Talk:Choosing a Power Supply for your RepRap

AndrewBCN 20/10/2014

First a disclaimer: I am not associated in any way with any power supply manufacturer and have no bias of any kind toward any particular brand.

The purpose of this page is to supplement the PCPowerSupply page in this wiki and eventually replace it with a newer, more up-to-date version.

A couple of remarks here: I am of the opinion that it is much better to buy a new inexpensive ATX PSU and modify it for RepRap use, then to buy a cheap LED strip PSU. Cheap LED strip PSUs are imho a safety hazard, much more so than a new inexpensive ATX PSU. I am appalled by the fact that some commercial RepRap kits and printers are sold with cheap LED strip PSUs!

BTW obviously none of the RepRap kit and printer sellers will describe the PSU included in their product as an "LED strip PSU", it will usually just be sold as a 12V switching power supply with a given power rating. How many RepRap users are in a position and have enough information to question the performance, reliability and safety of a switching power supply? Not many, unfortunately.

Another personal opinion: reusing an old ATX PSU (instead of spending $30 to $45 for an inexpensive but new ATX PSU) is a most unwise decision - a lesson I have learned the hard way! ATX PSU circuits have very much improved in the last couple of years (2013-2014) and the few dollars saved are just not worth the hassle and safety hazards associated with reusing old ATX PSUs in RepRap projects.

I will show later in this page:

1. What to look for in a new but inexpensive (by which I mean, within your budget) ATX PSU for your RepRap project. (Done 20-10-2014)

2. How to modify in a few quick steps an inexpensive ATX PSU for RepRap use.

3. Also a method to use the ATX PSU of your choice with any RepRap printer, that does not require any modification to the PSU and does not void its warranty.

Excellent! However, I see you tend to duplicate stuff from the PCPowerSupply page. I'd remove this complicated lab PSU conversion there and insert these simpler instructions from here. --Traumflug (talk) 03:28, 21 October 2014 (PDT)