Choosing a Power Supply for your RepRap

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The power supply (PSU or Power Supply Unit) is a most essential component of any RepRap, yet the information over which PSU to choose/buy for RepRap use is very much scattered around the web, in YouTube videos, and in various forums, blogs and wikis. Also there is little information concerning safety issues and these should be the absolute priority when dealing with PSUs.

The purpose of this page is to help the RepRap builder choose a proper PSU for her/his project, possibly modify it slightly to function with her/his choice of RepRap electronics, and deal with any safety concerns that may arise related to the PSU.

In a hurry and don't want to read through all that crap (you should, though!)? Jump to Section 6 below!


Switch-mode power supplies, a short introduction

Nowadays (2014) practically all power supplies within the power range required by RepRap printers (250~350W) are switch-mode power supplies (as opposed to linear power supplies, which are considered technologically outdated). Switch-mode power supplies have relatively complex circuits that convert mains AC electricity to the DC voltages required by RepRap steppers and electronic circuits. The design and manufacturing of switch-mode power supplies is way beyond the reach of any hobbyist, leaving a single alternative for RepRap builders: to buy a commercial switch-mode PSU.

LED strip PSUs or ATX PSUs ?

Economies of scale play an important part in determining the price and availability of a switch-mode power supply. Consequently, industrial-grade switch-mode power supplies (e.g. those used in CNC machines) manufactured in small series and to high standards of reliability, are extremely expensive and have limited availability, ruling out their use for DIY RepRaps. So when looking to buy a PSU for her/his RepRap, the RepRap builder has in reality just two choices: either what can be called the LED strip PSU, or a modern ATX PSU. Both are switch-mode power supplies easily bought in retail commerce, but they differ essentially in the purpose for which they are designed, manufactured and sold.

LED strip PSUs

LED strip PSUs are switch-mode PSUs designed to supply a fixed DC 12V or 24V rail with relatively high current capabilities (anywhere from 15A to 30A or more) to a strip of dozens or hundreds of LEDs, each consuming a small percentage of the total current. In the last couple of years, due to the development of LED lighting, they have become relatively inexpensive and are now widely available. They are even currently included in many commercial RepRap kits. However, one must keep in mind their original design requirements: powering LEDS is not a particularly difficult task, as these are relatively forgiving electronic devices. Also, since LED strip PSU manufacturers are not forced to comply with any specific requirements or standards apart from the basic ones that will get them through the usual test laboratories certifications, there is a big variation in quality and price, and it is practically impossible for the hobbyist to choose one LED strip PSU over another on any rational basis. However, 3D printers are not fussy with regard to regulation and ripple, so LED PSUs are entirely adequate for 3D printer use, provided that you are comfortable with doing mains wiring and you safeguard the mains terminals.

ATX PSUs

ATX PSUs on the other hand have been around for decades, have been produced consistently in hundreds of millions of units over many years, and have evolved over time, adapting to the ever-changing PC market. There is an "official" ATX PSU design guide / specification that is revised every few years and that is available as a PDF document for free download. ATX PSU manufacturers can claim that their products conform to these specifications (or not) as this is seen as an attractive feature for consumers. The latest ATX specification revisions include not only precise technical specifications, but also a number of safety requirements as well as some ergonomic requirements. ATX PSUs get regularly opened and dissected in specialized hobbyist websites (JonnyGuru, TechPowerUp, HardwareSecrets, etc), and some brands have established themselves as having reliable products with a good price/performance ratio. So all in all, there is a lot more information available to the hobbyist to make a rational choice when choosing an ATX PSU.

Comparison table

The following table compares LED strip PSUs vs ATX PSUs for RepRap use:

LED Strip PSUs ATX PSUs
Availability widely available very widely available
Price $20-$120 $20-$200 or more
Power 200W-480W 200W-600W or more
PFC (see below) No (not mandated) Passive or Active PFC (or no PFC at all) available
Thermally regulated fan On higher power models Yes (12 or 14cm diameter)
Guaranteed minimum efficiency No (not mandated) Yes
Cables included No Yes (but you get too many attached cables unless you buy a "modular" PSU)
Low ripple/noise DC output No, but good enough Yes
Load/line regulation Moderate On 12V output varies from very poor to very good
Modifications needed for RepRap use Power inlet and cover to safeguard the mains connections Usually need a minimum load on at least the 5V rail. Also see below.
Protections Usually short circuit protected Many
Remote softstart and standby No Yes
On/Off switch No (usually) Yes (usually)
24V versions available Yes No
Established brands A few (e.g. Meanwell) Yes
Voltage adjustment Yes No

