Planning

This project will show and teach you how to mod and recycle an ATX power supply unit.

It's fairly easy, if you have time and patience.

So, the work to be done is:

- Disassembling and cleaning

- Components inspection

- Cooling optimization

- Cables optimization

- Wire terminals replacement

- On load testing

Disassembling - check

Cleanning - check

Components inspection - We checked that both electronics and cabling are still in acceptable conditions, however one blade of the original fan was broken.

As shown in the image, we decided to replace it for a new 120mm fan. Also, as already planned, we added another 55mm fan on the rear grill of the case to optimize the cooling.

In the next step, we will be organizing and sleeving cables so the case can be closed.

Having in mind the power supply technical specifications, such as voltage and amperage values, of each phase, we will separate the cables and group them accordingly to the final hardware requirements.

Then we unmounted the plugs to do the sleeving of the cables.
In the end, we reassembled all power supply unit parts and components, including the case.

Note: The sleeves offer several advantages. Some of what we think being the most important are: Wire protection; Easy cable organizing and cleaning inside computer cases; Benefits to fans air flow

You should by now have a similar result.

Note: The reason for us to choose finishing it when the power supply unit is already installed is due to interval distance between sata terminals depends on the hard drives installation spot.
This way we can get a better and precise measurement for cables and sleeves on each hard drive terminals.

It is now time to measure tension values so we can assure that all has been properly plugged.

The procedure is simple. Using an multimeter, or voltmeter, plug the black probe (negative) to an black wire terminal. With the red probe (positive) test, one by one, all other terminals except black ones. To test negative terminals plug the red probe to any terminal of a colourized wire. Then with the black probe test all the remaining black terminals.

You can compare the readings you get by:

- Read the specifications on the power supply

- Consult the specifications on the manual

- Search for the specifications over the internet

...and here we have, the final result.

Thank you for coming along on this project.

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If you want to see the real world application of this power supply unit click here, or got to "+projects".

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