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PC PSU usage

scorpion

I have a power supply out of an old tower computer that I want to use for a project. When I fire up the supply the fans in it make a lot of noise. If I remove the fans, will I have any danger of overheating in a wooden enclosure with 2+ inches of space on each side and 2 two inch holes in the wood?

 

Thanks.

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  • 0

    Hi Ben,

     

    Sometimes the old PSU power supplies buzz when there is a short circuit.

    Others have a positive connection required with the motherboard that needs to be made before they will work.

     

    Make sure you get a users guide for the power supply so you know exactly what you are dealing with.

     

    Assuming the unit still works, you can then wire it up, make sure you keep the fans and then check the voltage outputs under load conditions.

     

    DAB

  • 0 in reply to DAB

    DAB,

    I have checked all function of the PSU and confirmed they work. I was just wanting to remove the fans because they are making the noise.

     

    Thanks,

    Ben

  • 0 in reply to scorpion

    Ben,

     

    I don't think anyone should give a straight yes answer to this question as getting it wrong is dangerous. Ultimately you really need to look at how much power your going to be dissipating in the device to calculate what the temperature is like in the worst case operation. Obviously the designer of your tower assumed the unit needed forced cooling, however if your running at a reduced load this might not be the case for you. You could try running your setup without the box to gauge the temperature, fit a new fan to the unit or design additional hardware for thermal protection. The idea of running something hot in a flammable box always makes me twitchy, I would definitely not want to do leave anything I was uncertain about running unattended next to dry timber. Probably not a very useful response sorry but just be careful.

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  • 0 in reply to scorpion

    Ben,

     

    I don't think anyone should give a straight yes answer to this question as getting it wrong is dangerous. Ultimately you really need to look at how much power your going to be dissipating in the device to calculate what the temperature is like in the worst case operation. Obviously the designer of your tower assumed the unit needed forced cooling, however if your running at a reduced load this might not be the case for you. You could try running your setup without the box to gauge the temperature, fit a new fan to the unit or design additional hardware for thermal protection. The idea of running something hot in a flammable box always makes me twitchy, I would definitely not want to do leave anything I was uncertain about running unattended next to dry timber. Probably not a very useful response sorry but just be careful.

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