Can I use a PC power supply to power an LCD monitor?

Jongamer · Post by **Jongamer** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:33 am

My school is throwing out a LCD monitor, and a fairly nice one at that, just because its power supply blew, and Radio shack doesn't sell anything that could supply 12v and 3.3 amps, could I rig a computer power supply up to the power connector and have it work? I just don't know the max amperage on the 12v line on a PC power supply.

I really need an answer by 2:10pm Eastern because other students have been eying it, and I was gonna swipe it as I leave school.

What wattage power supply should I use if it would work?

Post by **bicostp** » Thu May 22, 2008 8:21 am

I'm sure the 12v rail of a power supply could easily push 3 amps. Hard drives typically use one apiece anyway, and if you had to you could connect two 12v lines in parallel. A 300w unit should be more than adequate.

That very fix is how we revived an old POS rack mount Compaq LCD for the "PC fulla music" out in the garage. But it was flaky and died due to complications having nothing to do with the hacked-together power supply, and we replaced it with another LCD form the trash with a dead spot in the corner.

nitro2k01 · Post by **nitro2k01** » Thu May 22, 2008 9:02 am

bicostp wrote:I'm sure the 12v rail of a power supply could easily push 3 amps. Hard drives typically use one apiece anyway, and if you had to you could connect two 12v lines in parallel. A 300w unit should be more than adequate.

A word of caution: Don't directly connect two 12 V rails in parallell. It's likely that there's a small difference in voltage, say 0.2 V (11.9 V vs 12.1 V or so) This voltage is still enough to build a large current between the two PSU's. The solution is to protect the PSU's with either a small resistors or a diode on each 12 V line.
That said, I think a single computer PSU will do the job just fine anyway.

Jongamer · Post by **Jongamer** » Thu May 22, 2008 9:16 am

They took the monitor away so It could be disposed of PROPERLY they said, now I don't know where the hell it is *sigh*

Oh well

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Thu May 22, 2008 3:56 pm

What were you thinking?!?!?!? When you see free technology, take it!

Post by **bicostp** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:09 pm

Wait a couple hours after everyone leaves and look in and around the dumpster. "Dispose of it properly", in the case of a school, is most likely BS.

Jongamer · Post by **Jongamer** » Thu May 22, 2008 5:28 pm

I would have staqyed and searched the dumpsters if I didn't have to ride the Bus home.

And this school isnt a normal school.

www.greeneccc.com

My infomation Technology teacher even said he isnt allowed to just throw stuff out.

So yeah

I don't really think they just threw it into the dumpster.

I was hoping they leave it in the classroom, and after school ended I would pop in and take it from the trash pile, but nope they took it to some shed where they keep junk till they can be disposed of, and I beleave it is locked.

Oh well there is always hope another power supply blows on onother LCD

But I doubt that will happen in the last 3-4 days of school that I have left unless I did somthing to cause it, but I'm not that kinda person.

HotDog-Cart · Post by **HotDog-Cart** » Thu May 22, 2008 6:06 pm

Awww c'mon. You know you want to DESTROY stuffs!