powering your rig using 2 PSUs

[Nephilim]

So, I think it was a year or so back an IEEE buddy of mine and I were contemplating the cost effectiveness of running 2 lower power PSUs (@ the time a VX450 X 2) instead of a full blown 800-1000W psu...well...after much head ache and study the idea bore no real fruit.

well i'm revisiting the idea now and decided that 'meh i'll google it again' and guess the fcuk what?
thanks to some xkcd men i managed to find one.



so far it seems sound.

-Primary PSU comes on
-Primary Molex energizes
-Power on the molex puts transistor in a momentary closed state this powers on the 2nd PSU

if your electrically inclined then the guy details instructions to build your own.

imma gonna get me one of these little shits and test it out.

[woodyear99]

Hmm interesting idea, let us know how that works out. Hope results aren't too shocking.....:p

[Kraeoss]

Hmm interesting idea, let us know how that works out. Hope results aren't too shocking.....:p

pun intended...

indeed if this is so then hooray for ppl who cant afford the big psu's

[UltimateGamer]

Or.....

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34_186&products_id=21193

much simpler and when the funds come in, i'll be buying one

[Spazosaurus]

I dunno. After spending 1000us on parts, i not going to skimp on a psu. Its gonna br able to push everything you can possibly put in it. The only thing i'd consider is something along the lines of two identical psu's providing enterprise class redundancy, you know, on the cheap. nice concept, this, though.

[Nephilim]

the idea here wasn't to skimp on a psu at all...but instead of buying a whole new PSU i would just get a 500W psu to power my cards and drives and keep the old one for board.

i would prefer hard\oc or the above solution, the relay\transistor (transistor mostly though, no mechanicals to worry about failing)  has the advantage of isolating both power supplies from one another.

also you can get one for like 10USD, wasn't gonna bother to look for parts here electronic parts tend to be rapely overpriced here.

[Arcmanov]

LOL @ 'rapely overpriced'.

I always toyed with the idea of using a separate PSU for non-critical system components,
but the real problem is where to put that 2nd PSU.  Only a few cases allow you to use a
dual PSU config though, or else I would have employed this a long time ago.

[Nephilim]

yeah ah know that one OC i believe FSP had one too

[UltimateGamer]

I just wanted to let you guys know that I am running a dual PSU set up at the moment (well 5 mins ago) and all is well, and it cost about 20 mins to set up. The only issue is getting someplace to put that PSU, so for now it outside the system. It was really easy to do. I'll post a little pic later

[Nephilim]

ulti i would greatly appreciate details on the set up