Anyone using a Computer power supply to power their pedalboard?

[frequencycentral]

I've taken a power supply from a Dell tower PC with thoughts of using it for a pedalboard supply. The 12 volt section is 2 amp, so plenty of guts for all my tube pedals!

It's occured to me that there must be some connection I have to make in place of the PCs power on/off switch (which is normally mounted on the front of the PC, well away from the PS), or the power supply will be always off. I guess I can work this out myself - but any advice/short cuts would be appreciated - anyone done similar and know which colour wires I should be looking for?

Thanks!

[Potatoolay]

Ive used one to power a touch screen car audio dvd head unit that I mounted in the bathroom wall once    But I just left it plugged up in the closet on the other side of the wall and kept a jumper between the switch pins. Check out the battery charger to a kid's powerwheel. I think they might have the same output, but with a little more convenient setup.

[slacker]

There's normally a green wire going to the main motherboard connector, if you ground that the power supply should turn on.

I have to do this on my PC to turn it on, because all the switching logic stuff on the motherboard is fried 

[Potatoolay]

haha. ditto. most of the motherboards in my house are salvage yards for electrolytic caps.

[frequencycentral]

There's normally a green wire going to the main motherboard connector, if you ground that the power supply should turn on.

I have to do this on my PC to turn it on, because all the switching logic stuff on the motherboard is fried 

Thanks Ian, I'll check that out. Do you mean momentarily make a ground connection, or permanently? Are there any issues surrounding using a PC PS for pedals? I assume it must already be well regulated and filtered?

[jefe]

Thanks Ian, I'll check that out. Do you mean momentarily make a ground connection, or permanently? Are there any issues surrounding using a PC PS for pedals? I assume it must already be well regulated and filtered?

I seem to remember a discussion here... I don't think these power supplies are very well regulated and filtered. I remember being a bit surprised by this, because you would think a PC needs a good, steady power supply. Search the forum for "computer power supply", quite a few threads come up.

[slacker]

Thanks Ian, I'll check that out. Do you mean momentarily make a ground connection, or permanently?

The PSU stays on while the green wire is grounded and turns off when it's not. If you permanently connect it it to ground then you can just use the switch on the back of the PSU, assuming it's got one, to turn it on and off. Otherwise just wire up a switch to connect the green wire to ground.

Forgot to mention before you might have to do something with the "power good" wires as well. Have a look here for more info http://www.wikihow.com/Convert-a-Computer-ATX-Power-Supply-to-a-Lab-Power-Supply

[gez]

Thanks Ian, I'll check that out. Do you mean momentarily make a ground connection, or permanently? Are there any issues surrounding using a PC PS for pedals? I assume it must already be well regulated and filtered?

I seem to remember a discussion here... I don't think these power supplies are very well regulated and filtered. I remember being a bit surprised by this, because you would think a PC needs a good, steady power supply. Search the forum for "computer power supply", quite a few threads come up.

I looked up the spec of some computer PSUs during a previous thread and was surprised by the amount of 'ripple' (I think there was another term for it, as they're switched supplies, but I can't remember what).  You're probably going to need secondary regulation (if the figures are to be believed), in which case there's not much point doing it (might as well invest in a decent supply: Rapid sell one for around a tenner that sources plenty of juice and does the trick).

[frequencycentral]

Thanks Ian, I'll check that out. Do you mean momentarily make a ground connection, or permanently? Are there any issues surrounding using a PC PS for pedals? I assume it must already be well regulated and filtered?

I seem to remember a discussion here... I don't think these power supplies are very well regulated and filtered. I remember being a bit surprised by this, because you would think a PC needs a good, steady power supply. Search the forum for "computer power supply", quite a few threads come up.

I looked up the spec of some computer PSUs during a previous thread and was surprised by the amount of 'ripple' (I think there was another term for it, as they're switched supplies, but I can't remember what).  You're probably going to need secondary regulation (if the figures are to be believed), in which case there's not much point doing it (might as well invest in a decent supply: Rapid sell one for around a tenner that sources plenty of juice and does the trick).

Hmm - oh well!

A Rapid search offers hundreds of results - could you narrow it down for me? Thanks!

[gez]

Although it's in their last catalogue, typing in the order code produced nothing.  They don't seem to sell it anymore.

The PSU is the Uniross Uni 1200R.  You can select anything from 1.5V through to 12V and it can source 1.2A of current.  Very quiet, although voltage selection is a bit of a pain.  IIR, Maplin used to sell it, too.

This is a different box and doesn't have an 'r' in the code, but it looks like the same product (says its regulated):

http://www.photomart.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?ProductCatalogue=4258UNIR&CatID=20,27,28,22,21,23,25,26,24

Google it and you might find it cheaper (this was the first that came up).