PFC

PFC, which stands for Power Factor Correction, is a highly desirable feature for any switch-mode PSU, and a good indication of the quality and engineering that has gone into the design of a PSU. When it comes to ATX PSUs, nowadays (2014) only the very cheaply manufactured models (which BTW are not suitable for RepRap use) do not have some form of PFC. Active PFC is preferable to passive PFC, although it does increase the complexity and price of a PSU. Explaining what PFC is and what it does in details is beyond the scope of this wiki, but you can read this article for more information: Power Supply Fundamentals on silentpcreview.com, scroll down to the PFC section.

Alternative viewpoint by dc42: what PFC does is to reduce the distortion of the waveform of current drawn by the PSU. It doesn't benefit the consumer unless the PSU is driven by a UPS. Rather it makes things easier for the electricity supply companies. Because PCs are (or were) so ubiquitous, PFC is mandated for PC power supplies over a certain power level. As long as relatively few people have 3D printers, it is irrelevant whether 3D printer PSUs have PFC or not. With the growth of LED lighting, we may eventually see PFC mandated for LED power supplies.

PSU power requirements for RepRap use

RepRap electronics (e.g. the ubiquitous Arduino Mega 2560 + RAMPS_1.4 combo) usually require +12V to function and the same voltage is used for the heated bed (if present), extruder heater(s) and steppers. Each electrical or electronic part draws a certain current and by totaling these currents and using the formula Power (Watts) = Voltage (V) x Current (A), we get the power requirements for our PSU, whether we are using an LED strip PSU or an ATX PSU (for the 12V rail, see below). Following good engineering practices means we'll also add a safety margin and slightly overspecify our PSU power requirements.

Another way to calculate our total current and hence total power requirements for the PSU is to check the fuse or fuses that protect our RepRap. For example, on a RAMPS_1.4 board there are two PTC resettable fuses: one is a 5A fuse for the electronics, extruder(s) and steppers, the other one is an 11A fuse exclusively for the heatbed. So the maximum current draw from our Arduino Mega 2560 + RAMPS_1.4 combo would be 16A. We'll add a 25% safety margin and that gets us to 20A, or 12V x 20A = 240W. So, we should look for a PSU that can deliver a minimum of 20A @ 12V = 240W. However note that you should not necessarily select a PSU that just meets these power ratings, as it would operate near its maximum capacity. Anything that exceeds these power requirements will work but if you can afford it, buy a PSU that exceeds the minimum power requirements by 30% or more.

Using 24V power

Most 3D printer electronics boards other than RAMPS can use 24V power. If your electronics is 24V capable, then using 24V has advantages over 12V. In particular you can use thinner wires to drive the bed heater and hot end heater without excessive voltage drop, and the heated bed mosfet will need to carry only half the current. The additional voltage also makes higher movement speeds possible, although this is generally only significant when using 0.9deg/step motors instead of the more usual 1.8deg/step. If you choose to use 24V power, then as well as 24V-capable electronics, you will need a 24V bed heater (unless you are using no bed heater or an AC mains voltage bed heater), a 24V hot end heater, and 24V fans.

What to look for in an ATX PSU for your RepRap project

There are scores of ATX PSUs that will fit within any power range, from various brands and in various lines. To help with your choice of ATX PSU for your RepRap project, here is a short list of desirable features:

  • Exceeds the previously calculated (see above) minimum power requirements by 30% or more on its 12V rail(s).
  • Has PFC. Preferably active PFC.
  • Has a temperature controlled fan, 12cm (good) or 14cm (better).
  • Has a guaranteed efficiency rating. Nowadays (2014) manufacturers have standardized over some efficiency labels such as Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Bronze is more than good enough for RepRap use.
  • Has a Power On/Off switch.
  • "Haswell compatibility" (explained below).
  • Comes from a generally recognized manufacturer and has received positive reviews from hobbyist websites (such as those mentioned above).

Once you have decided on a realistic budget, it should be easy to find and purchase online an adequate ATX PSU for your RepRap project with all the desirable features listed above. One tip: don't even waste time considering ATX PSUs at the "bottom of the heap" i.e. those $20 noname ATX PSUs you can find on eBay, or some old second hand ATX PSU. For a few extra dollars or euros you can certainly find much better quality stuff, new in the box, and that's what you'll want to use in your RepRap project.

