Super Cheap PSU for External Testing?

I've used an old router power tranformer to check LEDs, fans and the like but these days I use this little box of tricks.

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It's handy as you can just wire up the bare wires and allows you to switch voltages. 1.5A is enough for most desk duties.
 
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Pft.. My delta would blow that black box ;)

Also thats kinda big for a 1.5amp output!

Edit:
Actually no its not big.. Thought you had a MASSIVE iPod
 
honosuseri said:
I did realise that you weren't going to run a full system off the PSU. I was just saying that it would make sense to buy a branded PSU that you would happily run your rig off.

I see so many threads with people trying to troubleshoot problems but have no PSU spare to test. I'm not trying to jinx your rig, although if you had a fault with your PSU then you would be up and running in no time.

It's your money, was only suggesting a lil forward thinking. Better to have more than you need than be caught short one day...if the price is right ;)

p.s You do know you qualify for free delivery too don't you?
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Yep, I know I get the free delivery :)

Buying a second PSU as a backup would be a great idea for the future, you are right. I had problems with my rig earlier this year and I would have loved a second PSU for testing. However, I have just spend most of my money on a whole pile of water cooling gear so I don't really have the money for a branded PSU as a backup to run my rig from.

Buchanan0204 said:
Some people take this whole "never use a cheap psu" thing far to literally. They make them for a reason, they come with a 12 months warranty. If they all blew up after 20 seconds of use then OcUK wouldn't sell them in the first place.

While I totally agree you should never use a cheap PSU with any sort of components you value. For testing a few LED's and some Hardrives, optical drives. Then it will be absolutely perfect and do the job nicely. Buying a branded 550W PSU to test an LED is borderline lunacy IMO.

Get yourself a £6.99 PSU to test your fans.

I've used OcUK cheap psu's in many of my older, less valuable builds for years and never had an issue at all. If it did happen to blow up and for some reason it took out everything with it, it wouldn't be an issue.

When you see people using £20 PSU's with a £600 gaming pc running gtx 570's off it. This is the opposite end of the lunatic scale. A major no no.

So to conclude my jibberish.

For running cheapo old computers - £20 PSU is fine

For running a gaming machine with quality components - get a branded PSU with a high efficiency rating, Antec, Seasonic, Corsair etc

For testing LED's - The cheapest PSU you can source will be great!
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I think I might just follow this advice and get a really cheap eBay one then. Cheers
 
If you want to be "cheap and cheeky" why not head to your local tip armed with a screwdriver and a fiver/pack of beers to bribe the guys who work there.

My bro works for a recycling firm and he is constantly bring me computers, you would be amazed what people throw away. I have sata HDDs and DVD drives, RAM and kept a few PSUs and CPUs. What was obviously junk just went back to be recycled......think of it as your lil way to save the planet as well as your pocket/wallet ;)
 
It's technically illegal, but ooh boy have I been tempted to nick stuff from tips and skips. I see all kinds of old desktops in there that will have had a simple hard drive failure, or the PSU conking out, or simply grown old and slow due to zero maintenance and been replaced. I wonder if there's a market for cheap, retuned old computers.
 
hybrid572 said:
It's technically illegal, but ooh boy have I been tempted to nick stuff from tips and skips. I see all kinds of old desktops in there that will have had a simple hard drive failure, or the PSU conking out, or simply grown old and slow due to zero maintenance and been replaced. I wonder if there's a market for cheap, retuned old computers.
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I saw a whole pile of old computers at my local skip which I regret not taking. Got myself a couple of SNES' though didn't I :D.
 
If you see something in a skip, knock on the door and ask if u can take it. They are throwing it away after all and i'll bet a ***** in a transit pulls up and takes it if you don't ;)
 
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