How hard is it to rig a 120v pump to a standard ATX psu?

Kevin · 11-12-2001, 07:22 PM

I've never done this before. I am just wodering if it takes true skill or if it is basic soldering. I can solder, but I ain't so great...
-Kev

pHaestus · 11-12-2001, 07:41 PM

It's pretty basic soldering. There are only 3 wires, and they are large

redleader · 11-12-2001, 11:27 PM

Very easy. What I would do is go to your local hardware store and buy an electrical oulet. They make ones with no frame- just a small 1 inch square plug. Then solder this in to the supply instead. That way you can easily switch pumps and avoid killing your warrentee.

Once you open it uo there are just three wires coming into the system from behind the plug. Solder them and you are good to go.

Bollocks · 11-12-2001, 11:33 PM

Wouldn't you then need to add in either a switch or relay to turn the pump off when the computer isnt in use?

Using a switch would be the easiest, simply run the leads down to the switch from the power supply input, wire the switch up and run the leads to an electrical plug.

If using a relay (which is good because then the pump turns on when the computer does, so you dont forget the pump), you would need to wire the relay using the 12V line from the power supply to trigger the relay to turn on the 120V line to the pump.

I think there are some howto's on setting up a relay floating around the place, or someone who isnt quite as dodgy an electrical person as me can give you a schematic. I tend to just eye it up and work it out in my head, and wire as i go.

Ive got some plans tho for doing a relay system, using a small controller box inside the case to house the relay and wiring, then route a light and alarm out to the front of the case to show pump status and the alarm for if the relay doesnt switch. Also it means i dont need to cut up the power cable for the pump, so like was said i dont void my warranty.

*end long post*

Delta · 11-14-2001, 06:49 AM

adding the relay is very very easy. All a relay is is a switch, if you just use common sense when wiring it you should be ok. I've put one in my PSU along with some other bits and wired it to the PSU's 12v fan to keep everything inside the psu casing.

Changing my PSU would take a long time, its very heavily modded

pHaestus · 11-14-2001, 07:57 AM

Careful on wiring the relay to the 12V fan on Enermax (and some Antec) PSUs. If they have a temp sensor to adjust voltage based on temp then your pump may not get activated. You should be able to tap into the +12 before the temp sensing setup, but I just wanted to give you a heads up so nothing went wrong...

Delta · 11-14-2001, 11:43 AM

very good point, pH is that you as in #ilf ?

pHaestus · 11-14-2001, 02:09 PM

the one and the same. You are the same Delta? You should drop in; we have a lot of the same people there.

Jonas · 11-16-2001, 08:16 PM

hey kev just use the line taps you can get from rat shack. i just did this mod tonight, and it was VERY easy. no soldering at all in the psu, just to attach to the switch i mounted in a faceplate, right next to my ccmos switch

took maybe 20 mins from start to finish, looks neat, and most importantly IT WORKS!

11-12-2001, 07:22 PM	#1
Kevin Slacking more than your weird uncle Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: San Diego, CA (UCSD) / Los Angeles, CA (home) Posts: 1,605	How hard is it to rig a 120v pump to a standard ATX psu? I've never done this before. I am just wodering if it takes true skill or if it is basic soldering. I can solder, but I ain't so great... -Kev __________________ I used to throw hot coffee all over the ass of the horse there, then whip him while he was kickin' at me. Those f***in things are crazy.

11-12-2001, 07:41 PM	#2
pHaestus Big Player Making Big Money Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: irc.lostgeek.com #procooling.com Posts: 4,782	It's pretty basic soldering. There are only 3 wires, and they are large __________________ Getting paid like a biker with the best crank... -MF DOOM

11-12-2001, 11:33 PM	#4
Bollocks Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 54	Wouldn't you then need to add in either a switch or relay to turn the pump off when the computer isnt in use? Using a switch would be the easiest, simply run the leads down to the switch from the power supply input, wire the switch up and run the leads to an electrical plug. If using a relay (which is good because then the pump turns on when the computer does, so you dont forget the pump), you would need to wire the relay using the 12V line from the power supply to trigger the relay to turn on the 120V line to the pump. I think there are some howto's on setting up a relay floating around the place, or someone who isnt quite as dodgy an electrical person as me can give you a schematic. I tend to just eye it up and work it out in my head, and wire as i go. Ive got some plans tho for doing a relay system, using a small controller box inside the case to house the relay and wiring, then route a light and alarm out to the front of the case to show pump status and the alarm for if the relay doesnt switch. Also it means i dont need to cut up the power cable for the pump, so like was said i dont void my warranty. end long post __________________ Bollocks -------------- Celeron 466@525 stable Plans for H20 setup in HX08

11-14-2001, 06:49 AM	#5
Delta Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Baclkpool, UK Posts: 7	adding the relay is very very easy. All a relay is is a switch, if you just use common sense when wiring it you should be ok. I've put one in my PSU along with some other bits and wired it to the PSU's 12v fan to keep everything inside the psu casing. Changing my PSU would take a long time, its very heavily modded __________________ I used to be schizophrenic, but we're okay now

11-14-2001, 07:57 AM	#6
pHaestus Big Player Making Big Money Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: irc.lostgeek.com #procooling.com Posts: 4,782	Careful on wiring the relay to the 12V fan on Enermax (and some Antec) PSUs. If they have a temp sensor to adjust voltage based on temp then your pump may not get activated. You should be able to tap into the +12 before the temp sensing setup, but I just wanted to give you a heads up so nothing went wrong... __________________ Getting paid like a biker with the best crank... -MF DOOM

11-12-2001, 11:27 PM	#3
redleader Thermophile Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The deserts of Tucson, Az Posts: 1,264	Very easy. What I would do is go to your local hardware store and buy an electrical oulet. They make ones with no frame- just a small 1 inch square plug. Then solder this in to the supply instead. That way you can easily switch pumps and avoid killing your warrentee. Once you open it uo there are just three wires coming into the system from behind the plug. Solder them and you are good to go.

11-14-2001, 11:43 AM	#7
Delta Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Baclkpool, UK Posts: 7	very good point, pH is that you as in #ilf ? __________________ I used to be schizophrenic, but we're okay now

11-14-2001, 02:09 PM	#8
pHaestus Big Player Making Big Money Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: irc.lostgeek.com #procooling.com Posts: 4,782	the one and the same. You are the same Delta? You should drop in; we have a lot of the same people there. __________________ Getting paid like a biker with the best crank... -MF DOOM

11-16-2001, 08:16 PM	#9
Jonas Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Jackson, MI Posts: 94	hey kev just use the line taps you can get from rat shack. i just did this mod tonight, and it was VERY easy. no soldering at all in the psu, just to attach to the switch i mounted in a faceplate, right next to my ccmos switch took maybe 20 mins from start to finish, looks neat, and most importantly IT WORKS! __________________ "...as soon as you're born you start dying; so you might as well have a good time..."

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