I like this creative way of packaging up an ATX power supply that Instructables user jtmanders created. He added terminals for 5v, 3.3v, and GND, a power LED indicator, as well as a power switch. Definitely not recommended, jtmanders put jumpers over his fuses, which kept blowing.
Finally, I wonder what it would look like to have the Lego enclosing the actual ATX as well — though it might have had ventilation problems… While Lego is cool, my thought on this project is that you could mount projects directly on the power supply using either the Technic bricks in front or the System studs on top.
2 thoughts on “Lego Desktop Power Supply”
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I’d say it’s possible to build a case around the supply with LEGO blocks, and even have it with plenty of ventilation. (a honeycomb of single blocks every other, between layers of solid,). But, I highly recommend making the fan output (drawing through the supply) totally open, and if you needed to use a load resistor on the +5V, have direct flow of air across it, or if insulated enough, even mount it to one of the heatsinks, but as normal, plenty of air flow across the sinks. I’ve used 2 upcycled ATX supplies for Arduino projects as well regular electronics hacking and experimenting. (for everything from powering a project, to charging netbooks, palm pilots, to even charging a Razor Scooter. (+12V to -12V=24V, skipping the GND)
The ONLY thing I would warn, make sure the mains capacitors are totally drained, before removing the board from the metal shell for at least 2-3 minutes. the drain resistors aren’t always reliable.