Decasing PC power supplies

[4Aaron GE]

Has anyone done this before?  I'm considering doing this to gain a bit more space, but I'm a little apprehensive about doing it.  The main concern is that the case acts as sort of a "wind tunnel" of sorts, drawing air from one end, over the heatsinks, and out the back.  You guys think that taking off the "box" cause any heating issues?


And yes, I know, high voltages, etc.

[BobA]

The case is a very important part of keeping the PS safe.  There are way too many points of contact to safely decase the PS.  Why not move to a PS where the main ac is in a box connected to the wall and only a small part of the DC portion of the supply plugs into the motherboard.  Sort of like a laptop supply.

[4Aaron GE]

Well, I'm trying to get an entire PC setup into a space that's 11.75"x34"x6".  Basically a CP with a self contained PC inside.  I'd rather not have any external parts.


Looking at the actual PS though, I wonder if I couldn't just get some hammers and dollies out and modify the shape of the case so that it was lower.

[NightGod]

Whatever you do, be extremely careful-there's life-changing voltage levels on those capacitors inside those things. I'm perfectly comfortable doing home electrical work, including playing around with 220 and working inside my circuit box, and have worked with computers for well over a decade and there's no way in hell I'd open up a PSU for longer than it takes to see if anything inside them has blown/is leaking.

You can find PSUs that are built in a small form factor-far better option than playing around with that kind of potential current, IMHO.

[Zero_Hour]

As someone who has taken a jolt from a shorted out 220v device, I highly recommend avoiding anything that might get you electrocuted. Definitely look into Small Form Factor PSU as NightGod suggested. DIY is not always the way to go.

[Buddabing]

If you are trying to fit a PC into a very small space as you describe, you might check out the PicoPSU. Google for it.

I would not decase the PSU. You could electrocute yourself or burn your house down.

[SavannahLion]

I'm not going to offer any advice that isn't already here. Don't decase the PSU.

A PC PSU is designed as a self contained unit, including the case. The case is generally designed as part of the fail safe design. Since you're designing a self contained CP that's likely to take a lot of abuse, you want to keep your fail safes, not get rid of them.


Unless you're building a Painstation 3.

[ChadTower]

If you're even asking the question, decasing the PSU leads to deceasing the USER.

[stuckpixel]

Don't decase the PSU. You won't save that much space, and you'll increase your likeliness of getting electrocuted. I've been shocked by a PSU, and let me tell you, that is NOT something you want to risk. Luckily I didn't have both hands in contact with it, because that very easily could have ended me.

That type of voltage isn't something you want to play with.

Get a PicoPSU if space is a major issue, or just get a micro-ATX PSU. Don't mess with the casing.

[divemaster127]

I agree with everybody above look for a small psu, decasing a power supply will not gain you much room, & its very dangerous
dm

[4Aaron GE]

Noted.  PSU stays in case.

[AcidArmitage]

... we just saved his life!