Using power supply as a POL type setup

FockMasterDan · 08-04-2008, 06:28 PM

So basically I need a decent amount of regulated 12V power. My external drive needs 2 amps at 12V and that's the big one. I haven't picked a screen yet but if this plan works out, I would have plenty of power left over for whatever other devices I add.

My big problem is the OPUS POL is only 15W, which is not enough for even the HDD. I could use 2 of them together to power it, but I'm not sold that it's the best way to go.

Picking up a lower wattage full on power supply and simply wiring it up with no timer or any features to use it as a big 12V regulator would give me more flexibility in the long run. I've never tried anything like this so I wanted to run it by some of you guys to see if this really is a good option.

sedtc · 08-04-2008, 07:19 PM

you can use a power supply as a POL but you will need to jump a couple of the wires to fool the psu into thinking that a motherboard is connected.

FockMasterDan · 08-05-2008, 01:17 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by sedtc

you can use a power supply as a POL but you will need to jump a couple of the wires to fool the psu into thinking that a motherboard is connected.

Thats a piece of cake.

So does it matter since I'm not actually powering a mb if I use ITX ATX et cetera? I would imagine as far as I'm concerned it's all the same.

sedtc · 08-05-2008, 11:10 PM

no, all you need to do is short pins 13 and 14 on the mb connector. i personally use 2 m2-atx psus in my own setup: one powering the micro atx main board, cpu, and any usb devices plugged into the MB; the other powers the main hdd, external hdd, dvd burner, monitor, fans, usb hub and anything else that needs 12v or 5v of regulated power. satis verborum

FockMasterDan · 08-06-2008, 12:41 PM

Thanks sedtc, although interesting use of latin to end a discussion

.

The M2 is what I'm leaning on right now considering that a lot more people have struggled with the M3 and I don't particularly need that compact of a solution for this.

Now to either find or build a case for the power supply. Finding a case would be preferable, but I can build anything if I have to.

sedtc · 08-06-2008, 01:34 PM

glad that i could help. i used the same settings on both shutdown controllers so the two psus turn on at the same time and shutdown at the same time, i've seen others set one power supply to trigger the other supply but in my experience it was better to have them turning on and off simultaneously.

MatrixPC · 08-06-2008, 04:31 PM

If you okay with a soldering iron, try this DIY POL
There are some other ready to use as well like the DS12V (forgot exact name) on the forum's store.

FockMasterDan · 08-06-2008, 05:49 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MatrixPC

If you okay with a soldering iron, try this DIY POL
There are some other ready to use as well like the DS12V (forgot exact name) on the forum's store.

I could build my own as I solder a lot, but I've never built a circuit board before. If that is an option that will really work I may go for it but I don't see that as being the best idea. Here is my reasoning.

I don't have any regulated power to go off of at this point. The computer is a laptop that has it's own DC power adapter, so no external power supply to work off of. I need something that can take the full range of cranking voltages. The M2 (or other unit) can do that for me. It also gives me some extra options to play with such as fan control for my trunk cooling setup that I'll be experimenting with down the road.

I'm still shopping around, but right now the M2 or an equivalent power supply by someone else sounds like a solid choice, and not that expensive.