Noob power supply question

[mtalkington]

Believe it or not, I did a search on this question and couldn't find answers that I could understand, so please don't flame me. 

I need to power up the fans and coin-door lights in my cabinet. I used to do this by splicing into the wires on my computer's power supply (in other words, I've long ago cut off the molex endings on my fans and coin-door lights, so I have raw leads...I spliced these into leads on my computer's power supply).

 However, I would like to do this with a separate power supply, one other than that of my computer...and I have no idea how to do it. Again, believe it or not, I went to two radio shacks, told them I had some raw leads to computer fans that I need to power up, and they couldn't help (Well, the problem most likely was that I couldn't explain for crap what I needed.).

Any help, including a link to a power supply that I can use for this, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!

[NightGod]

I can't think of any possible reason to split those out like that, but your best bet would likely be just another computer power supply (aka switching power supply). Computer ones are actually generally cheaper just because they are so mass produced.

You could always buy some molex connectors if you really want to make it look a little better-that's actually what I did to splice into my PSU.

But seriously, it's not broke, why are you trying to fix it?

[mtalkington]

My computer sits outside of my cabinet, and I just don't like the looks of the wires running over to it...not a huge deal, but if there's an easy alternative, I'd go for it.

I guess I must be missing a chunk of brain cells (I knew I shouldn't have had that second bottle of Robitussin this morning), but I did try using a separate computer power supply....and I couldn't get it to power up unless it was attached to a motherboard! I'm glad you brought up that point...will computer psu's work independently of computers (without a motherboard)? If so, then I'll just put one in my cabinet.

Thanks again your help!

[pand4monium]

From what I know of the PSU's they should.  You just need to make sure they have the wall power running to them and the connecter that would tell them to operate to be connected to some sort of outside toggle switch to get them to run.

Though google this to make sure

[mtalkington]

Perfect. That makes complete sense: The PSU needs a signal of some sort to turn on, which I send via a toggle switch. Thanks so much!

[westell]

If its a standard ATX power supply you have to jump the green wire to a black wire to get the ps to come on. (the main harness to mother board connector)

You could also ting both wires to a toggle switch if yuo like and put it where you want.

EDIT> here ya go
http://www.gideontech.com/content/articles/196/1