Haswell compatible PSUs

At the end of 2014 most if not all ATX PSUs being sold in retail are probably labelled "Haswell compatible" or "Haswell ready". What this means in practical terms is that these power supplies will not shutdown, fail to start or lose regulation with very small power loads. The advantage for RepRap builders is that "Haswell compatible" ATX PSUs will also generally work without issues with the unbalanced (12V vs 5V/3.3V) loads presented by RepRaps (see Balancing ATX Supplies).

Choosing a LED power supply for your RepRap project

If you choose a LED PSU then you must safeguard the mains voltage terminals. You must also either use a mains inlet, or provide strain relief for the mains cable. If you doubt your ability to do mains voltage wiring or provide safeguarding, use an ATX PSU instead.

To choose your LED PSU, first estimate the total power consumption of your printer. Example for a Prusa i3 class printer:

  • 200x200mm PCB bed heater (12V/10A/1.2 ohms) = 120W
  • Hot end heater = 12V 40W
  • 5 stepper motors, each run at up to 1.2A @ 4V peak per phase = 5 * 4 * 1.2 = 24W, times 2 to allow (conservatively) for driver losses and back emf during movement = 48W
  • Electronics, about 100mA @ 12V (assuming a linear regulator) = 1.2W
  • LCD display, servos etc. say 5W
  • Two 12V fans @ 150mA = 3.6W

Total about 220W

In theory, a 12V 20A (240W) PSU is sufficient. However, this allows very little margin. Also, you may wish to turn up the voltage a little beyond 12V to compensate for an under-performing bed heater. So a 12V 25A (300W) power supply would be a more sensible choice.

Here http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:441081 is an example of a printed power supply cover with mains inlet.

Ten Quick Steps to Modifying an Inexpensive ATX PSU for RepRap Use - with pictures!

First, please note that there is absolutely nothing to convert or modify if you are using one of the "ATX PSU Ready" controller electronics, such as the Generation 7 Electronics. You can use an ATX PSU "as is", saving both time and money.

That said, let's get hands on with an ATX PSU for our RepRap! In this case I took pictures of the modifications I made to an inexpensive ATX PSU I bought here in Spain in September 2014 for my P3Steel (a Prusa i3 variant) project, which uses the ubiquitous Arduino Mega 2560 + RAMPS 1.4 combination as its electronics. The total time required to modify an ATX PSU will of course vary but I would estimate it at around one evening, working at a leisurely pace. The following are generic instructions that apply in principle to any modern ATX PSU, you don't necessarily have to buy the same model as shown below.

Note that by clicking on any of the thumbnail pictures below you have access to the full-size version (in case you want to check any detail).

Unboxing

Here is the ATX PSU, still in its fancy box:

An ATX PSU for my RepRap project, in its box, still with the shrink wrap. The back of the box lists the technical specifications and features for this ATX PSU.

The back of the box lists the technical specifications and features for this ATX PSU. Note that despite the wonderful claims on the fancy box, this particular ATX PSU model only has passive PFC (doh!) and no guaranteed efficiency rating (bummer!), but it has a 140mm thermally regulated fan (good!) and it's painted black (just kidding!).

Let's take it out of the box and check what's included:

Box contents: the PSU in bubble wrap, power cable, small plastic bag with four screws and... no manual! Just the ATX PSU. Cables could be longer but have an adequate length for RepRap use. Cables are not sleeved.

Well, we have the ATX PSU properly packaged in bubble wrap, a power cable (EU type, and really short as I found out later), a small plastic bag with four screws and... no manual or warranty certificate! The cables could be a little bit longer but they have an adequate length for RepRap use. They are not sleeved, but we'll work around that later. Also note there is a plastic protection for the cables exit from inside the PSU. And finally: 200~240V AC only (which is fine for Spain and most of the EU).

18AWG wire. 20AWG wire.

Yet another thing we can check during the unboxing is the wire gauge used for the cabling of our ATX PSU. Usually we'll find 22AWG to 16AWG cables in ATX PSUs (the smaller gauge the better), this one uses 18AWG and 20AWG (we are going to use 2x20AWG for our 12V@5A rail and 2x18AWG for our 12V@11A rail).

