How to Repurpose an ATX Power Supply for a Lab

Use an old ATX power supply as a lab power supply with this comprehensive guide

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Last Updated: November 19, 2024

An interface box was created to connect to the standard ATX power supply connector to allow turning on the power supply and access to the various voltages provided by the power supply.

Things You Should Know

Be sure to note how old your ATX PSU is. Older PSUs utilize the 3.3V and 5V rails. Newer versions use the 12V rail.
Bundle your wires and label them by color.
Test the box with an ohm-meter before applying power.

Steps

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2
Plan the design of your new PSU. Create a circuit map to follow so to avoid confusion.
- Remember that there will be a difference between older and newer ATX PSUs. Older PSUs will mainly utilize the 3.3V and 5V rails, with excess current being handled by the 12V rail. Newer versions will use the 12V rail as their main output.
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4
Cut your wires and group them by color. The color guide is as follows:
- Black: Ground
- Orange: +3.3V
- Red: +5V
- Yellow: +12V
- Blue: -12V
- Green: Power On
- Purple: +5V Standby
- Gray: Power Good
- Brown: +3.3V Sense
- White: -5V (Old PSUs only)
(Remember to label these so you which is which.
7
Begin connecting LEDs to your load switch
- Connect the load switch between 'Ground' and 'Power On'.
- Use a current limiting resistor as you connect the green LED between 'Ground' and one of the positive outputs of the power supply (i.e. +12V for the newer models, +5V for older)
- Use a current limiting resistor as you connect the red LED between 'Ground' and '+5V Standby'
Isolate these resistors then connect them to your ground and positive output wires.
Make sure there are no unexpected connections, and that the proper connections are made.

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Tips

ATX power supplies currently have two different types of motherboard connectors: 20-pin and 24-pin. Keep this in mind when obtaining parts.

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One ATX power supply will run just fine without any resistor, but another one will just shut down in a second or two without any load.

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Warnings

Carelessness around the large capacitors can result in a moderate shock.

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Inability to follow directions precisely can lead to damaging your materials.

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Keep your project in a dry, well ventilated area and make sure that proper safety precautions for all tools you will be using are observed.

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Things You'll Need

Binding posts (Make sure to differentiate colors)
A main switch
A load switch
2 LEDs (Green & Red)
Current Limiting Resistors
2 10-Ohm/10-wt Resistors
2 Pieces of Prototyping board
A Drill with bit widths that match your binding post diameter, LED diameters, and main switch.
Wire cutter
Wire stripper
Phillip's head and flat head screw drivers (that fit the screws on your PSU)
Solder iron
Ohm Meter
A place to dispense the refuse