instructables

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies

by TedySto

Since the 1990s, the world has been invaded by PCs. power supplies that I dealt with in this regard.
The situation continues to this day. Older computers,
until 2014 ... 2015, are largely out of use. In general, there are 2 ways to follow:

As each PC has a power supply, there are a large 1. Use of power supplies as such (after a possible
number of them abandoned in the form of waste. repair).

Their number is so large that they raise environmental 2. Disassembly and use of component parts for
issues. various other purposes.

Their recovery contributes to saving the environment.
If we add to this the fact that we can use many of the
components and materials that make them up, to do
various things, it is understandable why it is worth
make this.
In the main photo you can see only a small part of the
As point 1 has been extensively presented elsewhere, I
will focus on point 2.
I will present in this rst part what can be recovered
and where what I recovered can be used, following
that in future Instructables concrete applications are
presented, with what I recovered.

Step 1: A Little Theory: Block Diagram

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 1
It seems strange to start with a bit of theory a
practical work, but it is important to understand what
is worth recovering from such a power supply and
where it can be used.
So we need to know what's inside and how it works.
I can't say that all the power supplies from the
mentioned period had this block diagram, but the
vast majority did.
In addition, there is a wide variety of schemes starting
from this, each with speci c circuits. But broadly
speaking, this is how things are:
1. Ne t w o rk lt e r, re ct i e r bridg e a nd
re ct i e d v o lt a g e lt e r ca pa cit o rs .
Power network applies to J connector. Follow a fuse
(or two) that burns in case of power failure.
The component marked with NTC has a higher value
at the start of the power supply, then decreases with
increasing temperature.Thus, the diodes in the bridge
are protected at the start of the power supply, by
limiting the currents in the circuit.
Next is the network lter, which has the role of
limiting the disturbances introduced by the power
supply in the power network.
Then there is the bridge formed by diodes D1 ... D4
and in addition to some power supplies the switch K.
For K on the 230V / 50Hz position, D1 ... D4 forms a
Graetz bridge. For K on the 115V / 60Hz position, D1
and D2 together with C1 and C2 form a voltage
doubler, D3 and D4 being permanently locked.
In both cases, on the C1 series with C2 assembly we
have 320V DC (160V DC on each capacitor).
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2. D riv e r a nd po w e r s w it ching s t a g e .
It is a Half Bridge Stage, where the switching
transistors are Q1 and Q2.
The other part of the half-bridge consists of C1 and
C2.
The primary coil of theTR1 chopper transformer is
connected diagonally to this half-bridge.
TR2 is the driver transformer . It is controlled in
primary by Q3, Q4, driver transistors . In secondary,
TR2 commanded in antiphase Q1, Q2.
3. St a ndby s upply a nd PW M s t a g e .
Standby supply is powered at the input with power
network and o er at the output Usby (usually + 5V).
This is itself a switching power supply built around a
transformer notated TRUsby.
It is necessary to start the source, being then usually
taken over by another voltage generated by the
power supply.
PWM control IC is a circuit specialized in the anti-
phase control of transistors Q3, Q4, performing PWM
control of the source, stabilization of the output
voltages, protections against short-circuit in load, etc.
4 . Fina l re ct i e r s t a g e .
In fact, there are several such circuits, one for each
output voltage.
D5, D6 diodes are fast, high current Schottky diodes
are often used on the + 5V branch.
Inductors L and C3 lter the output voltage.
Step 2: Initial Disassembly of the Power Supply

The rst step is to remove the power supply cover. The
general organization is the one seen in photo 1.
The board with electronic components can be seen in
photos 2,3.
In all these photos are highlighted the most
important electronic components, which will be
recovered, but also other subassemblies of interest.
Where appropriate, the notations are those in the
block diagram.

In photos 3 ... 9 you can see other boards with

electronic components.

