PSU help pls

[tigers131]

I am looking for a good psu that has a see thru case for around 50 bux. I need at least a 400 watt. Anyone know where i can pick one up at?

[oRIDDLERo]

Why not fist buy a good psu, then but the plexi kit?

[dalilman52]

thats a good idea, that is what i was thinking, at www.directron.com they have a 92mm clear psu mod thing, but sometimes stuff there is a bit over-priced

[larrymoencurly]

Don't use acrylic for that, unless it's espeically made fire resistant. The best regular plastic for this is probably polycarbonate, mostly because it can take 400F without melting and won't start smoking until 800F. And be sure that the cover is screwed on and not just stuck on with double-sided tape because we're talking high voltage here. If you buy the PSU already made that way, be sure that it's UL and CSA approved because if somebody takes a UL/CSA PSU and simply replaces its metal cover with a clear one, the safety approvals go out the door. AFAIK the only factory-modded PSUs like this are Aspire or Achieve.

[dalilman52]

Originally posted by larrymoencurly
Don't use acrylic for that, unless it's espeically made fire resistant. The best regular plastic for this is probably polycarbonate, mostly because it can take 400F without melting and won't start smoking until 800F. And be sure that the cover is screwed on and not just stuck on with double-sided tape because we're talking high voltage here. If you buy the PSU already made that way, be sure that it's UL and CSA approved because if somebody takes a UL/CSA PSU and simply replaces its metal cover with a clear one, the safety approvals go out the door. AFAIK the only factory-modded PSUs like this are Aspire or Achieve.

woah, isnt polycarbonate more expensive than acrylic? i think u could just mod ur existing psu cover and make sort of a window, like in the aspire see-thru psu's (which suck btw, besides the fatc that they look cool) since larry here feels that dbl-sided tape is not secure enough, i guess it would be a bit safer with a nut/bolt assembly like the ones that come with TT fans (if u own one, u would know) or u could also use those black 2-piece fastener dealies found in some cases to hold on windows/fans

[larrymoencurly]

Here's a chart showing how to identify different plastics and how badly they burn: www.texloc.com/ztextonly/clplasticid.htm . It's not for plastics that have been modified to be fire retardant, but notice that it says regular acrylic burns fast while polycarbonate burns slowly.

I don't know what polycarbonate costs because I've never bought any brand new stuff, just a store door that had been badly bashed in one area. I had some 1/32" thick polycarbonate that I use for electrical insulation, and I think it would be strong enough for a PSU cover. It can also be cut with scissors and bent like very thin metal, plus it drills and holds screws without cracking.