +3.3V rectifiers, P/Ns coded this way, "MBR3045" mean:

* Motorola (Schottky) Barrier Rectifier (though the vendor might not be Motorola or On Semi)

* 30A, 45V (or an MBR40100 would be 40A, 100V)

Even a cheap fan might be useful as a test bench fixture.

[willawake]

Re: uses for old psu parts

Even a cheap fan might be useful as a test bench fixture.

instant solder fume extractor with an old 12v supply

[PeteS in CA]

Re: uses for old psu parts

Or to improve cooling when running stuff outside of the case. They work nice for load box test fixtures, too.

[willawake]

Re: uses for old psu parts

actually my dad asked where to obtain some thin metal to make a small control panel for the sailboat interior lights.

i handed him the top of an L&C case

i have used that metal many times for something useful

more ideas please.....

[Rainbow]

Re: uses for old psu parts

I've made a current limiter in a PSU case - a light bulb connected in series. Good for PSU repairs - if something shorts on the primary side, the bulb will limit the current (and light fully), protecting the PSU and also preventing the circuit breaker from turning off the power.

[tiresias]

Re: uses for old psu parts

Another simple, but useful part is the ATX connector (and wiring) itself! As long as you have a male connector lurking around, such as one desoldered from a motherboard, you can easily make power adapters for such unfortunate pseudo-proprietary machines as Dells or Compaqs.

[Rainbow]

Re: uses for old psu parts

I used the connector two times - once for building molex->ATX12V adapter (to test P4 boards with older PSU - cut out the 4 pins from the middle of the connector) and once to replace burnt connector on another PSU - replaced it completely with cables.

[japlytic]

Re: uses for old psu parts

I plan to use empty power supply cases for valve/tube projects - someone else had the same idea as well! http://www.geocities.jp/dads_projects/radio/index.html

[yanz]

Re: uses for old psu parts

On some cases, i like to put the PSU outside (ontop the case) because somehow the system run cooler that way. I add another fan to the rear (the space where the psu been there before), feed with 7V.

Maybe you've seen a thing like this:

[tiresias]

Re: uses for old psu parts

On some cases, i like to put the PSU outside (ontop the case) because somehow the system run cooler that way. I add another fan to the rear (the space where the psu been there before), feed with 7V.

Most important will be that the PSU will run cooler that way! Why, it's the most vital 'part' of the PC... and for some of us, the most expensive too.

Maybe you've seen a thing like this:
(img)

A little 'ghetto' but certainly effective!

[yanz]

Re: uses for old psu parts

Very true! I dont like the idea that PSU should move hot air from inside the case to outside. The PSU should run as cooler as possible (close to temp room). I even think they should be separated from the PC case..

The viable solution is to build a psu intake duct/vent: http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=8450

[Elitist]

Re: uses for old psu parts

I first suggested mounting the PSU on the lid about five years ago in another forum. At that time we were placing an 80mm fan as a 'blowhole' in the lid to improve case airflow.

[Per Hansson]

Re: uses for old psu parts

On some cases, i like to put the PSU outside (ontop the case) because somehow the system run cooler that way. I add another fan to the rear (the space where the psu been there before), feed with 7V.

Or you do it the right way to begin with :P
Case is Lian-Li PC-6277B
And don't worry, there is supposed to be a cover over there but I'm testrunning the system now...

[yanz]

Re: uses for old psu parts

That's cool! (literally)

I first suggested mounting the PSU on the lid about five years ago in another forum. At that time we were placing an 80mm fan as a 'blowhole' in the lid to improve case airflow.

I believe with that way even a crap psu would last a bit longer..

[Elitist]

Re: uses for old psu parts

You may need to extend some or all of the power leads, but converters are readily available for a few pounds.

[Galvanized]

Re: uses for old psu parts

willawake, nice job. A friend of mine uses dead PSU cabling for cut&slice extensions for his uber-server.
When working plastic with a high speed rotory tool I find using lower speeds, plus setting up a vacuum nozzel close to the area being worked really helps. The suction cools the bit and keeps the visuals clean. I just tape the nozzel inplace.
Tip: When working aluminum with a high speed rotory tool, use bee's wax (yellow) as a cutting agent. Just touch the bit to it and address the aluminum. The wax may make the area sticky but a prep of WD-40 makes clean up very easy. WD-40 is NOT a cutting agent. I've used bee's wax when porting motorcycle cylinder heads and it works just as well on 1/8"shanked bits. Note: If you have any bits that are loaded up with aluminum they just have to be touched to bee's wax, then worked hard on a scrap of aluminum. Be careful as the chunks will fly off the loaded bit in large pieces.

Hansson, you stole my idea :-) I just bought an Enhance 0560 for the next project and I can see you have reversed PSU air flow. I'm seriously considering flipping the PSU, porting the removable case top panel, sealing it to the PSU with weather stripping, then making a filtered intake on top.
The case in mind has 2x120s so air flow generated by PSU exhaust will not be an issue.