computer PSU's are ok to use for testing IMO. They are good power for a reasonable price, they are just bulky which sux. I have modified PSU's before to work without a mobo to switch the power on and it works ok. I prefer buying just the plain converters at this point, usually alot smaller and what not and easier to work with IMO and experience.
The different voltages on the PSU is pointless in your application. those 5v rails are useless to be honest. All Case fans and whatnot are built to run on a 12 v power source and some are adjustable based on their design. Some are adjusted via the mobo settings or manually through a fan control program. Others are just plan controlled by a little box that comes with the fan.
Now i question, why did you get the buck puck? The price isnt too bad, you could have just used resistors instead. You dont really need to worry about power fluctuations and getting a really consistant clean power source. Its not car audio or a bad circuit system that you are on, things should be pretty consistant. Aside from that, the specs on it look a little shakey. From reading those specs my impresion is this. You need atleast 2v more then the total voltage in series. With an atx PSU, max is 12v so 10 would be the most you could wire in series. It ooks like you would have to wire 3 in series and then wire those 3 in parallel with the second series set.
If you are smart, test the puck with 2 in series and then 3 and see if there is any dimming between the 2. Because the current is fixed yeah, you need to play around with it a bit. Personally that thing confuses the crap out of me. But if you have a better understanding of it than I, go for it
. Just be careful, you really dont wanna burn the stars out due to their pricey nature.
The different voltages on the PSU is pointless in your application. those 5v rails are useless to be honest. All Case fans and whatnot are built to run on a 12 v power source and some are adjustable based on their design. Some are adjusted via the mobo settings or manually through a fan control program. Others are just plan controlled by a little box that comes with the fan.
Now i question, why did you get the buck puck? The price isnt too bad, you could have just used resistors instead. You dont really need to worry about power fluctuations and getting a really consistant clean power source. Its not car audio or a bad circuit system that you are on, things should be pretty consistant. Aside from that, the specs on it look a little shakey. From reading those specs my impresion is this. You need atleast 2v more then the total voltage in series. With an atx PSU, max is 12v so 10 would be the most you could wire in series. It ooks like you would have to wire 3 in series and then wire those 3 in parallel with the second series set.
If you are smart, test the puck with 2 in series and then 3 and see if there is any dimming between the 2. Because the current is fixed yeah, you need to play around with it a bit. Personally that thing confuses the crap out of me. But if you have a better understanding of it than I, go for it
. Just be careful, you really dont wanna burn the stars out due to their pricey nature.