The label on one of its sides indicates the maximum power available for each rail. The back of the ATX PSU with a proper On/Off switch and power cord receptacle.

The label on one of its sides indicates the maximum power available for each rail. For RepRap use, the relevant figure we have to look for is the rating for the 12V rail, in this case, 27A or 324W: we are good! Also note the back of the ATX PSU has a proper On/Off switch and power cord receptacle. Again, good.

Tools and materials required

Make sure you have all of these at hand before you get started!

  • Multimeter.
  • Small cutting pliers and long-nose pliers.
  • Screwdrivers.
  • Soldering iron and some solder.
  • 47 Ohm resistor (1/8W or 1/4W or 1/2W etc; any size will do).
  • Terminal block strip (12 position, or 2 x 6 position).

Pliers and screwdrivers generally needed to modify ax ATX PSU. 12 position terminal block strip and correct size screwdriver.

Autorange digital multimeter with 20A DC measuring capability.

Preliminary Test

It's always a good idea to make a simple, quick preliminary test of our just unboxed ATX PSU i.e. turn it on and check that it does indeed work and that we get the correct voltages on all its outputs. Let's do this in a few simple steps:

  • Examine the 24-pin motherboard power connector and find the green wire. This is the PS_ON wire and we have to bring it to a low logic level to softstart our ATX PSU. To do so, we use a 47 Ohm resistor inserted between the PS_ON (green) wire and any of the GND (black) wires. DO NOT use a paper clip! Inserting a paper clip between the wrong terminals could short the PSU and damage it, and you could severely hurt yourself in the process! Also at this point, double-check that you have correctly inserted the resistor between the green wire and one of the black wires.
  • Make sure the On/Off switch is in the Off position and connect the mains AC power cable. Nothing should happen at this point.
  • Connect a multimeter reading DC Volts between the yellow (+12V) and black (GND) wires in one of the Molex connectors. It should show 0V at this point.
  • Now switch on the ATX PSU and check the multimeter: it should show approximately 12V +/- 5%. Also the PSU fan should be spinning. Now we know that the +12V rail is working.

The picture below is from the same test on an older ATX PSU (this test was done on our sample new ATX PSU with similar results, I just forgot to take some pictures then).

No load test of an ATX PSU.

If you want, also check the +5V (red wire on the same Molex connector) rail. Although the +5V rail is not really required for a RepRap, it's always a good thing to have available in case we need it.

Opening the ATX PSU

Warning 1: from this point on we are voiding the warranty of this ATX PSU. If you absolutely don't want to void the warranty of your ATX PSU, check the alternative "No Modifications" method detailed below to connect it to your RepRap electronics.

Warning 2: YOU MUST ABSOLUTELY MAKE SURE THAT THE ATX PSU IS PHYSICALLY DISCONNECTED FROM THE MAINS AC POWER BEFORE OPENING IT AND DURING THE ENTIRE TIME IT IS OPEN. FAILURE TO DO SO EXPOSES YOU TO SEVERE ELECTRICAL SHOCK! Also, please wait 10 minutes after disconnecting the ATX PSU from mains AC power for the PSU's capacitors to discharge. This isn't strictly necessary nowadays since all modern ATX PSUs should have a circuit that self-discharges the bulk capacitors, but it doesn't hurt to be extra-careful.

In general, ATX PSUs are held together by just four small screws. Note that in the picture below, one of the screws is covered by a QC adhesive label, which we are just going to scratch away:

The four screws holding together the ATX PSU case.

We now have removed the four screws, but the case still won't come apart!

We now have removed the four screws, but the case still won't come apart!

The two case halves are held together by pressure. Gently pry the case open with a flat screwdriver:

Gently push apart the two case halves with a flat screwdriver.

When the two case halves finally separate, be careful not to pull too strongly on the short fan cable!

Visual inspection of the PSU innards

We have opened the ATX PSU and voided its warranty, so it doesn't hurt to take a look inside, right? First things first, note the exposed solder joints at the back of the power switch and power cord receptacle. This is why the PSU must absolutely be disconnected from mains power before you open it!

The innards of our ATX PSU.

At this stage you should disconnect the connectors for the fan and passive PFC coil (not present if your PSU has active PFC). Use long-nose pliers for this, and be careful not to accidentally bump into other components on the PCB.

Another view of the innards of our ATX PSU, with the PFC coil connector and the fan connector disconnected.

