ATX PSU Blanking plate

[peterb]

I have a case with a cut-out for a standard ATX psu. I intend fitting a pico PSU to it, so I am looking for a blanking plate, or (preferably a blanking plate that will take a fan).

No joy googling or the usual e-tailers. If I have to, Icould cannabalise an old ATX psu, or if push comes to shove, fabricate one - but has anyone know where I might find one?

Thanks.

[GaryRW]

Sorry to bump an oldish thread, but I'm in the same boat and wonder whether anyone has got any ideas?

My plan was to get an old piece of metal and just cut to the ATX psu hole size, with a hole drilled in the middle for the PSU wire. I can hopefully find some form of rubber grommet from B&Q or somewhere that'll stopping the wire cutting itself on the edges.

Does anyone know of a properly manufactured plate, or any general suggestions as to sources of suitable metal sheet materials- It'll be my first ever mod (even if it's not particularly ambitious...)

Thanks

[Pob255]

Don't know of one off hand, but my question to you is this, does it have to be metal?
If you don't have the tools then getting and cutting metal sheet could end up being costly.
But you could get hold of a bit of wood or plastic more easily and it's much easier to work with.

That said I think the best idea would be to cut the back off an old psu, it's the right size, has the correct hole for the power socket (heck it even has one & a switch you can use if you took a soildering iron to it), and ether a mesh or an 80mm fan vent depending on the doner psu.

This is actually a good use for one of thoes really cheap sub£10 psu.

[GaryRW]

Don't know of one off hand, but my question to you is this, does it have to be metal?

To be honest, I'm not even sure the hole needs to be filled. The back of the pc will be fairly tight up against the back of the cupboard that it'll be in (don't ask...) so it should be safe from little 3 year old fingers, but that's probably my main fear.

I have no idea whether EM interference is something to be worried about or not. It'll have a tv tuner card in the pc, so presumably it'll make no difference to that? or should the aerial wire be shielded from the tuner?

It just seems like it's a hole that needs to be filled I like your idea of a fan guard though. I think you had in mind as part of the back of an old PSU, but maybe I could just attach 2 fan (90mm? 120mm?) grills to cover the hole. Hmmmmm.... I'll have to do some measuring and have a closer look tonight. That'd be cheaper than the large sheets of metal/mesh on B&Q's website anyway.

cheers Pob

[Pob255]

what I was thinking was get some el-cheapo psu off fleabay (or do you have one knocking about?)

open it up, cut off the back.
If you have and can use a soildering iron then you could keep&rewire both the switch and the power socket. If not just use them as handy holes to run cables through.
You can also use than nice 80mm fan vent to put an additional 80mm case fan in.
(the fan inside cheap psu's are a) bad and b) wired directly to the pcb of the psu, not worth keeping)

[GaryRW]

what I was thinking was get some el-cheapo psu off fleabay (or do you have one knocking about?)

I'd just asked our friendly IT bod at work if there were any old/dead ones lying around

The power socket wouldn't be any good for me though. The DC/DC board I'm using is not quite as small as a pico psu, but not that far off (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/150w-...-Power-Adaptor). The AC/DC brick that takes the kettle lead will sit outside the case (warming up my living room rather than the inside of the PC ) so all that will be going through is one wire. The DC/DC board does have a socket to take the lead from the power brick, but it's clearly designed for mini-itx cases and the socket won't reach the back of the pc. I reckon it'll be fine though with just the wire sticking through.

[Sputnik]

If you can draw what you want there are companies that can laser cut it for you for reasonable costs.

[GaryRW]

Blimey - that's an option I'd not considered!

TBH, I'm not that worried, and last night I put a 80mm fan grill against the hole. Almost covers the hole, and I reckon I could do something with 2 x 80mm or 2 x 90mm fan grills that will keep little fingers out. Might be another Maplins trip coming up

[peterb]

Thanks for the comments guys, and I'm sure GaryRW has found it useful. I haven't found a plate, although I have considered both the old PSU option (advantage is that there will be the fan mounting, and the power socker could be left in place, but not connected.

I have also found a small engineering company locally to me (Southampton) (Sputnik has also suggested that) that might be able to make the plate - the dimensions and machining details are readily available on Google - look at ATX PSU specifications) - so when I get a moment I'll give them a ring.

But I don't think there is anything available commercially.

[Pob255]

ChilledPc do custom fabs for approx £15
http://www.chilledpc.co.uk/shop/prod...roducts_id=735

Should of thought of that option.