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Home > Archive > Electrical Engineering > March 2006 > combining computer power supply
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combining computer power supply
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| Hi,
Over the years, I've kept a few ATX power supply from old computers. Now,
I'm thinking about upgrading my computer and add more hard disks. The
problem is the current power supply might not be able to support so many
hard disks running at the same time. Instead of buying a new, more powerful
power supply, I am planning to use one old piece (350w) to serve the
motherboard, CD, and 3 hard disks, then another power supply (350w too) to
serve 3 to 4 more hard disks. All components are connected to the same
motherboard. I need to know how I could turn on both power supply with a
single press of the power button on the case. Anyone has any ideas?
Thanks.
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| TimPerry 2006-03-26, 1:21 am |
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"lee" <newsgroup@lhnas.com> wrote in message news:44261622@127.0.0.1...
> Hi,
>
> Over the years, I've kept a few ATX power supply from old computers. Now,
> I'm thinking about upgrading my computer and add more hard disks. The
> problem is the current power supply might not be able to support so many
> hard disks running at the same time. Instead of buying a new, more
powerful
> power supply, I am planning to use one old piece (350w) to serve the
> motherboard, CD, and 3 hard disks, then another power supply (350w too) to
> serve 3 to 4 more hard disks. All components are connected to the same
> motherboard. I need to know how I could turn on both power supply with a
> single press of the power button on the case. Anyone has any ideas?
>
> Thanks.
>
recommendation: invest in larger power supply.
i have several reasons for this recommendation but lets concentrate on one:
if your old supply blows up and takes out any one device (hard drive, CD
burner, whatever) you are going to be out more then if you had bought a new
supply in the first place.
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| Thanks Tim,
But I don't want to 'invest' that money yet. That's why I look into the
possibility to combine 2 old ones that are still in good shape. I know
there are risks involved that I'm willing to take them.
Best Regards.
"TimPerry" <timperry@noaspamadelphia.net> wrote in message
news:kpadnamfIvsfhLvZRVn-og@adelphia.com...
>
> "lee" <newsgroup@lhnas.com> wrote in message news:44261622@127.0.0.1...
> powerful
>
> recommendation: invest in larger power supply.
>
> i have several reasons for this recommendation but lets concentrate on
> one:
> if your old supply blows up and takes out any one device (hard drive, CD
> burner, whatever) you are going to be out more then if you had bought a
> new
> supply in the first place.
>
>
| |
|
| lee wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Over the years, I've kept a few ATX power supply from old computers. Now,
> I'm thinking about upgrading my computer and add more hard disks. The
> problem is the current power supply might not be able to support so many
> hard disks running at the same time. Instead of buying a new, more powerful
> power supply, I am planning to use one old piece (350w) to serve the
> motherboard, CD, and 3 hard disks, then another power supply (350w too) to
> serve 3 to 4 more hard disks. All components are connected to the same
> motherboard. I need to know how I could turn on both power supply with a
> single press of the power button on the case. Anyone has any ideas?
>
> Thanks.
>
>
Ok - since you're willing to take the risks:
Replace the button with a double pole switch. Or
if you must use the original button, wire it to
sa two pole relay and wire the relay to the supplies.
Ed
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| I'm sorry. I don't quite get it. Only one power supply can plug to the
motherboard, how can I jam the wires together so that the second power
supply receive the power-on signal when I press the button? I was thinking
about the Power-On (Green), Power-Good (Gray) and 5 VSB (Purple) wires. In
other words, the second power supply would only support the hard disks and
nothing else, but I need them to be powered up at the same time other
hardware are up (and down when it's shut down).
"ehsjr" <ehsjr@bellatlantic.net> wrote in message
news:5LpVf.443$st.315@trndny05...
> lee wrote:
>
> Ok - since you're willing to take the risks:
> Replace the button with a double pole switch. Or
> if you must use the original button, wire it to
> sa two pole relay and wire the relay to the supplies.
>
> Ed
| |
| Andrew Gabriel 2006-03-26, 5:21 am |
| In article <44261622@127.0.0.1>,
"lee" <newsgroup@lhnas.com> writes:
> Hi,
>
> Over the years, I've kept a few ATX power supply from old computers. Now,
> I'm thinking about upgrading my computer and add more hard disks. The
> problem is the current power supply might not be able to support so many
> hard disks running at the same time. Instead of buying a new, more powerful
> power supply, I am planning to use one old piece (350w) to serve the
> motherboard, CD, and 3 hard disks, then another power supply (350w too) to
> serve 3 to 4 more hard disks. All components are connected to the same
> motherboard. I need to know how I could turn on both power supply with a
> single press of the power button on the case. Anyone has any ideas?
