Building A Powersupply
 

I just purchased a ProTek R/C "Prodigy 620 DUO" charger. I'm in the market for a powersupply. Needing one that has about 1000 watts. I was going to buy the maxamps http://www.maxamps.com/Power-Supply-24V.htm , but I think I'll save alot of money using server powersupplys.

My questions are:
What server PSU's will I Need, to power that charger? Price? etc..
How easy is it to do myself?
How safe is it?
Looking for some guidance. Thanks.

All that MaxAmps power supply consist of is two server power supplies wired in series. Huge safety measures they bypassed in order to wire the two supplies in series. Fine if a individual does it but pure crap (IMO) that a company does it.

Anyways, point is moot as your charger only accepts up to 18v DC input. Pick up one of the following 12v/900w server power supplies:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/364360-001-H...item5aeb8a64ec

Huge thread on RC groups of how to wire it up for RC use.

Thanks for the reply. I will give it a shot.
Edit: what type of powerplug does that server need?

LOL, I was just going to make a post about converting this very power supply. There is another seller I got one from that sells them for $16.95 shipped via fedex 3 day. Cant beat that with a stick. http://www.ebay.com/itm/HSTNS-PA01-H...E:L:OU:US:3160

The power cord needed is C19, they can be bought on amazon, cost me more than the power supply did but still Im far under the cost of a 60 amp power supply. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012EK2RE/...0_M3T1_SC_dp_1

I bought the Hitech X2 400W, basically the same charger you have.

I will give you this warning though. When the small high rpm fans in this puppy lite off it sounds like a 747 on the approach! There are ways to work around that though and to modify the output volatge up to 13.1V. Takes a little soldering skill and a few resistors.

I went pretty elaborate on mine placing switches in the rear with varied ohmic values for variable speed on the fans and installed bi metal switches for an over ride. If it starts getting too hot the fans kick to high speed no matter the switch position.

I mounted a biding post through the rear of the supply as well.

There is a pretty darn good read and lessons to be learned in modding this and a few other PSU's

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1005309

A total of about $50 (cord being the most of it) invested and a little of my time was a lot cheaper than the $200 a commerically made RC specific power supplies that are large enough for the load. Whats even worse is some of the sites selling these chargers dont sell power supplies capable of handling the current. I ran the charger full tilt charging 2 packs at 20 amps each and didnt come close to putting a full load on this power supply, had the fans on medium. The resistor network I put in feeds the fans 5v, 8v or all 12V if the thermal switch kicks in. Normal balance charging at 5-10 amps the slowest fan speed is sufficent and sounds like the average ATX power supply, fairly quiet, quite simply once the fans on the charger spin up you cant hear the power supply fans on low at all and can tell there are more fans running on medium speed but the dB level isnt much higher.


I agree about the Max amp power supplies. I saw it and about puked when it was so obvious that its two server power supplies with a wrap around them, very cheesy looking and at a premium price!

I'm using the same IBM power supply they are, only I'm using one not two. It's worked great for the last 2 years. Much cheaper to build one yourself. I bought mime on eBay for less than 20 bucks.

Guy,

Yeah they put the two in series so you are limited to chargers that will take the 24V. Not to mention dont ever let the ground on the two cases touch, the magic smoke will get out. They have an insulating barrier installed between them in that wrap Im sure, otherwise it wouldnt work. One supply is actually grounded at the neg terminal, the other is floating, not even a case ground. Otherwise connecting the positive of one to the negative of the other would result in a dead short.

I was really surprised when I saw how they set there's up. Like the other poster stated, not cool for a company to do this. An individual with some electrical knowledge knows what they're getting into. Someone just buying from Max amps may not.

Guy

Yeah you have a very good point there. It can be quite dangerous and someone could get hurt. No way that can have a UL listing. Its got liability written all over it! For as much as Max Amps professes to be a leader in battery technology one would think they would either develop their own supply or simply pay another company to make one for them and rebrand it.
Case in point the charger that I and the OP are using are made by the same company, who knows who it actually is. If you search it out the same power supply can be seen in several different labels and color schemes.

Hitech
Protek
SkyRC
Turnigy

Are all the same housing at least with the ports in the same place only different colors, a little different on the control button graphics but other than that appear identical. The top air inlet on the turnigy is a honeycommb instead of slots but thats not much different either. My guess is the internal components are probably the same too.

BTW, for those looking to wire up two server power supplies in series to make 24v output, you can float the DC ground on one of the PS units instead of floating the AC ground. Doing this allows the cases to touch. Safer also, although I am in no way shape or form an electrician so read up before doing this. Also, you have to open the case which exposes you to high voltage (potentially deadly) shocks from the caps if you touch the wrong thing. Again, read up before attempting.

Thanks for the comments! I'm ordering the powersupply Justinthyme suggested, along with the power cord.
Everything seems pretty simple enough. I'll post up an update once I get it all complete along with pictures of my set-up.

Just want to say thanks for again for the help! Received everything in the mail. Soldered and wired everything up. Works perfect! Saved me come coin for sure.

Heres my Set-up.
I got the charger from Amainhobbies for $150 shipped on Black Friday sale
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psf01c1588.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps5240edbe.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps01efa0f6.jpg

and the charger
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psc6c844b1.jpg

This whole setup cost me $185 /w the powersupply

Nice work. I'm in the process of soldering up my smaller DL380 PSU's. I got 2 of them for $30 shipped on ebay and the SkyRC Ultimate800 charger for $150.