[Arm-netbook] AC to DC power adapter with multiple outputs

[Scott Sullivan]

On 09/30/2013 05:09 AM, Philip Hands wrote:
> Benson Mitchell <benson.mitchell+arm-netbook at gmail.com> writes:
>
>> On Sep 29, 2013 9:50 AM, "Dr. David Alan Gilbert" <dave at treblig.org> wrote:
>>> Have you tried a normal PC power supply; I think there is a way to fudge
>>> them to believe a motherboard is connected.
>> That's the ticket.
>>
>> But there is one gotcha with this -- some PSUs won't operate or don't
>> operate well with no or very low load (they need like 1-5% of rated
>> current, minimum). So check the voltages with no load, if all seems well,
>> good! otherwise, throw a 12V light bulb on the output and that should make
>> it behave.
>
> Also, RepRappers have found that one often needs to put load on the 5v
> circuit to get reliable 12v:
>
>    http://reprap.org/wiki/PCPowerSupply
>
> Cheers, Phil.

As a follow on, this is an open hardware ATX breakout board.

http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/ATX_Brakout_Board_design_overview

They do not that many old PSU had the load requirement, but modern ones 
do not.

-- 
Scott Sullivan