Making a 12V power supply from a PC PSU

I converted a standard ATX computer power supply into a dedicated 12Vdc power supply that turns on without needing jumpers.
You can do this to make a 5Vdc or even a 3.3Vdc power supply, just depends on which wires you decide to keep! This would be especially useful if you're needing a power supply for an Arduino or Rasperry Pi project.
I used a Weller WESD51 solder station with a ETA tip, set to 600°F and a small amount of Sn63/Pb37 solder (2.2% flux).
Music by MOOG from the Mighty Car Mods channel.

[@potterteksmith7548]

Played with these PC power supplies myself, well some years ago, and what I noted then was that the supplies used the 5V output to regulate for varying load which leads to some poor regulation if the 12V output is loaded and the 5V not loaded IE the 12V output will 'sag' as the load increases because it's not being 'seen' by the controller chip.
If the 5V output is loaded and 12V unloaded then the 12V voltage will rise as the controller PWM adjusts to maintain the 5V target.
I'm saying it does work but it's not precision by any means.
I'd also add a cautionary note about handling the PCB without ensuring the primary side capacitors are fully discharged first - never rely on the design including discharge resistors or that they are actually functional even if they do exist!

[@memory_maker_]

Great work man

[@ibhienkeliat]

Great tutorial. Good work.

[@ziadfawzi]

Thank you

[@avelinofrias157]

Why did the power supply shuts off after 10 seconds of being on?

[@lostelectrons]

At the end? I turned it off by the switch

[@thekillerexe-ur3yy]

i was wondering if there is any way to tell how many watts a power supply would be making at 12 volt im trying to use it to power a car amp i got a 600 wat amp working fine i just dont wanna push it and blow the power supply or worse

[@thekillerexe-ur3yy]

i know cutting them apart is not so highly looked at and alot of people will say not to do but how do i know how many amps its putting out do i need a multi meter if it helps its a old dell power supply its 405 watts i think

[@lostelectrons]

@@thekillerexe-ur3yy if you can still see the sticker label, it should tell you under the DC Output rating what the Max Watts is. it should also tell you what kind of current (amps) it will do, both are limiting factors on what the power supply will do. if you want to do the math on it, or if it doesnt show the watts, you can calculate it by (Amps) X (Volts)

[@sergioramoneroles5807]

Gracias por la exposición

[@KCBhandy]

Have you finished it yet?:

[@slgamingpark1489]

sri lanaka ela kollo

[@nedeljkooctenjak9690]

for this you really need to be an intellectual,

[@tonydavey3741]

Why play awful music when you are trying to explain what you are doing, defiantly a thums down

[@liketiktok1305]

pajako ndak tukang service kodoh, dari caro manyolder e se lah ketauan.