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 In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, however... - Alan Anderson [more] |
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Well a while back I was curious about shorting a computer power source to act as a power supply. This weekend I was bored so I decided to give it a enclosure. A spare box + a little Dremel and voila. I still need to glue on the grill on top (it's taped on), drill out holes in the front for my cables, and crimp on some alligator clips but other then that I'm happy. It works great and is perfect for robotics applications since it outputs +12 volt, -12 volt, +5 volt, -5 volt, 3.3 volt, and has a fuse to prevent shorts. For reference the power source I used was a Dell HP-P1457F3. In retrospect this is a good example of why im not left alone on the weekends. Next time I think I'll add some underglow lights to my dad's car...
Discussion
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02-04-2006 23:15
Nuttyman54
Re: pic: My weekend project
So THAT's where all the cold cathodes went...
02-04-2006 23:17
Michelle Celio
Re: pic: My weekend project
Ohhhh pretty. So whats its purpose? Or is it just to be like "Hey I made this...Cool"?
02-04-2006 23:29
Elgin Clock
Re: pic: My weekend project
Whoa.. I'm having thoughts of 2003 vs 2006 now.. Sterilite bins from 2003, vs Cold Cathodes from 2006. Nice..
I'm guessing it's a homemade computer case? If so, that's pretty cool.
02-04-2006 23:30
Stuart
Re: pic: My weekend project
yeah I have a fealing that alot of unused electronics from this years kit will end up on my breadboard at home.
02-04-2006 23:31
Michelle Celio
Re: pic: My weekend project
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Originally Posted by Elgin Clock
I'm guessing it's a homemade computer case? If so, that's pretty cool. |
Still pretty cool
02-04-2006 23:31
mechanicalbrain
Re: pic: My weekend project
It's a housing to a computer power source. I'm using it to power various projects so I decided to give it a case. I still need to add holes for the cables and glue that grill on (it's taped right now). I used this to do some testing on our robot while running it on AC instead of the battery. I put a post out their a while back that one of these would make a perfect housing, I had some free time so I decided to prove it.
NOTE: If you do something like this yourself make sure you are very carefull. To get a computer power source to work without a motherboard you have to essentually short it. Also these things have the potential to be dangerous.
02-04-2006 23:56
Sharkbyte
Re: pic: My weekend project
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Originally Posted by mechanicalbrain
It's a housing to a computer power source. I'm using it to power various projects so I decided to give it a case. I still need to add holes for the cables and glue that grill on (it's taped right now). I used this to do some testing on our robot while running it on AC instead of the battery. I put a post out their a while back that one of these would make a perfect housing, I had some free time so I decided to prove it.
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02-04-2006 23:59
JamesBrown
Re: pic: My weekend project
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Originally Posted by Elgin Clock
Whoa.. I'm having thoughts of 2003 vs 2006 now.. Sterilite bins from 2003, vs Cold Cathodes from 2006. Nice..
I'm guessing it's a homemade computer case? If so, that's pretty cool. |
03-04-2006 00:00
mechanicalbrain
Re: pic: My weekend project
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Originally Posted by Sharkbyte
So I'm assuming the cold cathodes are there only to make it the sweetest looking power supply ever
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Originally Posted by JamesBrown
I would like to see some one get a stack attak robot to locate and stack boxes lit up like this autonomously using the camera.
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03-04-2006 09:44
Qbranch
Re: pic: My weekend project
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Originally Posted by mechanicalbrain
Yep, that and the lighted switch. I added another switch to the bottom so I could turn off the cathodes if I wanted. ooh and if you look hard you can see mesh covering the vent, thats modders mesh.
Funny, I was just thinking about how that would make a great game for next year. Lighted game pieces. |
Should be interesting, making my own Robot Controller from scratch (IC's, PC board,...) and i'm using a 1 mile range radio modem...
Updates later this week...
03-04-2006 19:51
Sharkbyte
Re: pic: My weekend project
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Originally Posted by Qbranch
My Spring Break Project: Take a seemingly normal power wheels car and make it a fast remote control goose chasing machine, may become semi-autonomous
Should be interesting, making my own Robot Controller from scratch (IC's, PC board,...) and i'm using a 1 mile range radio modem... Updates later this week... |
03-04-2006 20:02
Qbranch
Re: pic: My weekend project
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Originally Posted by Sharkbyte
sounds fun, where do you plan to get the scematics?
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I'm pretty good with Multisim, TurboCAD, Surfcam, and MCC18...
03-04-2006 22:06
mechanicalbrain
Re: pic: My weekend project
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Originally Posted by KenWittlief
I thought it was nuclear gerbils :c(
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Actually after some testing I found I can run everything except the larger motors with one of these. 
NOTE: I haven't run anything for more than brief moments at a time and im going to add fuses before I do anything else.
03-04-2006 23:00
KenWittlief
Re: pic: My weekend project
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Originally Posted by mechanicalbrain
Actually after some testing I found I can run everything except the larger motors with one of these.
If I combine 12 volt cables I can get the larger motors to run but im very hesitant to do it.NOTE: I haven't run anything for more than brief moments at a time and im going to add fuses before I do anything else. |
If you want to power the robot motors you need something with a big transformer that can supply the amps.
03-04-2006 23:06
Jack Jones
Re: pic: My weekend project
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Originally Posted by Nuttyman54
So THAT's where all the cold cathodes went...
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Where did all the cathodes go? Long time passing.
Where did all the cathodes go? Long time ago.
...
When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?
03-04-2006 23:35
mechanicalbrain
Re: pic: My weekend project
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Originally Posted by KenWittlief
If that is a power supply from a computer you will fry it running motors. Its not designed to handle large loads (the CIMs can pull >50A when they first start up) and they are not designed to handle inductive loads either.
If you want to power the robot motors you need something with a big transformer that can supply the amps. |
I've been playing with AC to DC converters a bunch lately, first running our light target and now for the test board... It's just easier then lugging batteries and chargers.
04-04-2006 17:12
[527]phil
Re: pic: My weekend project
this is perfect for using as a power supply for my workbench!!! normally i use wall warts. But usually i need 2-3 (9volts, 5volts, and 12 volts). This is perfect for PIC prototyping . Too bad you can't draw too much current or else i could use it when i experiment with electro kinetics :/. And you have excellent timing, i was just about to unsolder a power supply 
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