ATX Bench Power Supply - Variable output

Hi!

I watched Ben's newest video where he makes a new bench power supply using an old ATX PSU. Now I could use one aswell but it may be worth adding a variable output, maybe one where I can adjust Amps and Volts.

I've tried this before and recreated different circuits, but whilst I follow every step in each tutorial I found, I wasn't able to succeed in my task.

Long Story short: I'm looking for a circuit for dynamic Voltage regulation so I can add a variable Voltage output to the power supply.

I hope someone can hook me up with a (fairly) easy to follow tutorial.

Thanks in Advance

Andy.

PS.: If Ben, Alyson or Felix reads this: Thank you for the Show. I love it, specially the older Videos with game-console mods and the retro-computing stuff like the recreation of the ZX-Spectum. Greetings from Vienna

0 kidiccurus over 11 years ago

Before you go through the Hassel of trying to figure out how to use a variable voltage supply, think about if you really need one. I don't think I have ever used the variable voltage on my supply for anything other than heating up some wire until it glowed, and that was could have been done with the 12 volts of a PC PSU. Unless you can actually name a job for which you would use a variable supply, you might be better off without one.
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0 D_Hersey over 11 years ago

If you want potentials of twelve volts and below you could use a big adj linear regulator or a buck. The case of buck regulators is a relatively stable one, so they are the easiest SMPS type to construct.
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0 dougw over 11 years ago

This circuit gets you about 1 amp from 1.25V to 10V if the regulator has enough of a heatsink.
There are lots of examples on the net.
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