User:Christopher.nunez/enes100/myWork

powerProject

Write problem/project Goal
I will try to a create a lab power supply by converting the ATX power supplies that can be found in any discarded computer, you can get a phenomenal lab power supply with huge current outputs, short circuit protection, and reasonably tight voltage regulation on the 5V line.

My First Task
I will research and gather information on the subject of switching a ATX power into a LAB power supply that can be used on a bench for any projects in the future.

Summary of actual work over first weekend
Saftey has changed my approach for the project. I learned that the power supply even if unplugged can still carry enough power to hurt someone really bad maybe even kill them. I will research some more on how to approach this equipment safely.

Week1 Narrative
I have found a way to Discharge. It is strongly recommended that you discharge the capacitors. Plug in the power supply, turn on the power (short the Power (green) wire to ground, and then unplug the power supply until the fan stops spinning. After researching some more I have found that the best way to discharge the capacitors is to leave it off for a couple of days. This is because the method I suggested before only discharges the small capacitor and not the big capacitor that can harm you.

I have taken apart the power supply and cut the ends off the connectors. I have noticed a transformer hanging on the case. I have room to makes the appropiate holes to add in the bindings. Taken pictures to show the beggining proccess.

My Second Task
I will be preparing the project with my teammate. ( soldering wires, and testing voltage.)

Summary of actual work over second weekend
I had to switch the side where the bindings were going to be placed. After I noticed the wires were to short. I Will add more wire. My partner and I added two more holes for another binging post and for the LED light.

Week2 Narrative
This weekend I stripped the wire, then collected information on which wires are paired up. My team mate did notify me that the bindings are in the way where the transformer sits. So we moved the position of the bindings to the other side. Then the I saw that the wires are to short now. I started to strip extra wires and used a wire nut to securely connect the longer wire to the current wires. I will then tape the wire nut after testing the connections. I want to make this look neat also, so I found out that we can get some heat shrink tubing to put around the wires before soldering them to the bindings. I will see if we have any in stock. Now all I will have to do is solder and heat shrink the wires, then test again.

My team mate and I found a LAB Supply that was manufactured by a company. We will want to disect the product and see how it works for comparison. This is great that we were able to find this equipment. This gives us a chance to change some things.

I just found out the manufactured power supply is AC only. This will not help us with our project since we are creating a dc power supply.

This is a video where we got most of our information from ATX to LAB YOUTUBE

The Following Pictures shows the Manufactured LAB Supply and after that its the ATX Project LAB Supply:

My Third task
Next week I'm going to hopefully finish the project and then create a step by step training documentation on week 4, so we can produce atx power supplies into LAB supplies with ease.

Summary of actual work over third weekend
Everything seem to go as planned. I got the project done with a couple of problems. The LED light hole I created was in the way of putting the ATX power supply together. So i have to shift the hole to another location. This will probably require me to extend the wires on the LED. The other problems that occur was the Heat shrinking tube that we had were to skinny to fit over the soldering locations (bindings, and resistors). So I went ahead and used electrical tape over any exposed wiring.

The following Pictures shows the LED hole that was located in the wrong spot and the tape over exposed wire:

Week3 Narrative
I started to solder all the exposed wires to the bindings and resistors. After soldering I tried to use the heat shrink tubing that I had but the gauge was to small. So I ended up just using electrical tape around all the exposed wires. Before putting the power supply together. I tested each binding and LED ouput by using a multimeter. I was able to get all the power output I was expection which were -12v,+12v,+5v,+3.3v,7v,and 24v I have also noticed that I drilled the LED hole in the wrong location. So I decided to drill a new hole. The project went well and is succesful.

I have provided several pictures showing all the steps:

My Fourth task
Me and my partner will contribute to our team website and create a documented Tutorial, so anyone can build a DC power supply for a test lab.

Summary of actual work over fourth weekend
I wanted to improve the tutorial that I used as a guidance for the project, but there were no errors that I could find.

Week4 Narrative
I collected all my project documentation and pictures. I also reviewed a video that I used for instructions during the project and tried to improve the areas that needed them, but there were no areas to improve. I showed the class the video for my presentation and I was adviced to just post that video on the site, since it was so good. Below is the link to the site:

Convert ATX power supply to Lab Power Supply

Complete Project Page
powerTeamProject