Let's take a closer look at the wires we are going to cut and those we aren't going to touch:

Some of the wires we are going to cut, and some we are not going to touch.

Purple: +5V_Standby, keep.

Grey: Power_Good, cut.

Green: PS_ON (wrongly labeled RC here), keep.

And here we see something unusual: there are two sense lines, one is labeled +S (orange) and the other is labeled -S (brown). On most ATX PSUs there is only one 3.3V_Sense line, and it usually is brown. See the discussion below about the 3.3V_Sense line, but for this particular power supply, I decided to cut the -S (brown) and keep a short (50~70mm) length for the +S (orange). Please adapt these instructions to your specific ATX PSU.

More of the same: some of the wires we are going to cut, and some we are not going to touch.

Blue: -12V, cut.

Yellow: +12V, keep all of them!

Black: GND, keep all of them.

Red: +5V, cut some, keep some! Haha! How many and which ones? Well, I kept all the +5V wires that went to the Molex connectors, and then a couple more, and cut the rest.

Orange: 3.3V, cut them all but one (used to connect to the +3.3V_Sense).

Now take a little break and come back with the cutting pliers ready for the next step!

Cutting unnecessary cables

We can now cut all the cables we deemed unnecessary in the previous step. Be careful with any surrounding components and cut the cables flush at the PCB level:

Cables should be cut right at the PCB level.

We also cut away the 12V connector to the motherboard. We are going to use these two pairs of 12V (yellow) and GND (black) 20AWG cables to make our 12V@5A rail for our RAMPS 1.4.

We also cut away the motherboard 12V CPU connector.

Cable massacre: we cut away all the cables to the main motherboard connector.

And we continue cutting, this time the cables to the main 24-pin motherboard connector.

Obviously we don't throw away the cables we have just cut. Among other things they can be used to wire the heatbed for your RepRap.

We keep the cables we cut for later use in our RepRap.

(optional) Solder the 3.3V_Sense wire

ATX PSUs usually have a sense wire for the 3.3V rail; it is used to measure the voltage drop in the wires due to the high currents of the 3.3V rail, and a circuit in the PSU compensates for this voltage drop by continually adjusting the voltage of the 3.3V rail. Because modern ATX motherboards use much smaller currents from the 3.3V rail than older motherboards (from the e.g. Pentium 4 era), the 3.3V sense wire and its associated circuit are not considered very important nowadays. And for RepRap use, since we don't need 3.3V for anything, it is really irrelevant.

So in theory, we could just cut the 3.3V_Sense wire flush with the PSU PCB and forget about it. However to be 100% sure would require a circuit analysis and that would mean spending a lot more time than soldering two wires together: the 3.3V_Sense wire with one of the 3.3V wires. As you can see below after soldering the two wires together they should be insulated with a bit of electrical tape or heatshrink tubing. And now we can forget about it completely!

The 3.3V_Sense lead and a 3.3V lead which we are going to solder together. The 3.3V_Sense lead and a 3.3V lead soldered together and insulated with heatshrink tubing.

Last visual inspection and closing the ATX PSU

At this stage we have cut all the unnecessary wires and soldered (or not) the 3.3V_Sense wire (usually brown, here it was orange)) with one of the 3.3V wires (always orange), and insulated our solder joint.

Let's go through a short checklist so we can close the PSU once and for all and never have to deal with its internals again:

  • All the components on the PCB are intact (we didn't damage anything).
  • The 3.3V_Sense wire is properly soldered to a 3.3V wire and the solder joint is properly insulated, and we have tucked it away from the fan.
  • None of the wires we have cut away is shorting against any component on the PCB.
  • We only have the following wires coming out of the PSU: purple (+5SB), red (+5V), yellow (+12V), green (PS_ON), black (GND).
  • We have reconnected the fan connector back to its original socket.
  • We have reconnected the PFC coil connector (if we have a passive PFC PSU) back to its original socket.

OK, we can now close the case of our ATX PSU. Remember that the pressure joints should be fit together just as they were originally:

And we screw back the four screws that hold the two case halves together:

Done!

(optional) Braid cables

Braiding cables is incredibly easy, requires just a few minutes of manual work, and avoids having tangles of loose wires running between the ATX PSU and the electronics of your RepRap. I recommend it, but of course this step is entirely optional. Here are a couple of pictures of the braided cables for this ATX PSU:

Braided cables. Braided cables. Braided cables.

