Dual PSU Setup, Butchering the 24 Pin Connector?

[Emalix]

Hello all,

I'm making an extremely budget PC for a friend, after wiring up the PSU's to both turn on with one 24 pin connector ( via splicing the Green wire and a Black wire with the corresponding wire on the other 24 pin ), I'm now left with a bunch of wires from the secondary 24 pin connector.

Originally I was just going to cut these additional wires off but then I had a thought, could I use these leftover 24 pin connector wires to power something else such as some SATA or Molex connectors?

I've got a dead PSU laying around and I could just grab the needed connectors from there and splice the cables.

I've searched for an answer to this with no avail, so any input is useful. I believe in theory this should work as each wire is colour coded and i'd just have to match them.

Thanks!

 

[xXCrossfireXx]

Are you asking if or how? Because if you don't know how, then you're out of luck :/. You would probably have trouble doing this, since the 24 pin connector is on the 12 volt rail.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Are you asking if or how? Because if you don't know how, then you're out of luck :/. You would probably have trouble doing this, since the 24 pin connector is on the 12 volt rail.

The 24-pin connector has 3.3V, 5V, 12V, -12V, PS_ON, PWR_OK, and ground wires all on it; it's not just 12V.

 

[xXCrossfireXx]

Are you asking if or how? Because if you don't know how, then you're out of luck :/. You would probably have trouble doing this, since the 24 pin connector is on the 12 volt rail.

The 24-pin connector has 3.3V, 5V, 12V, -12V, PS_ON, PWR_OK, and ground wires all on it; it's not just 12V.

Ah OK, I trust you more on PSU stuff. Either way though, the OP is gonna have an extremely tough time doing this, not worth it IMO

 

[turkey3_scratch]

I agree just sticking to one PSU is best.

 

[Emalix]

I agree just sticking to one PSU is best.

I managed to obtain both of these PSUs for free so I may as well use both. So just using the red, yellow and black wires for SATA wouldn't work because of different voltages in the 24 pin?

 

[turkey3_scratch]

My question for you is what need you have of using more than one PSU? Do you have an insufficient amount of cables on one or no?

 

[Emalix]

My question for you is what need you have of using more than one PSU? Do you have an insufficient amount of cables on one or no?

Yeah, I've got an insufficient amount of cables. I am aware that buying a singular PSU with all the necessary cables would be a better option, but id like to try and work with what I've got. I'll upload a diagram on what I'm planning to achieve soon just to be sure you know what I'm attempting to do.

 

[USAFRet]

Question:
Why the 2 PSU's? Apparently you already have them sort of connected and installed?

Why?

 

[Emalix]

Question:
Why the 2 PSU's? Apparently you already have them sort of connected and installed?

Why?

This is more so a project than something practical, to put it simply I like to mess with things, although I would still like this to work.

 

[Emalix]

This is exactly what I'm intending to do, I used a SATA connector in this instance but I believe this should work for any connector assuming I have the necessary wires. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[xXCrossfireXx]

Okay this is nuts. Just use the second PSU in a different system. What you think of as simply "messing with things" could cause you to get electrocuted.

 

[Emalix]

Okay this is nuts. Just use the second PSU in a different system. What you think of as simply "messing with things" could cause you to get electrocuted.

You do realise all this is, is an adapter?

I just looked at pinouts for the 24 pin and SATA connectors and they do use the same voltages and wires, so using the left over wires from the second 24 pin will power the SATA connector like it was meant to be that way.

As I mentioned in my first post I've made both of these PSU's power on simultaneously by splicing the secondary green wire with the one on the main 24 pin, I've done the same thing with a black wire, giving both of the PSU's a common ground ( helping to prevent electrical shock if something were to go wrong ). With that said I wouldn't be attempting this task if I didn't have some safety measures in place such as a circuit breaker.

 

[xXCrossfireXx]

Okay this is nuts. Just use the second PSU in a different system. What you think of as simply "messing with things" could cause you to get electrocuted.

