RunRyder - Running multiple PC power supplies in parellel?

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Tools and Field Equipment > Running multiple PC power supplies in parellel?

jstfish
Senior Heliman
Location: Collinsville, Oklahoma

Need some advice here, thinking of running multiple PC ATX power supplies in parallel to increase amps. Is this practicle?

"instruction book ???...what instruction book"

03-25-2008 04:12 PM

MJWS
Key Veteran
Location: Airdrie, AB - Canada

They play quite nicely in series, but not so well in parallel. Easiest way I found to tag around 13V for a ps was two 5V rails and a 3.3V rail in series. Triples your output. Depending on your use, many chargers are quite happy on 15V as well.

Maybe someone has a trick, but I've hit up the electronics geniuses on a few forums with no success or real explanation of why it doesn't work. In all my experimenting they just shut down. Never blew one up when testing. The right diode network may allow it, lots of power supplies don't like to see voltage higher then their output and self destruct i.e Mastech when used as a charger if things go south.

Mike

03-25-2008 05:04 PM

Drunk Monk
rrProfessor
Location: Preston, UK

I can't remember the ins and outs of it but connecting computer powersupplies in parrellel will blow them up (or at least cause them to brown out and shut down) because they are not syncronised and were never designed to run in parrellel. A voltage difference of even 50mV can cause the supplies to be out of balance and you will lose the benefit of having them in parrallel altogether. You may be able do it by adding a circuit on one of the outputs to vary the voltage so that it is matched properly but that's probably just getting over complicated. There are some articles about it being successfully done on one of the computer tweaking sites but it's a real challenge to do if I remember correctly and you have to use a particular type/make of psu.

Stephen

I only open my mouth to change feet.....

03-25-2008 06:03 PM

jstfish
Senior Heliman
Location: Collinsville, Oklahoma

Hmmmmmm...sounds like the best bet would be to just have two different power supplies and use them to supply power to two different field chargers. Just thinking...I am in the process of building the Rube Goldberg of field box's and would like to design a few things different. Thanks for the help.

"instruction book ???...what instruction book"

03-26-2008 01:36 AM

Drunk Monk
rrProfessor
Location: Preston, UK

I use 2 seperate powersupplies to power different chargers. You can get slimline powersupplies for computers if you are worried about space. How much current are you trying to get?

Stephen

I only open my mouth to change feet.....

03-26-2008 10:22 AM

jstfish
Senior Heliman
Location: Collinsville, Oklahoma

Running multiple PC power supplies in parellel?

Quote
How much current are you trying to get?

Drunk Monk,

building the Rube Goldberg of field boxes, will run the following;

1. Field Power Panel for fuel pump, glow starter, 12V heli starter.
2. Field Charger for Tx and Rx
3. Cooling fans (2) for P.S.(s)
4. LED readouts for Amps and Volts
5. Aux. plugs for 12V and 5V power.
6. Aux switched connectors for using 12V battery for primary power source
(I fly at two different fields, 1 does not have A.C. available)

"instruction book ???...what instruction book"

03-26-2008 06:32 PM

lazy-b
Heliman
Location: Manila, Philippines

Guys, its Better just use a 12 Volts Sealed Lead Acid Battery....Creating a 12 Volts Power Supply to Power a Starter need huges amount of Current, sometimes a Starting current can reach up to 20 to 30 Amps.

04-01-2008 09:02 AM

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Tools and Field Equipment > Running multiple PC power supplies in parellel?

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