I had a few old ATX power supplies laying around from a few PC's that ended up on the road side. Jordy is doing an electronics course this year, so figured he could do with a good lab power supply to juice up any gizmos he may construct throughout the year. Computer power supplies have a great range of DC voltage outputs, as well as a safe and solid circuit base to build on. Gizmologists can find instructions all over the net on the ATX specs, and what each output wire is for etc...
Crack it open and give it a good clean, they're always full of dust bunnies.
Cut off all the molex and ATX connectors. Almost every wire will be used. Simply sort them neatly into their color-groups after cutting the ends off.
HELPING HANDS!!! I finally bought myself one, after spending my entire youth asking for one each Christmas!! Every gizmologist needs one. Sort the colors out, and solder them together in groups. I only used 2 of each (for +3,5,12volts) as I don't expect more than an a couple amps for any given project he works on. More than that and he's probably going to blow his circuit before these heavy wires melt anyhow.
Crimp some terminals on where possible. (or solder) Drill holes in the case where appropriate, making sure none of your terminals will contact the power supply innards.
Nice n tidy.
Almost done, just going to put some LED's, a toggle switch and push switch, and all done. The switches and LEDs are just extra, not really needed. The power supply has an 240V on/off anyhow. I'm just putting in the soft-on switch driven by the power supply circuit itself. It could have been soldered always-on.
Finished Product!! The original specs sticker remains in place so he's aware of each rails amperage limitations. I've got a nice big 10mm Green LED in top left to show 240V input is LIVE. (STANDBY - outputs can be off though). A big red LED at the bottom denotes that his DC outputs are HOT if he's got it switched ON, or using the push-button. Pretty Spiffy!! Making one for myself now from the other spare supply :)
I had a few old ATX power supplies laying around from a few PC's that ended up on the road side. Jordy is doing an electronics course this year, so figured he could do with a good lab power supply to juice up any gizmos he may construct throughout the year. Computer power supplies have a great range of DC voltage outputs, as well as a safe and solid circuit base to build on. Gizmologists can find instructions all over the net on the ATX specs, and what each output wire is for etc...
Crack it open and give it a good clean, they're always full of dust bunnies. 
Cut off all the molex and ATX connectors. Almost every wire will be used. Simply sort them neatly into their color-groups after cutting the ends off.
HELPING HANDS!!! I finally bought myself one, after spending my entire youth asking for one each Christmas!! Every gizmologist needs one. Sort the colors out, and solder them together in groups. I only used 2 of each (for +3,5,12volts) as I don't expect more than an a couple amps for any given project he works on. More than that and he's probably going to blow his circuit before these heavy wires melt anyhow.
Crimp some terminals on where possible. (or solder) Drill holes in the case where appropriate, making sure none of your terminals will contact the power supply innards.
Nice n tidy.
Almost done, just going to put some LED's, a toggle switch and push switch, and all done. The switches and LEDs are just extra, not really needed. The power supply has an 240V on/off anyhow. I'm just putting in the soft-on switch driven by the power supply circuit itself. It could have been soldered always-on. 
Finished Product!! The original specs sticker remains in place so he's aware of each rails amperage limitations. I've got a nice big 10mm Green LED in top left to show 240V input is LIVE. (STANDBY - outputs can be off though). A big red LED at the bottom denotes that his DC outputs are HOT if he's got it switched ON, or using the push-button. Pretty Spiffy!! Making one for myself now from the other spare supply :) 