One problem with using computer PSUs to drive only disks is that the
regulation of the 12V rail can be way off spec if you aren't drawing
a reasonable load from the 5V and/or 3.3V rails, and disks alone
don't draw enough. Sometimes a dummy load or an old motherboard is
left connected to overcome this, but it may not affect all PSU's.
--
Andrew Gabriel
| |
| Palindr☻me 2006-03-26, 7:21 am |
| lee wrote:
> "ehsjr" <ehsjr@bellatlantic.net> wrote in message
> news:5LpVf.443$st.315@trndny05...
>
> I'm sorry. I don't quite get it. Only one power supply can plug to
> the motherboard, how can I jam the wires together so that the second
> power supply receive the power-on signal when I press the button? I
> was thinking about the Power-On (Green), Power-Good (Gray) and 5 VSB
> (Purple) wires. In other words, the second power supply would only
> support the hard disks and nothing else, but I need them to be
> powered up at the same time other hardware are up (and down when it's
> shut down).
(Top posting corrected to establish a readable thread)
You plug one supply into the motherboard. It will start with the normal
power on button. You plug one supply into the drives. It simply needs
the power-on (green) and any ground (black) wire of its (otherwise
unused mobo connector) to be joined together.
The first problem is connecting to them. You can cut them and use a
"chocolate block" connector. You can use car-type connectors used to tap
off wires for things like trailer lights. They are quick and easy to
use. You can use a socket off an old mobo, after desoldering and
removing it carefully. Loads of ways of connecting to it, I am sure that
you will think of something.
Next is, how to connect them together. As suggested, vou can replace the
power on switch with one with two sets of terminals, or use the reset
button as a second power on switch. Or you can take one of the existing
hard drive connectors, from the power supply used to power the mobo, and
connect a relay (12v or 5 v, your choice) to it and use the relay
contacts to short the wires together. Or you can use a USB
port on the mobo to do the same thing. Or you can glue a light piece of
plastic sheet to the lever of a microswitch, stick it in the airflow of
a mobo fan and use the change in airflow to short the wires together. Or
ue a sound-operated switch and shout, "Start" at it.. zillions of ways
that you can detect one supply has started up and use that to short two
wires together. I am sure that you will think of something..
The points made by other posters about the advisability of using old
supplies and the remote possibility that you might not load it enough to
achieve reliable operation are very valid.
I do use two supplies, now and again, though.
I get two identical mini-tower cases and bolt them together side by
side. I run the file storage hard drives in one case, from their own
(new) power supply and the mobo + optical drives + system hard drives in
the other case, from their own (new) power supply. It is much cheaper
than buying a server case and power supply.
Air flow and cooling is much easier to arrange - although I typically
NC mill my own heat transfer devices and stick the pump and reservoir in
the mobo space of the second case, with the radiator on the back of the
second case (needs no access for connectors or cards). A liquid cooled
heatsink on each drive means that I can mount drives top to bottom in
the second case.
Currently Seagate 300GByte drives are my favourites, with an additional
hardware RAID controller you can run a TByte, mirrored, no problem. With
freenas, it makes a nice little, not very expensive, addition to a network.
No way would I do this using old power supplies of dubious parentage for
anything like that.
--
Sue
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| Thank you for everyone's help in this.
Best regards.
"Andrew Gabriel" <andrew@a17> wrote in message
news:442657c3$0$1168$5a6aecb4@news.aaisp.net.uk...
> In article <44261622@127.0.0.1>,
> "lee" <newsgroup@lhnas.com> writes:
>
> One problem with using computer PSUs to drive only disks is that the
> regulation of the 12V rail can be way off spec if you aren't drawing
> a reasonable load from the 5V and/or 3.3V rails, and disks alone
> don't draw enough. Sometimes a dummy load or an old motherboard is
> left connected to overcome this, but it may not affect all PSU's.
