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using old PSU to power Peltier (thermometric)

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kamran

Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2013
Location
Sadly Iran :(
hi, i want to use an old PSU for powering my motors + peltier ect !

the question is:

if i use the ATX power cord, do the 5v+ 3.3v+ ect have Current limit? can i just plug my peltier + to 5V+ according to pinout and ground to ground ? and also how should i turn it on? should i connect the power_on to ground 5+ or 3.3+
 
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thanks :D i will

im still waiting for my peltier + thermal grease + blablabla to come :D

and also, does it matter which of those 5v+ 12v+ ect i connet my device too ? do they all have the same draw limit ?
 
I'd be inclined to make one personally. It's simply a 24 pin extension with additional wires from the #13 and #14 pins (green and black) going to another 20 or 24 pin connector in the #13 and #14 pins. You could simply splice in the additional wires to an extension, an old non-working PSU would be a great donor for the extra wiring (I'm assuming a 24 pin extension can be found there) since you wouldn't need to source the crimp pins or the 20/24 pin connector. Heck, if you want, the wires could be spliced directly into your existing PSU's 24 pin cable (that would void any warranty though which is why I suggest an extension)
 
:eek: i thing i will just do it directly ! thats weird !(about voiding the warranty) i can just use some simple breadboard jumpers i guess !

becasue i don't have anything that i can use as extension :(
 
thanks :D i will

im still waiting for my peltier + thermal grease + blablabla to come :D

and also, does it matter which of those 5v+ 12v+ ect i connet my device too ? do they all have the same draw limit ?
It does matter, for one on performance the peltier provides and for another the PSU's abilities. On the side of the PSU is a label which explains the current limits of each voltage (3.3v & 5v usually a combined rating). On older PSU's the 5v had the strongest rail (highest current rating) while the 12v were weaker, while newer PSU's have a stronger 12v rail and the 3.3v and 5v commonly run around 20A. If your PSU has multiple 12v rails, go by the lowest value (just to be safe) of a single rail
 
:eek: i thing i will just do it directly ! thats weird !(about voiding the warranty) i can just use some simple breadboard jumpers i guess !

becasue i don't have anything that i can use as extension :(
You're gonna want 18ga wire minimum there, the breadboard jumpers are usually 22ga or 24ga, I'm thinking they'll burn up quickly
 
:eek:

i got a better ones ! (not jumpers) but the peltier wires themself are thinner than jumpers :D !

mine is not a great one ! its also 530w! :D

and the amp on 12v+ rail is more than enough !

i can go to the electronics store next to our house and buy some thick wire :D

edit:
i don't have an accurate GA measuring but my other wires seem like 19 18 Ga :)

once my peltiers arrived i will post here about how it went :D


edit: i can't belive it :D i just got out of school and saw the box sitting on my desk :D i thought its atleast gonna take 2 days :D

i played a little with peltiers with 9v batteries ! applied thermal grease to it and installed it on my old gpu heatsink ! (with nothing but paste !) :D my father is going to bring my psu soon :D
 
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ok i did it ! the molex connectors sparked when i touched them ! but it worked :D the surface of the peltier was like 0 degrees ! and my heat sink was like 55 56 degrees (Celsius)

i put a glass on top of it and it only got 7 degrees cold !

i must work on it !

first, i can't bring that huge psu with myself everywhere, i need low power peltier that can't be found in my country :|
second: i need to buy a good and small cooler !
third: i need some other heatsink to transfer cold to inside the fridge :D

thanks anyway ! i had lots of fun ! used a lot of thermal grease :D

i already found an awesome box to use as the fridge ! (it doesn't let heat in!)
 
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