server supplies for bench power supply - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: LaserTazerPhaser
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2019, 04:52:29 am
content: Do these have some sort of enable pin or requirement for some logic level voltage to enable large output current?https://www.ebay.com/itm/312580310828they can easily replace costly supplies for same power.

author: LaserTazerPhaser
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2019, 05:07:47 am
content: Is it the same procedure for other brands?

author: oPossum
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2019, 06:07:22 am
content: Something to be aware of when using server power supplies is that they often require 208/240 volt for full capacity.That 1200W power supply is 900W when running from 120.

author: MosherIV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2019, 09:22:49 am
content: Many people have suggested using PC type psu as bench psu.They are wholy unsuitable because they have almost no protection.In particular, they have NO current limit.They will just deliver full current !

author: ArthurDent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2019, 02:07:48 pm
content: Check out this site which gives info on getting server supplies to work. Most require some unique jumper configuration.https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?1292514-How-to-convert-Server-Power-Supplies

author: radioFlash
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2019, 02:48:39 pm
content: Another consideration is that these server power supplies have small fans set to run at full speed and are very loud compared to a typical bench power supply. Also, since they have no voltage adjustment or current limiting, you will need to add something else to achieve that. These server power supplies are good if you need lots of current at 12 v.

author: spiff72
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2019, 06:34:45 pm
content: I recently converted a Dell EPS-470 (I bought two of them from ebay for $17.50 each shipped). It is a 47V @ 9.6 amp supply, and I have it connected to a DPS5015 buck converter. This provides control of the voltage and current. Works great, but I have the Dell PSU connected to a power strip with a switch for powering it up and down (the DPS pulls a high spike at power up so they recommend making all power connections and then powering up the input PSU (the Dell in my case).It is a bit noisy, but I disabled two of the 3 internal fans in the Dell and that toned it down a fair amount. I am not driving it hard at all, so I am not too worried about the heat. The DPS5015 purpose-built enclosure has an always on fan, and that is louder than the Dell supply now.The form factor of the Dell supply is nice since I can stack stuff on top of it (my new-to-me Agilent E3646 is on top of the Dell supply in the attached image, and the DPS is the small box with the color screen on the shelf). The second image is of the back, showing the binding posts I added to the back of the enclosure.

author: spiff72
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2019, 02:31:34 pm
content: I found a few pics of my old dual-PSU "portable" supply that I built for my RC battery charger. (Sadly this doesn't get used much anymore since I don't fly my helis much anymore.)This used (2) HP DPS-600 server supplies, wired in series for 24V @ 47A. This mod REQUIRES that you float the negative output terminal of the second supply relative to the housing, since it will otherwise short the "+" terminal of the first supply when you connect it to the "-" terminal of that second supply (straight to earth ground through the AC power cord). This requires opening up the case and removing/insulating a screw that provides the electrical connection from the negative output terminal to the metal housing.It is all mounted in a big toolbox that allows for the charger to fit, along with a digital meter showing the output voltage and current of the DC supply.