Steve's Blog

ATX Bench Top Power Supply

I bought a Sparkfun Benchtop Power Board Kit (KIT-09774) to convert an old ATX computer power supply I have into a benchtop power supply.

I could have simply bought the power posts and mounted them directly onto the power supply cover the same as the many examples that can be found with a Google search but I liked the idea of the fuses and the fact it is a plug in job in case the power supply dies and I need to use another one.

I’m happy with the kit, it came with everything needed including a power on LED. A switch to turn the power supply off and on (via the light green wire to ground) would be a nice touch, but it’s not to difficult for me to switch the power supply on and off at the power point as needed.

 

 

Here is the pinout for an ATX computer power supply. The one I’m using is an older 20 pin type that has -5V on the white wire (unused in this kit).

1st up I assembled the kit (and used the standard wire colours for their respective voltage).

I removed the cover from the ATX power supply and drilled four holes in it to mount the board. The kit came with 4 stand offs included. Once the board was mounted I put the cover back on and plugged the ATX plug into it. I fired the power supply up and tested all the voltages and everything was fine.

I now have a bench top power supply with some decent power available and it didn’t cost much at all. The fuses supplied with the kit are 5 Amp ones. The power supply I had lying around waiting to be used can supply a maximum of 20A on the +5V rail, 10A on the +12V rail and 14A on the +3.3V rail. The -12V is only good for 0.5A, but I doubt I’ll be using that rail much anyway.

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