What do you think about converting pc power supply to bench power supply?
Is it ok for amateur use?

 

Already been done
http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/convert-pc-power-supply-to-bench-supply.5423/
http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/atx-power-supply.8669/#post-50945
http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/posts/487807/
http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/posts/167872/

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_box_toys-and-games?k=Atx+breakout

 

Does PC power supply contains short circuit protection?

 

Yes, usually.

 

Most PC supplies have enough power to run most home hobby electronic stuff. But the current limits are set way too high to protect most things. If you are firing up a preamp circuit or an Arduino thingy with a wiring problem, having a supply with the current limit at 20 amps is not going to protect your circuit. Also, neither the voltage nor the current limit levels are very adjustable, if at all. Finally, the output noise usually is at the max possible limit for what a computer can handle, and can cause problems for just about anything else. There is a lot of cheap, regulated power, but it has some serious baggage.

ak

 

I have made several of these Atx psus variable by modifying the pwm feedback, giving a voltage range of 1.9 to 28V @22 amps...its a matter of finding which chip is used in the atx.

http://danyk.cz/s_atx_en.html

 

True, but given the OP's self-description and the general content of his other posts, my guess is that such surgery is beyond his skill set.

ak

 

Be advised also that stable, reasonably low noise, operation of PC PSUs requires a minimum load...

Best regards
HP

 

Darn those 99 cent magnetics...

 

A great first project is to build yourself a LM317-based power supply with the input coming from an old PSU. The LM317 gets rid of the noise from the PSU and can handle plenty of juice for lab bench projects. And it will shut itself down if your project shorts.

 

Darn those 99 cent magnetics.

Ok, I give up -- To what does "99 cent magnetics" refer?

 

Minimum load requirements caused by undersized, low quality, ultra-low cost magnetics. OK, that and no internal minimum load resistor.

ak