Go Back   Pro/Forums > ProCooling Geek Bits > Random Nonsense / Geek Stuff
Password
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Chat

Random Nonsense / Geek Stuff All those random tech ramblings you can't fit anywhere else!

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 03-09-2006, 07:01 PM   #1
jman1310
Cooling Savant
 
jman1310's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 246
Default linking 2 PSUs

i am trying to link 2 power supplies to power my computer
one is powering the MB, GPU, and the OS HD
the other is powering 8 HDs
i need both PSUs to turn on at the same time

i know i've seen this somewhere on the forum but can't find it

thanks

jman
jman1310 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03-09-2006, 07:10 PM   #2
bigben2k
Responsible for 2%
of all the posts here.
 
bigben2k's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 8,302
Default Re: linking 2 PSUs

Strangely, we don't have an article on it here. (multiple ATs, load sharing, yes, but not two ATX PSUs).

What you want to do is tap into the PWR_ON line provided by the motherboard; it commands the PSU to turn on. You won't be using the PWR_GOOD line from the second PSU (the one you'll use for the HDDs).

Can you get the pinout of the mobo power connector?
bigben2k is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03-09-2006, 09:26 PM   #3
jman1310
Cooling Savant
 
jman1310's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 246
Default Re: linking 2 PSUs

will this do?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg A8N-E_MB_Pinout.jpg (35.1 KB, 12 views)
jman1310 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03-09-2006, 09:30 PM   #4
jman1310
Cooling Savant
 
jman1310's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 246
Default Re: linking 2 PSUs

or is this what you were looking for?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg A8N-E_MB_Pinout 001.jpg (78.7 KB, 8 views)
jman1310 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03-09-2006, 10:32 PM   #5
bigben2k
Responsible for 2%
of all the posts here.
 
bigben2k's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 8,302
Default Re: linking 2 PSUs

The second one. See the line named "PSON#"? That's the signal line through which the mobo commands the PSUs to turn on.

bigben2k is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03-10-2006, 08:21 AM   #6
Joe
The Pro/Life Support System
 
Joe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 4,041
Default Re: linking 2 PSUs

Quote:
Originally Posted by jman1310
i am trying to link 2 power supplies to power my computer
one is powering the MB, GPU, and the OS HD
the other is powering 8 HDs
i need both PSUs to turn on at the same time

i know i've seen this somewhere on the forum but can't find it

thanks

jman

there are 2 articles on the website about this:
http://www.procooling.com/index.php?...ticles&disp=56

http://www.procooling.com/index.php?...ticles&disp=52
__________________
Joe - I only take this hat off for one thing...

ProCooling archive curator and dusty skeleton.
Joe is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03-10-2006, 01:23 PM   #7
jman1310
Cooling Savant
 
jman1310's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 246
Default Re: linking 2 PSUs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe
thanks, Joe
jman1310 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03-11-2006, 08:34 AM   #8
jman1310
Cooling Savant
 
jman1310's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 246
Default Re: linking 2 PSUs

so something weird happened.
after linking the two PWR_ON lines, the 2nd PSU turns on right away
but when i power up the pc it turns off and the main one turns on

the MB is a epox 8KDA3I, main PSU is an Antec trupower 380 and 2nd is an Ultra 500 (it was free after rebate)

the weird thing about this MB is to get it to boot, i always have had to remove power from the the PSU, depress the power switch, and then simultaneously apply power to the PSU and release the power switch
otherwise, it would do nothing

on a side note: should i ground the PSUs together?

Last edited by jman1310; 03-11-2006 at 06:34 PM.
jman1310 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03-12-2006, 08:24 AM   #9
jman1310
Cooling Savant
 
jman1310's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 246
Default Re: linking 2 PSUs

bump (10 char)
jman1310 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03-12-2006, 10:55 AM   #10
bigben2k
Responsible for 2%
of all the posts here.
 
bigben2k's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 8,302
Default Re: linking 2 PSUs

Sounds like you already had a fault to start with.

Maybe you could swap the PSUs to see if the fault is with the PSU, or the mobo?

The PSUs are probably already grounded, if you mounted both in the case.
bigben2k is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03-12-2006, 08:38 PM   #11
jman1310
Cooling Savant
 
jman1310's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 246
Default Re: linking 2 PSUs

i have tried several PSUs (singlely)
all have the same issue
jman1310 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03-14-2006, 03:05 PM   #12
bigben2k
Responsible for 2%
of all the posts here.
 
bigben2k's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 8,302
Default Re: linking 2 PSUs

That's a mobo problem.

Once the Power_on signal is generated by the mobo (to the PSU), it waits for a Power_good signal from the PSU (indicating that all voltage rails are in spec), then turns everything on.

I have no idea how you'd go about fixing that. Someone else?
bigben2k is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-04-2006, 04:25 PM   #13
CptnDipshit
Cooling Neophyte
 
CptnDipshit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 28
Default Re: linking 2 PSUs

take a 12v automotive relay.

On your 2nd PSU connect pin 14 to connector 87 on the relay...and pin 15 to 30 (on relay)..

On your main PSU connect any 12v to connector 86....and 85 to any ground wire on your main PSU.

Good luck
CptnDipshit is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:39 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
(C) 2005 ProCooling.com
If we in some way offend you, insult you or your people, screw your mom, beat up your dad, or poop on your porch... we're sorry... we were probably really drunk...
Oh and dont steal our content bitches! Don't give us a reason to pee in your open car window this summer...