In the rightmost picture above you can see the various styles of braids I used: 2 strands (just twist two cables together), 3 strands (e.g. the purple, green and black braid), 4 strands (for the 12V @ 5A yellow-black braid) and 2 x 3 strands (for the 12V @ 11A yellow-black braid).

Add terminal block strip(s) and final test

Now we just screw all our wires in the 12-position (or 2 x 6-position) terminal block strip(s) and repeat the same test as above, this time connecting the 47 Ohm resistor between the two positions in our terminal block strip that correspond to PS_ON (green) and GND (black).

(note added by user FunnyBananas) Sometimes adding a dummy load on the 5v rail is required to maintain a steady power output. Around 10 watts is suitable (e.g car taillight, 4.7ohm resistor). In my case I had to put the load onto the 5v standby (purple) wire to ground, instead of the usual red wire to ground with the dummy load.

The ATX PSU, ready to be connected to our RepRap electronics.

Using an ATX PSU for your RepRap project without modifying it (and without voiding its warranty)

It is entirely possible to use any modern ATX PSU to power any RepRap without modifying the PSU in the least (in other words, without voiding its warranty). However, this requires the purchase of a pair of cables which may not be available locally (I had to order mine from China, and they took the usual 30 days to arrive), so take this into account when sourcing the parts for your 3D printer.

Basically we'll need a 24 pin female to male ATX power supply 30cm extension cable (approx. cost: $3), and either a couple of female Molex connectors or (as shown below), an ATX power supply CPU 4 pin female to 8 pin male adapter cable (approx. cost: $1.50). And of course an ATX PSU that meets our requirements and our budget!

A pair of cables needed to adapt an ATX PSU for Reprap use.

The ATX PSU is obviously quite easy to source just about anywhere in the world.

For this example we are going to use a be quiet! ATX PSU with active PFC, the least expensive PSU from their value line: the 300W System Power 7. There is no unboxing because be quiet! doesn't even ship these PSUs in a box, this one just came with some bubble wrap:

A be quiet! ATX PSU from their value line.

Do not mistake this for a low-quality ATX PSU, you really get what you pay for with a be quiet! PSU. Let's check its power ratings:

Power ratings of the be quiet! ATX PSU.

As we can see, it has two 12V rails, and the combined power we can draw from them is 288W. OK, we only need 240W and that already includes a safety margin, so we are good to use it for our RAMPS 1.4 electronics of our RepRap!

And here are our cables ready to be used with our RepRap printer:

The pair of cables needed to adapt an ATX PSU for Reprap use, ready for use!

Wow, that was fast! The truth is, it only took me about 30 minutes to get the cables ready, and I wasn't working particularly fast.

Let's take a look at the cables separately:

The ATX PSU female 4 pin to male 8 pin adapter cable. We only use the female connector.

For the ATX power supply CPU 4 pin female to 8 pin male adapter cable, we only use the female connector. I just yanked the cables out of the male connector, bunched respectively the +12V and GND lines together, and soldered the ends. These are the +12V and GND cables that we are going to connect to our RAMPS board to power the heatbed.

The ATX PSU female 4 pin to male 8 pin adapter cable, prepared for use. I just yanked the cables out of the male connector, bunched respectively the +12V and GND lines together, and soldered the ends.

OK, now let's take a look at the 24 pin female to male ATX power supply 30cm extension cable, because it's a little bit more complicated.

First, I yanked out all the cables from the male connector, which we are not going use. Now, obviously for the female connector we have to be selective about what cables we are going to use and which ones we can yank out. Since the lines in this extension cable are not color coded (damn!), we have to be extra-careful here. Simplest way is to plug the female connector into our ATX PSU's male connector:

The female connector of our 24-pin ATX extension cable plugged into the ATX PSU's male connector, after I yanked out all the lines that are not going to be used.

And the other end of the extension cable now looks like this:

Our 24-pin ATX extension cable prepared for use, the remaining lines carry the signals/voltages required to properly connect the ATX PSU to our RAMPS board.

From left to right:

  • + 12V to our RAMPS steppers/electronics.
  • GND to our RAMPS steppers/electronics.

The terminal strip has, from left to right:

  • +5V Standby (+5SB) for future use.
  • +5V to power servos, USB LED lights or any other accessory.
  • PS_ON so that we can remotely control our ATX PSU from the RAMPS.
  • GND.

Since the wires are not color coded I used some colored shrink tube to help identify the cables.