3
2
2
4 1 5
1 6

1. Metal box 1. C1
2. Fan 2. Heatsink 1
3. Board with electronic components 3. Heatsink 2
4. Wires 4. NTC
5. C2
6. Bridge

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 3

 3

4 2
5 6
7
5 1

8 6
7
2
3

4
1

1. PWM IC 1. Q1
2. L 2. Q2
3. D5,D6 3. C1
4. TR1 4. C2
5. TR2 5. Network filter
6. TRUsby 6. TR1
7. Q2 7. L
8. Q1

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 4

 1

2
1
8

2 3
6

4 4
5
6 3

9 5
7

1. TR1 1. Wires
2. TR2 2. Heatsink1
3. C1 3. Heatsink2
4. C2 4. Bridge
5. Network filter 5. Network filter
6. Sig 6. L
7. NTC
8. L
9. J(power network)

5
1
4

6 2
3 3

1
2
4

1. C1 1. Q1
2. C2 2. Q2
3. TR1 3. TR1
4. TR2 4. Bridge
5. TRUsby
6. L

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 5

 1 2

4 5

9
3

1. C1
2. C2
3. L
4. Bridge
5. Heatsink1
6. Heatsink2
7. Sig
8. Network filter
9. NTC

Step 3: Capacitors Recovery

With the exception of the capacitors in the Network -C1, C2 (see photo11) 330uf/250V...680uF/250V , value
Filter, it is recommended to recover only the following that depends on the power supplied by the power
capacitors: supply.

-C4 (see photo10) 1uF/250V, pulse capacitors. They are usually in good condition. It is checked to
have a maximum deviation of +/- 5% between them.
It is the capacitor coupled in series with the primary
TR1 (chopper), which has the role of cutting any I found in some cases that although a value was
continuous component caused by the imbalance of marked (for example 470uF), in reality the value was
the half bridge and which would magnetize in DC. TR1 lower. If the two values are balanced (+/- 5%) it is OK.
core.
Pairs are kept, as they were recovered, as in photo11.
Usually the C4 is in good condition and can be used
on other similar power supplies, having the same role.

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 6

 1 2

1. C4 1. C1

2. C2

Step 4: NTC Recovery

NTC is the element that limits the current through the e ciency of the power supply.
recti er bridge at start-up.
Also, NTC dimensions are smaller than a similar
For example, NTC type 5D-15 (photo 12) has 5ohm limiting resistor.
(room temperature) at start-up. After a period of tens
of seconds, due to its heating, the resistance Usually, NTC is in good condition and can be used in
decreases to less than 0.5 ohm. This makes the power similar positions in other power supplies.
dissipated on this element lower, improving the

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 7

 1

1. NTC

Step 5: Recovery of Rectifier Diodes and Rectifier Bridges

The most common form of recti er is the one with a bridge (see photo 13).

Bridges consisting of 4 diodes are rarely used.

They are usually in good condition and are used in similar positions in power supply.

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 8

 1

1. Bridge(D1...D4)
2. D1...D4

Step 6: Recovery of Chopper Transformers and Fast Diodes

For enthusiasts of construction of switching power
supplies, the recovery of chopper transformers is of
the greatest utility. So I will write an Instructables on
the exact identi cation and rewinding of these
transformers.
Now I will limit myself to saying that their recovery is
good to be done together with the recti er diodes in
the secondary and where possible with the label on
the power supply box (see photo 14). Thus we will
have information about the number of secondary of
the transformer and about the power that it can o er.
They are usually in good condition and are used in
similar positions in power supply.

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 9

 1 2 3

1. TR1
2. D5, D6
3. Label

Step 7: Network Filter Recovery

When the Network Filter is planted on the There are two variants: without shield and with shield
motherboard of the power supply, they will be (see photo16).
recovered for later use as in the initial con guration
(see photo 15). They are usually found in good condition, and can be
used in the same position in power supplies..
There are power supply variants in which the Network
Filter is attached to the male couple on the box.

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 10

 1 2

1. Shielded Network Filter

2. Network Filter without shield

Step 8: Recovery of Switching Transistors

The most used switching transistors on this position are 2SC3306 and MJE13007. They are fast switching transistors
at 8-10A and 400V (Q1 and Q2). See photo 17.

