Bench PSU

ATX Bench Supply with Wood Enclosure

Recycle a desktop ATX PSU into a lab bench power supply with a retro-inspired aesthetic

duration / 1 month

category / Electrical, woodworking

team / Individual

Every personal mechatronics lab needs a stable DC power source to troubleshoot circuits without needing external batteries or buck converters, which I’ve relied on before and got quite inconvenient.

A common entry level electrical project involves recycling an ATX PSU into a lab bench PSU.

I didn’t feel like spending $50 for one to ship in the next day. So instead, I spent 1 month and more money to make one myself.

To replicate a more earthy/retro aesthetic, I chose to make a hardwood enclosure that goes over the original PSU enclosure

By keeping the original metal enclosure un-modified, the EM interference remains contained within. In addition, the metal layer will reduce direct contact/damage on the wood if any fire broke out within.

My woodworking setup is very barebones, consisting of a chisel, hacksaw, hand drill, and sandpaper

I chose redwood for the main body and leftover MDF scraps for the front/back panels for its thinness. The redwood is finished with natural tung oil to bring forth its beautiful color. The front panel is covered with an automobile vinyl wrap.

Since there are so many wires coming out of the ATX PSU, I drafted a quick wire diagram for each color.

To reduce the amount of redundant wires, I went inside the ATX enclosure and clipped wires as close to the PCB as possible, clipping off frayed wires and applying a little solder to ensure no loose end will make unintended contact.