DIY PC power supply charger
I had stumbled across this instructable article about converting a PC power supply to a multivolt power supply/charger. Since I had a few lying around, I thought I'd give it a go. I pretty much fo...
Forum Discussion
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
The boosters REGULATE output voltage, there is no sag at the output even if there is at the power supply. Output wattage is the limiting factor. The BOOSTER must be set (pot) to not exceed it's amperage limitation. Read the specs carefully and observe them to enjoy a decent service life. Because of adjustable current limiting these things SHOULD be able to be paralleled for more current output if needed.
Yes, your booster will "regulate" the output, however having a "stable" INPUT voltage makes for LESS "work" that the booster needs to do.
This translates into LESS wasted energy (IE HEAT) and much higher efficiency :) , after all getting THE MOST efficiency is the end goal..
Uneven loading of one of these power supplies can create an unstable power supply. They ARE designed to have a certain percentage of loads on all the outputs.
You can run them in this fashion but it may or may not "work" in ALL cases. They are really designed to have a much larger load on the +5V than on the +12V and many newer supplies have a pretty hefty output on the 3.3V line as well.
I did have a thought however.. It just might be possible to take two PC power supplies and take the +12V of one and the +5V of the other and connect them in series to get 17V..
The only "catch" to this that I can think of is making sure that the safety ground is not tied to the common DC ground on the supplies which could setup a nasty ground loop..