There are and other transistors that are used.

They are usually found in good condition, but can only be used in the same position in half-bridge power supplyes.

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 11

 1 2

1. Q1
2. Q2

Step 9: Heatsinks Recovery

There are usually 2 heatsinks on each power supply.

-Heatsink1. On it are mounted Q1, Q2 and possible 3-pin stabilizers.

-Heatsink2. On it are mounted fast recti ers for output voltages.

They can be used in other power supply or other applications(audio for example). See photo 18.

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 12

 2
1

1. Heatsink1
2. Heatsink2

Step 10: Recovery of Other Transformers and Coils

There are 3 categories of transformers or inductors because they can withstand a continuous component
that are worth recovering(see photo 19): of high value without saturating the core.

1.L coils that are used in the original scheme as lters 2.TR2 transformers that can be used as a driver
coils on auxiliary recti ers. transformer in half-bridge power supplies.

They are toroidal coils and a core is used for 2 or 3
auxiliary recti ers in the original scheme.
They can be used not only in similar positions, but also
as coils in step-down or step-up power supplies,
3.TRUsby, standby transformer, which can be used in
the same position, as transformer in a standby source,
for another power supply.

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 13

 7 8

4
5

1
2

1. L
2. L
3. L
4. TR2
5. TR2
6. TR2
7. TRUsby
8. TRUsby

Step 11: Recovery of Other Components and Materials

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 14

In photo 20 and 21 you can see disassembled sources
and the components described above.
In addition, here are two elements that can be useful:
the metal box in which the power supply was
mounted and the fan that cools its components.
The way we used the metal box we nd at:
https://www.instructables.com/Power-Timer-With-
Ard...
and
https://www.instructables.com/Home-Sound-System/
The fans are powered by 12V DC and also have many
applications. But I found a fairly large number of fans
worn (noise, vibration) or even stuck up.
That is why it is good to check carefully.
Other things that can be recovered are the wires.
Photo 22 shows the wires recovered from several
power supplies. They are exible, of good quality and
can be reused.
Photo 24 shows other components that can be
recovered: PWM Control CI.
The most used are: TL494 (KIA494, KA7500, M5T494) or
Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 15
those from the SG 6103, SG6105 series.
Separately from these are ICs from the LM393 series,
LM339, comparators that are used in source
protection circuits.
All of these ICs are usually in good condition, but a
pre-use check is required.
Finally, but not without importance, you can recover
the tin with which the components of the power
supply are soldered.
The desoldering of the components is done with tin
sucker.
By cleaning it, a certain amount of tin is obtained,
which is collected and melted in the tin melting bath
(photo 23).
This melting bath is made of Aluminum and is
electrically heated. A box recovered from the power
supply is used as support.
Of course, it is necessary to collect a large amount of
tin, which is done over time and on several devices.
But it is an activity worth doing because it saves the
environment and the capitalization of the tin thus
obtained is quite pro table.
 2 1

2 1

1. Metal box 1. Fan

2. Fan 2. Metal box

3
1

1. Power supply metal box

2. Melting tin bath.
3. Tin

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 16

 3 2
4 7

5 6
1

1. LM339
2. LM393
3. TL494
4. M5T494
5. KIA494
6. KA7500
7. SG6105

Step 12: Final Conclusion:

The recovery of components and materials from these devalued. This is the case for the other components
power supplies is one that contributes to saving the that have not been shown here and will be left on the
environment, but helps us to obtain components and motherboard. These will be recycled by authorized
materials with which to do various things. Some of companies.
them I will present in the future.
And that's it!
Some of the electronic components on the board will
not be recovered, being considered obsolete or
Very good and detailed instruction. Thanks.

Thank you very much for your appreciation!

Appreciate the effort you have put in this Ible! Possibly groups of components could for the basis
for basic experiments for students and hobbyists.
Good idea! Thank you!

Hello,
It is helpful.
Thank you.
Thanks for your appreciation. Success!

Recovering Old PC Power Supplies: Page 17