k-man
Newbie level 3

Suggestions for converted power-supply design
I've pulled the p/s units out of my old HP server and would like to use them as the core of a DIY benchtop power supply. I think I've got a pretty sound strategy for wiring them up to get selectable 12/24/36v configurations (as well as the microcontroller/display brains), however I'm not quite sure what would be the best way to implement a voltage adjuster. Since each unit can push uplwards of 36amps (IIRC) on each of its +12/+5/+3.3 lines, I was toying with the idea of using large Power Mosfets for that purpose.
What I've seen so far in other circuit designs has been geared towards using fets as a regulating/amplifying core, rather than using them to adjust the voltage on an already regulated/stabilized DC output. My concern, not be an expert in this area, is that I'll degrade the already pristine signal. And, to make things more interesting, I'm planning on running the output through an adjustable current limiter. I'm not sure how that will effect the mosfet strategy, but I'd like to hear any thoughts/ideas/examples on what would produce the best results.
Thanks in advance.
-mike
I've pulled the p/s units out of my old HP server and would like to use them as the core of a DIY benchtop power supply. I think I've got a pretty sound strategy for wiring them up to get selectable 12/24/36v configurations (as well as the microcontroller/display brains), however I'm not quite sure what would be the best way to implement a voltage adjuster. Since each unit can push uplwards of 36amps (IIRC) on each of its +12/+5/+3.3 lines, I was toying with the idea of using large Power Mosfets for that purpose.
What I've seen so far in other circuit designs has been geared towards using fets as a regulating/amplifying core, rather than using them to adjust the voltage on an already regulated/stabilized DC output. My concern, not be an expert in this area, is that I'll degrade the already pristine signal. And, to make things more interesting, I'm planning on running the output through an adjustable current limiter. I'm not sure how that will effect the mosfet strategy, but I'd like to hear any thoughts/ideas/examples on what would produce the best results.
Thanks in advance.
-mike