>
> --
> Andrew Gabriel
| |
| gfretwell@aol.com 2006-03-27, 12:21 am |
| On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 12:18:38 +0800, "lee" <newsgroup@lhnas.com> wrote:
>Hi,
>
>Over the years, I've kept a few ATX power supply from old computers. Now,
>I'm thinking about upgrading my computer and add more hard disks. The
>problem is the current power supply might not be able to support so many
>hard disks running at the same time. Instead of buying a new, more powerful
>power supply, I am planning to use one old piece (350w) to serve the
>motherboard, CD, and 3 hard disks, then another power supply (350w too) to
>serve 3 to 4 more hard disks. All components are connected to the same
>motherboard. I need to know how I could turn on both power supply with a
>single press of the power button on the case. Anyone has any ideas?
>
>Thanks.
>
I have a couple SCSI boxes, stuffed with drives, I use as portable
storage. I am using an old AT supply with no problems.
You might be able to just connect the green #14 wires together to get
both to power up. I know a bare ATX supply comes up if you ground the
green one. That is all the system board does. The only question might
be what current does it draw vs the transistor's rating but I bet it
is milliamps.
| |
| Palindr☻me 2006-03-27, 1:21 pm |
| gfretwell@aol.com wrote:
> On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 12:18:38 +0800, "lee" <newsgroup@lhnas.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> I have a couple SCSI boxes, stuffed with drives, I use as portable
> storage. I am using an old AT supply with no problems.
>
> You might be able to just connect the green #14 wires together to get
> both to power up. I know a bare ATX supply comes up if you ground the
> green one. That is all the system board does. The only question might
> be what current does it draw vs the transistor's rating but I bet it
> is milliamps.
If you look at a typical circuit for an ATX supply:
http://www.pavouk.comp.cz/hw/en_atxps.html
The Power Supply ON terminal (green wire) is held high by 5v from the
standby power supply, via a 4k7 resistor. Bringing this pin to ground
will start the supply and need approx 1mA sink current.
Commoning two green wires, one from each of two supplies, should be
fine. Any mismatch in voltages of the two standby supplies will have a
negligable effect, due to the 4k7 resistors.
--
Sue
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| gfretwell@aol.com 2006-03-27, 2:21 pm |
| On Mon, 27 Mar 2006 17:16:49 +0100, Palindr?me <me9@privacy.net>
wrote:
>
>If you look at a typical circuit for an ATX supply:
>
>http://www.pavouk.comp.cz/hw/en_atxps.html
>
>The Power Supply ON terminal (green wire) is held high by 5v from the
>standby power supply, via a 4k7 resistor. Bringing this pin to ground
>will start the supply and need approx 1mA sink current.
>
>Commoning two green wires, one from each of two supplies, should be
>fine. Any mismatch in voltages of the two standby supplies will have a
>negligable effect, due to the 4k7 resistors.
>
>--
>Sue
Thanks Sue, I figured there was an engineering person who would have
that answer. This sounds like a reasonable solution for the OP.
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"lee" <newsgroup@lhnas.com> wrote in message news:44261622@127.0.0.1...
> Hi,
>
> Over the years, I've kept a few ATX power supply from old computers. Now,
> I'm thinking about upgrading my computer and add more hard disks. The
> problem is the current power supply might not be able to support so many
> hard disks running at the same time. Instead of buying a new, more
powerful
> power supply, I am planning to use one old piece (350w) to serve the
> motherboard, CD, and 3 hard disks, then another power supply (350w too) to
> serve 3 to 4 more hard disks. All components are connected to the same
> motherboard. I need to know how I could turn on both power supply with a
> single press of the power button on the case. Anyone has any ideas?
>
> Thanks.
>
This is wrong in so many ways. First and foremost you have two different
potential inside the case. Electronics as a general rule do not like
differences in potentials.
The motherboard is on one potential and the hard drive is on another....
POUF goes the magic.
Let us know how long it works for ya. I bet it crashes in less than a week.
| |
| Keith Williams 2006-03-30, 12:21 pm |
| In article <S5FWf.44$rZ3.6681@news.uswest.net>, sqlit@qwest.net
says...
>
> "lee" <newsgroup@lhnas.com> wrote in message news:44261622@127.0.0.1...
> powerful
>
> This is wrong in so many ways. First and foremost you have two different
> potential inside the case. Electronics as a general rule do not like
> differences in potentials.
As long as these potentials aren't connected together, there should
be no problem. After all there are *many* potentials inside the
case.
> The motherboard is on one potential and the hard drive is on another....
> POUF goes the magic.
As long as the voltages aren't wired together (grounds must be), no
problem.
> Let us know how long it works for ya. I bet it crashes in less than a week.
If it's done right there should be no problem. What exactly is
your worry?
--
Keith
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