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Power for Desktop PC??

Former Member

Right now our area is suffering from heavy blackouts and this got me thinking about my desktop computer now rotting away... It is just way to sad and expensive to let it go to waste. So can I power my PC computer via a 12volt car battery without the use of an power inverter?

 

Judging on most of the PC wiring it uses 5volt and 12volt also {negative} -12volt and {negative} -5volt  also there is a 3.3Volt. I included a picture I found on the net to help explain the pins there locations and designation. I hope this helps. I am looking at the ATX 24 Pin connector.  

 

Now I am a complete layman with electronics and have no idea to go about this. That said I know that most cars use onboard computers and even hard drives surely there is enough power to get a gaming computer up and going again?

 

Right now I am using a 700 Watt PSU and it is working really well. But it is no use to me when dead... and running the generator to drive my PC at midnight might be upsetting to others that want some sleep and really a power inverter feels wrong to me as the computer is build to actually use DC not AC and as we know a inverter does consume a lot to function "depending on make and model".

 

So any inexpensive MOD with easy to find parts would be a massive  help.   image

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    Hi Geen,

    While what you suggest is very possible the need for positive and negative supplies and multiple voltages will probably make your power adapter not that much different from the PSU and not that inexpensive. What I have done in my lab is to remove the small 12 volt battery from my inverter and install car batteries to the side. This gives me many hours of use if the power is down. In my case this doesn't happen often and the trickle charger in the inverter usually recharges the car battery over a days time. If you have a situation where the power is off more often you could use a regular car battery charger to speed up the process when power is available. Don't forget you will also have to power your screen and any internet interface device that you may be using.

    John

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  • 0

    Hi Geen,

    While what you suggest is very possible the need for positive and negative supplies and multiple voltages will probably make your power adapter not that much different from the PSU and not that inexpensive. What I have done in my lab is to remove the small 12 volt battery from my inverter and install car batteries to the side. This gives me many hours of use if the power is down. In my case this doesn't happen often and the trickle charger in the inverter usually recharges the car battery over a days time. If you have a situation where the power is off more often you could use a regular car battery charger to speed up the process when power is available. Don't forget you will also have to power your screen and any internet interface device that you may be using.

    John

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