Running external devices on the PSU

[Steve]

Just a little modding suggestion for you guys out there:

Have you got anything using a 12V DC apaptor that is always running with the PC? Why not power it off the PSU then?

Today I wired my 5port 10/100 switch into my linux router box's PSU. I used an old transformer cable I had - checked the polarity of the device and how the wires were set up on the cable, then wired it into the 12V line in the computer's case.

Powering little things like network switches is no biggy for the PSU - 85mA was the rating on the transformer. Also, the voltage from a PSU is a lot cleaner - less dumpy, so the switch will probably last longer now.

I was going to build a computer case out of K'nex, but I gave my K'nex away a year ago - so I resorted to this, lol.

[unrealrocks]

A good idea but my main switch drags 1.8Amps at 12V

I'd thought about doing it with the switches I use for LAN Games and power them off one for the network monitoring PC although then I saw how many amps they drag (240v 0.3Amps .. do the maths )

[Howard]

Nice idea. I'll remember this next time I need to plug something in under there *peers under desks at forest of cables*, there's no sockets left!