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Topic: What is a Solid PSU to Upgrade to?

I was just about to order one from Amazon and figured I should ask soliforum for some advice. What is a good one to upgrade to that will allow for future expansion to a RAMPS controller with LCD or whatever I might think is cool in a couple months?

SD3, E3D Hot End,
Heated Glass Bed,
Bulldog XL Geared Metal Extruder

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Re: What is a Solid PSU to Upgrade to?

Key thing to note is that while gaming PC PSU are related by wattage, often they have substantial wattage on their 5V rails and not as much amperage as you'd expect on the 12V.

Personally my favorite thing is to convert server powersupplies, or use a good genuine meanwell.  If you can, splurge for a higher watt one, but you shouldn't need to spend more than $50. Splurging for a higher watt one will serve you in that it runs cooler at a lower power and can give you room to get a more powerful heated bed.

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Re: What is a Solid PSU to Upgrade to?

Best thing to do is get a server PSU, and and wire it to your SD3.  One advantage of those server PSU's is that they are long and skinny, and can be mounted to the back of the SD3.  Then there's the 60A or so they can deliver on the 12V rail.  Unlike the average desktop PSU which may only have 15-20A available these beasts are true workhorses.

Add a power switch and you're set.  You can throw just about any mod you can think of into your printer and still not even come close to tapping all the power of the PSU.

http://www.soliforum.com/misc.php?action=pun_attachment&item=4435

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To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
SD3 printer w/too many mods,  Printrbot Simple Maker Ed.,  FormLabs Form 1+
AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
...and too much time on my hands.

4

Re: What is a Solid PSU to Upgrade to?

Nice work, Pirvan!

I wonder if you could port the exhaust from the cooling fan from that beast into the build chamber to heat it (hopefully no implied Patent Infringement)!

SD2 - Stock - Enclosure - Heated Bed - Glass Plate - Auto Fire Extinguisher
Ord Bot Hadron - RAMPS 1.4 - Bulldog XL - E3D v6 - 10" x 10" PCB Heated Build w/SSR - Glass Plate
Thanks for All of Your Help!

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Re: What is a Solid PSU to Upgrade to?

i have a 12v  29 amp constant voltage meanwell. its nice has served me well. and i havent even installed the bed upgrade yet. i want to print something to mount it to the back like pirvan.. friggin solidworks...

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Re: What is a Solid PSU to Upgrade to?

I don't see why not, but the fan on this power supply hardly gets  up to speed.  It's PWM controlled and I've never heard it speed up.  If you put you hand in front of the exhaust there's almost nothing coming out.  Just more proof this PSU is not being worked very hard.

Oh, and it would make any difference in my case, as I'm not using and enclosure on my SD3.

To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
SD3 printer w/too many mods,  Printrbot Simple Maker Ed.,  FormLabs Form 1+
AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
...and too much time on my hands.

7 (edited by pirvan 2014-01-24 15:23:12)

Re: What is a Solid PSU to Upgrade to?

MolecularConcept wrote:

i want to print something to mount it to the back like pirvan.. friggin solidworks...

Or you could use some VHB tape to mount the PSU to the back of the printer.  That stuff is pretty much permanent, and some of these tapes are rated at 75-100lbs/in² holding strength.  The only way to take off is to use a thin blade to cut through it, then scrape it or rub it off.

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Scotch-4905-Ta … m_indust_2

P.S.  I know this isn't the place, but If anyone is interested in server PSU's, send me a PM, I have some I can let go for $50 shipped

To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
SD3 printer w/too many mods,  Printrbot Simple Maker Ed.,  FormLabs Form 1+
AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
...and too much time on my hands.

8

Re: What is a Solid PSU to Upgrade to?

pirvan wrote:

Best thing to do is get a server PSU, and and wire it to your SD3.  One advantage of those server PSU's is that they are long and skinny, and can be mounted to the back of the SD3.  Then there's the 60A or so they can deliver on the 12V rail.  Unlike the average desktop PSU which may only have 15-20A available these beasts are true workhorses.

Add a power switch and you're set.  You can throw just about any mod you can think of into your printer and still not even come close to tapping all the power of the PSU.

http://www.soliforum.com/misc.php?action=pun_attachment&item=4435

Is this a good one?? I'm new to this. Looking to get something someone already has had luck with in case I have some questions about it.

http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Redundant-Ho … wer+supply

Also, is that not a switch next to the plug? If not how would I go about adding one? Thanks for your help everyone!

SD3, E3D Hot End,
Heated Glass Bed,
Bulldog XL Geared Metal Extruder

9

Re: What is a Solid PSU to Upgrade to?

The one you're looking at should be just fine.  You'll need the pinout information so you can wire your 12V and your switch.

If you're referring to the orange thingy, that is not a switch, it's a locking tab that lock the PSU into the server backplane, and is not used in our setups.  These power supplies don't usually have a physical power switch.  They are ATX power supplies and they're powered on by the main server power switch. 

This is why you'll need the PSU pinout.  The back of the PSU looks like this:

http://www.soliforum.com/misc.php?action=pun_attachment&item=4463

ON the left you have a bunch of control & signal pins. The 6 large connectors are the +12V and 12V return (3 + 3).

Once you know the pinout, you'll be looking for 2 pins, one called PS_ON, the other PS_Kill.  Grounding these 2 pins will power non the PSU.  So you'll have to first connect PS_ON & PS_Kill together, then run a wire to a switch.  Run another wire from the PSU ground to the other connector on the switch.  That should be your ON/OFF power switch.

Then you'll need to connect the PSU 12V output to your Solidoodle.  Yous should first bridge the +12V connectors together then run a heavy duty wire from there to your Solidoodle power input.  Do the same for the 12V return.

That's it.  If you really want to get fancy, then you might want to buy a lighted switch, in which case, you should run 12V to the power switch LED as well.

http://www.soliforum.com/misc.php?action=pun_attachment&item=4464

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To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
SD3 printer w/too many mods,  Printrbot Simple Maker Ed.,  FormLabs Form 1+
AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
...and too much time on my hands.

10

Re: What is a Solid PSU to Upgrade to?

Wow, that power switch looks mighty attractive! Not sure I can go without setting that up now! Thanks for the advice! Again, I really really appreciate everyone's help. Seems like I might have a short where my power goes into arduino so I need to take it apart anyway. Might as well upgrade while we're at it.

SD3, E3D Hot End,
Heated Glass Bed,
Bulldog XL Geared Metal Extruder

11

Re: What is a Solid PSU to Upgrade to?

I went a much sillier route to switch on my PSU: I have linux udev scripts that notice when I plug in the solidoodle USB cable and use my home automation controller to switch on the PSU :-).

http://home.comcast.net/~tomhorsley/har … -udev.html