Posted: 10/19/2008 10:38:28 AM EDT
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Has anyone ever converted a PC power supply to power an amateur radio? See this link:web2.murraystate.edu/andy.batts/ps/powersupply.htm Those things are almost free and can put out some decent amperage at 12 volts. The potential problem that I see is that they put out 12.0 volts, not 13.8 like a typical bench supply or vehicle charging system. Would this be a problem with modern Ham gear? |
| I use one and it works great. Also remember that the radios you are talking about work just fine on 12 volts when the vehicle is not running. Mostly it just gives you a slightly lower output. Your radio should have the specs for 13.8 and 12 volt transmit power output ratings. I had extra ones sitting around so it made for a basically free project. |
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g00gle "st.louis switcher" read it in a QST mag about how to do it and deliver 13.8vdc. will try to find link......brb look here  sorry, that link has pics only..will try to locate another |
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Be advised that quality of PC power supplies run the gamut from crap to spectacular. I've had excellent service from my PC Power and Cooling (PCP&C) 700w. Be sure to get a "single 12v rail" design so that you can just tie into one 12v output and not have to load balance across multiple 12v rails as found in cheap high wattage power supplies. The cheap high wattage supplies will not have a single rail design. newegg.com will allow you to search based on rail design. |
| Ceraldi and I took an older antec psu and removed all the leads and soldered 1 thick lead with power poles. The unit only produced 12v but worked for a while for me. Now I run an rat shack 10amp powersupply which produces 13.8v into a lawnmower battery and power from there. The battery provides all the amps i need and stays charged. |