How To Build A Dummy Load For ATX Power Supply Testing
Here is a simple dummy load you can build for testing ATX computer power supplies. All you need is the following items.
Two 12 volt automotive light bulbs.
One male Molex connector.
Here is the wiring diagram to show how everything is connected together.
Only use the outer red wire and yellow wire and the two black inner wires.
This is what it looks like all put together with the automotive light bulbs soldered to the Molex connector.
The dummy load is plugged in to the power supply and ready to be put to use.
The power supply is turned on and the light bulbs on the dummy load are lit and working.
This article was prepared for you by Mark James; Pennsylvania U.S. Mark is a computer Technician and electronics hobbyist. Holds two associate degrees one in Computer systems technology and one in electronics engineering technology.
P.S- Do you know of any your friends who would benefit from this content that you are reading now? If so, forward this website to your friends or you can invite your friends to subscribe to my newsletter for free in this Link.
Note: You can check his previous repair articles on PC Speaker Interference Fix
(81)Dislikes
(0)
10 Comments
Leave a Reply
Parasuraman S
August 10, 2024 at 9:37 pm
Thanks for this unique article! I used 12V 25W bulb as load and use an SMPS power output checker, which is more or less accurate in determining the condition of ATX Power supplies! Please see this article: https://jestineyong.com/saving-computer-smps-part-9/
Mark J
August 11, 2024 at 2:43 am
Parasuraman S I have that same ATX power supply tester. It works well.
Yogesh Panchal
August 10, 2024 at 10:27 pm
Good Idea! Mark
Mark J
August 11, 2024 at 2:44 am
Yogesh Panchal Thanks...
Albert van Bemmelen
August 10, 2024 at 11:18 pm
It is never a bad thing to make a few new quick testtools.
Most small car double-filament front headlight bulbs have 2 different lights in one. Low beam and high beam. For which as far I know only 3 connectorpins are needed to show the two bulbs light up. One for ground and two for both halogen bulbs. Which gives the H4 front lightbulb in the Fiat Panda the option to light up the 'dipped' lightbulb or the stronger 'main beam'light. And they are at max about 65 Watt each at 12V (left and right).
Not mentioning the connectors for the also available beam motors in both headlights that control the position of the light beam.
IVAN FALCÃO
August 11, 2024 at 2:05 am
Thanks, best idea!
Mark J
August 11, 2024 at 7:20 am
Thanks...
PHILIP
August 11, 2024 at 1:29 pm
Its so good of you to share useful information with other technicians. Most power supplies have at their secondary output different voltage outputs that are suitable for particular circuits. Now a particular output voltage could be 24v, but how do I detemine the necessary output current flow, because a wrong choice of improper bulb wattage may lead to a high current flow that may cause harm to some components in the circuit because the improvised load might not match the designed consumer unit. And also how long should the bulb testing take? The little I know in electronics - I learned it mostly in this website, thanks Jestine, Humphrey, Parasuraman, Albert, Suranga, Waleed and all the rest, God bless you.
Humberto
August 19, 2024 at 11:39 pm
Thanks lot for your idea
Mark J
August 21, 2024 at 9:14 am
Humberto you are welcome.