You do realise all this is, is an adapter?

I just looked at pinouts for the 24 pin and SATA connectors and they do use the same voltages and wires, so using the left over wires from the second 24 pin will power the SATA connector like it was meant to be that way.

As I mentioned in my first post I've made both of these PSU's power on simultaneously by splicing the secondary green wire with the one on the main 24 pin, I've done the same thing with a black wire, giving both of the PSU's a common ground ( helping to prevent electrical shock if something were to go wrong ). With that said I wouldn't be attempting this task if I didn't have some safety measures in place such as a circuit breaker.

Oh, okay, in that case good luck soldering the SATA head onto the wire. Though it will be pretty hard to find the head of a SATA power cable lying around.

 

[Emalix]

Okay this is nuts. Just use the second PSU in a different system. What you think of as simply "messing with things" could cause you to get electrocuted.

You do realise all this is, is an adapter?

I just looked at pinouts for the 24 pin and SATA connectors and they do use the same voltages and wires, so using the left over wires from the second 24 pin will power the SATA connector like it was meant to be that way.

As I mentioned in my first post I've made both of these PSU's power on simultaneously by splicing the secondary green wire with the one on the main 24 pin, I've done the same thing with a black wire, giving both of the PSU's a common ground ( helping to prevent electrical shock if something were to go wrong ). With that said I wouldn't be attempting this task if I didn't have some safety measures in place such as a circuit breaker.

Oh, okay, in that case good luck soldering the SATA head onto the wire. Though it will be pretty hard to find the head of a SATA power cable lying around.

You're entirely correct there, although I happen to have a dead power supply laying about, ill just cut the SATA connectors off of it and leave some wire to assist with soldering and make my task easy.

If you look at these two photos along with my diagram, you should be able to understand why I believe this will work
24 Pin:
http://corbietech.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ATX_24pin001a1.png
SATA:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n243/sk8er83329/sata_power_cable_pinout.jpg
On that specific SATA pinout it doesnt mention that it uses positive voltages, but I have confirmed it does through a separate source.

 

[xXCrossfireXx]

Okay this is nuts. Just use the second PSU in a different system. What you think of as simply "messing with things" could cause you to get electrocuted.

You do realise all this is, is an adapter?

I just looked at pinouts for the 24 pin and SATA connectors and they do use the same voltages and wires, so using the left over wires from the second 24 pin will power the SATA connector like it was meant to be that way.

As I mentioned in my first post I've made both of these PSU's power on simultaneously by splicing the secondary green wire with the one on the main 24 pin, I've done the same thing with a black wire, giving both of the PSU's a common ground ( helping to prevent electrical shock if something were to go wrong ). With that said I wouldn't be attempting this task if I didn't have some safety measures in place such as a circuit breaker.

Oh, okay, in that case good luck soldering the SATA head onto the wire. Though it will be pretty hard to find the head of a SATA power cable lying around.

You're entirely correct there, although I happen to have a dead power supply laying about, ill just cut the SATA connectors off of it and leave some wire to assist with soldering and make my task easy.

If you look at these two photos along with my diagram, you should be able to understand why I believe this will work
24 Pin:
http://corbietech.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ATX_24pin001a1.png
SATA:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n243/sk8er83329/sata_power_cable_pinout.jpg
On that specific SATA pinout it doesnt mention that it uses positive voltages, but I have confirmed it does through a separate source.

So it seems like you know exactly what you're doing (though I still think it's not worth it to do this, something will probably go wrong). Why did you make this thread then?

 

[Emalix]

Okay this is nuts. Just use the second PSU in a different system. What you think of as simply "messing with things" could cause you to get electrocuted.

You do realise all this is, is an adapter?

I just looked at pinouts for the 24 pin and SATA connectors and they do use the same voltages and wires, so using the left over wires from the second 24 pin will power the SATA connector like it was meant to be that way.

