ATX to bench top lab power supply adapter (120619)

This ATX bench top power supply adapter board allows you to convert any standard ATX computer power supply into a convenient supply for breadboarding and general electronics workbench use — simply and elegantly.Published in issue 438, June 2013

Published in issue 438, June 2013

This open-frame design can optionally be mounted in an enclosure of the user's choice. There are many "how-to"s out on the web encouraging people to hack open a surplus computer power supply and put binding posts on it for providing a simple, high-capacity supply offering +3.3V, +5V, and +/-12V rails for general electronics lab work. However, the option of hacking into your ATX PSU has some serious draw-backs:

Safety isolation clearances may be compromised, potentially risking life and limb;
Once you've hacked the PSU, it's no longer able to be put back into use as a computer power supply.

Ergo, the solution here is to provide a break-out board with an ATX header and necessary on/off circuitry as well as standard-spaced binding posts for plugging in single or dual banana plugs. An additional novelty of this board is the unique plated slots around its edge, which are used to clip on "alligator" style test leads as well.

This project is already complete, tested and boards are in production - it just needs to be approved for sharing on Elektor Projects. See the design description and photos of the finished product at http://jordandsp.com/ATX-bench-top-power-supply-adapter.php

Thanks.

Project Elements

Assembled board (JPG, 145.74 KB)

blank PCB - Gold plated for extra current capacity (JPG, 152.07 KB)

ATX header goes on the rear. (JPG, 83.24 KB)

KitDocumentation.zip (ZIP)

Panel Drill Drawing.zip (ZIP)

Discussie (3 opmerking(en))

jordanyte 3 jaar geleden

Sorry if the article link is broken - the website and hosting have updated since the time this was first published.

This link should still work: http://jordandsp.com/ATX-bench-top-power-supply-adapter.php

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Kenneth Pine 3 jaar geleden

Is this adapter board still available? I've gone to the author's site and tried to order, but without success. Is there any way to contact Jordan?

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HaSch 3 jaar geleden

but where are you living? I paid 42USD per kit and if I have to follow customs and shipping formalities it quickly could become too expensive. Are you interested?

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Kenneth Pine 3 jaar geleden

You're right that would be a little too pricey for me. Sorry, but thank you for responding.

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HaSch 3 jaar geleden

It is not only the PCB but the whole kit with all needed components. And if you are in EU there will be no additional fee...

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JohnHind 11 jaar geleden

This is a great idea. ATX power supplies are very cost effective compared to similar units for the embedded market or for lab use.

However I'd like to suggest some improvements to the design:

ATX PSUs have standardized dimensions and tapped mounting screw bushes. It should be possible to size the board and mounting holes so it can be mounted on the PSU using stand-offs. By having a small overhang on one edge, the ATX connector could still be accommodated on the back of the board. Some users may prefer to leave the connector off, shorten the individual wires and solder them directly to the board.
The PSU will have a common 0v for all voltages. It is excessive having a 0v post for every voltage. Suggest two clusters of three posts each: -12:0v:+12v; 3.3v:0v:5v. The first cluster is best suited to analogue circuits, the second to digital. These posts are also more ergonomic if you can keep them to a single row. I do not see a reason to have posts for the 5v standby. Clustering in this way still allows use of dual banana plugs as well as single.
With the ubiquitous use of USB power these days, it would be useful to add a few USB sockets off the 5v supply. There are several 'standards' for connecting resistors or shorts to the signal lines to tell devices they can draw more than 500mA of power. The common ones could be implemented on different sockets or with handbag links.
It might be useful to provide for adjustible linear regulators on the plus and minus 12v lines so the voltage and perhaps current limiting can be adjusted. These could be optional by fitting components or wire links on the board.

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PeterPugwash 12 jaar geleden

I think this is a brilliant idea and I also like the John Hind's suggestion about adding USB Power circuits to it. Practically the first idea that occurred to me was, "Why take the ATX PSU out of the PC case, just add your own circuits in there to convert an old PC into a complete laboratory unit ?". I feel like this could be the start of a whole new project on Elektor eLabs, there could be a selection of standard lab instruments, DMM, Current Source, DSO, Logic Analyser, additional Power Supplies, (eg 2.5, 1.8 & 1.2 Volt for other core supplies), all sorts of things can be done. A lot of these functions could be handled by PCB's that could be fitted into 5.25" drive bays and therefore have their own front panels, this could also mean that it would be possible to keep the PC operational and use it as a User Interface, Data Logger and a Display for the DSO and Logic Analyser functionality. I don't personally have the time or resources to take this idea forward , but maybe it will appeal to other people in eLabs or, better still, maybe the Elektor staff would like to take it forward, I think there is a lot of scope here for a whole series of small projects, (sme of which may already exist in the Elektor archives), that could each be fitted into 5.25" drive bays, and, (with suitable communications such as the Elektor Bus), could even expand into extra PC cases to extend the functionality.

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ClemensValens 12 jaar geleden

Hi jordanyte, You can put PDFs in the PCB area or you can zip it up and put it in the Other section. Regards, Clemens

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magvela 12 jaar geleden

I got one of your boards a week ago. Now I need to have some free time to build it up. Congratulations: the kit looks very very nice and sure it will work as expected. A dummy load will a nice enhancement, to avoid an “empty" output: I´d personally broken a PSU because I leave it powered without any load. Regards from Spain

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jordanyte 12 jaar geleden

Actually no. The schematic and PCB design will be soon published in Elektor magazine, because I've given it to them. However I am quite happy to send it to you too please let me know your email address and I'll send you a PDF. I was not able to upload it here, because the Elektor Labs requires JPG or PNG and I export a PDF.

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