Repurposing Server Power Supplies
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 9:12 pm
When I dug through my box of power supplies, it turns out my biggest 12V supply on hand (other than what's in my computers) is rated at 10 amps. That isn't going to cut it when I add the heat bed. Sure, I could buy another higher-powered PC supply, but I've found an even better source at a cheaper price.
There's a glut of retired data-center servers on the recycle market. Almost every one has two redundant 12V power supplies ranging from 25 to 100 amp capacities, depending on server model. Server supplies are not like PC supplies...they have lots of 12V capacity and very little, if any, capacity in other voltages. They also tend to be specific to a server model, so once that model is obsolete, there is little resale market, even as spares. That leaves great deals for the hobbyists. The RC people like them for custom lipo charging stations at 12V or 24V(using two). Radio amateurs use them to run their 12V equipment. And they make great bench or serious project supplies. And what could be more serious than your CNC machine?
These supplies were designed for commercial data-centers where they've likely been run 24/7 for many years. As redundant supplies, they've spent most of their life carrying half their rated load. They're old, maybe dusty, but they still work. The catch? They have specialized connectors and no manual. You have to be comfortable enough to figure out how to wire them up and what pins to connect to turn them on. Here's one resource to get you started: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1292514.
The price? Depends on how hard you hunt and what you're looking for. ~$15 including shipping for a 40A 12V supply seems fairly easy to find on ebay.
The ebay deal I just ordered is: a pair of DPS-500CB's for $4.99+$12 shipping, so $17 for TWO 41A 12V supplies. I like the idea of having a spare for the next project.
I already found good instructions on how to use this particular supply: http://krcm.mywebnow.org/index.php?acti ... ttach=1502(opens a pdf file)
(edited to update broken link to pdf)
There's a glut of retired data-center servers on the recycle market. Almost every one has two redundant 12V power supplies ranging from 25 to 100 amp capacities, depending on server model. Server supplies are not like PC supplies...they have lots of 12V capacity and very little, if any, capacity in other voltages. They also tend to be specific to a server model, so once that model is obsolete, there is little resale market, even as spares. That leaves great deals for the hobbyists. The RC people like them for custom lipo charging stations at 12V or 24V(using two). Radio amateurs use them to run their 12V equipment. And they make great bench or serious project supplies. And what could be more serious than your CNC machine?
These supplies were designed for commercial data-centers where they've likely been run 24/7 for many years. As redundant supplies, they've spent most of their life carrying half their rated load. They're old, maybe dusty, but they still work. The catch? They have specialized connectors and no manual. You have to be comfortable enough to figure out how to wire them up and what pins to connect to turn them on. Here's one resource to get you started: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1292514.
The price? Depends on how hard you hunt and what you're looking for. ~$15 including shipping for a 40A 12V supply seems fairly easy to find on ebay.
The ebay deal I just ordered is: a pair of DPS-500CB's for $4.99+$12 shipping, so $17 for TWO 41A 12V supplies. I like the idea of having a spare for the next project.
I already found good instructions on how to use this particular supply: http://krcm.mywebnow.org/index.php?acti ... ttach=1502(opens a pdf file)
(edited to update broken link to pdf)