As I mentioned in my first post I've made both of these PSU's power on simultaneously by splicing the secondary green wire with the one on the main 24 pin, I've done the same thing with a black wire, giving both of the PSU's a common ground ( helping to prevent electrical shock if something were to go wrong ). With that said I wouldn't be attempting this task if I didn't have some safety measures in place such as a circuit breaker.

Oh, okay, in that case good luck soldering the SATA head onto the wire. Though it will be pretty hard to find the head of a SATA power cable lying around.

You're entirely correct there, although I happen to have a dead power supply laying about, ill just cut the SATA connectors off of it and leave some wire to assist with soldering and make my task easy.

If you look at these two photos along with my diagram, you should be able to understand why I believe this will work
24 Pin:
http://corbietech.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ATX_24pin001a1.png
SATA:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n243/sk8er83329/sata_power_cable_pinout.jpg
On that specific SATA pinout it doesnt mention that it uses positive voltages, but I have confirmed it does through a separate source.

So it seems like you know exactly what you're doing (though I still think it's not worth it to do this, something will probably go wrong). Why did you make this thread then?

At the time I made this thread I had no idea whether this would work or not and was curiois if anyone else had expirence in doing this, I've been looking through various forums for the answer with no avail, but after I looked at the pinouts I believe I've solved my own problem. Although if anyone else can back what im saying up id be grateful.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Looking at your image above, it should work properly, as long as you have the right-colored cables in the right spot on the SATA cable. A wire doesn't know what cable it is part of - it just does what it has to do.

 

[Emalix]

Looking at your image above, it should work properly, as long as you have the right-colored cables in the right spot on the SATA cable. A wire doesn't know what cable it is part of - it just does what it has to do.

Alright, thanks for confirmation.

Side note, you've got a great taste in music.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Looking at your image above, it should work properly, as long as you have the right-colored cables in the right spot on the SATA cable. A wire doesn't know what cable it is part of - it just does what it has to do.

Alright, thanks for confirmation.

Side note, you've got a great taste in music.

Haha, I listen to a variety of rock, metal, classic rock, and modern day classical.

 

[xXCrossfireXx]

Ew contemporary 😛

 

[Chayan4400]

http://www.add2psu.com/

Considered it a while back, but the internet seems unsure if it negatively effects components connected to it.

 

[Emalix]

http://www.add2psu.com/

Considered it a while back, but the internet seems unsure if it negatively effects components connected to it.

I did happen to come across this Add2PSU thing, although it just has the same effect as connecting the green and black wires... which I can do for free d:

 

[Chayan4400]

http://www.add2psu.com/

Considered it a while back, but the internet seems unsure if it negatively effects components connected to it.

I did happen to come across this Add2PSU thing, although it just has the same effect as connecting the green and black wires... which I can do for free d:

Not exactly. By doing what you're describing th PSU will run continously; you'll have to manually connect and disconnect the PSU each time you power cycle the PC. It's not really a good idea to run the PSU without any load, so you can't just leave it on continously. And the two PSUs ideally must start at almost exactly the same time to minimise the chance of overloading one. The Add2PSU adapter has a molex port which connects to the primary PSU, which controls a relay to switch on and off the secondary PSU at the same time as the primary one.

 

[Emalix]

http://www.add2psu.com/

Considered it a while back, but the internet seems unsure if it negatively effects components connected to it.

I did happen to come across this Add2PSU thing, although it just has the same effect as connecting the green and black wires... which I can do for free d:

Not exactly. By doing what you're describing th PSU will run continously; you'll have to manually connect and disconnect the PSU each time you power cycle the PC. It's not really a good idea to run the PSU without any load, so you can't just leave it on continously. And the two PSUs ideally must start at almost exactly the same time to minimise the chance of overloading one. The Add2PSU adapter has a molex port which connects to the primary PSU, which controls a relay to switch on and off the secondary PSU at the same time as the primary one.

I've set it up like this, the only manual thing I have to do is press the power switch on the case d:
http://i.imgur.com/3QT28Qn.png