I would like to start off by saying I know this is probably a dumb question but I was wondering why it wouldn't work. I have several server/scsi storage array power supplies sitting around. My roommate and I got to thinking, we were wondering since a power supply takes 120v AC and turns it into multiple low voltage DC outputs. So what if we hooked up 12v DC to the 12v rail on it, would it output 120v AC?

I figured at the worst it would blow some caps and diodes, but is that all that is keeping it from working? We were thinking of making a free power inverter for his truck with one of them.

8/26/2010 10:18:19 PM

It won't be as efficient as a dedicated inverter but it will work no problem. You can even use the AC plug on the back like a normal plug, you'll just need a different connector on the end.

8/26/2010 10:24:05 PM

Thats what we were thinking, just get cut off the end of the power cord and put a female end on it. So it will actually work? That crazy

8/26/2010 10:25:55 PM

You've just never seen anyone use it because of the form factor and since it wasn't specifically built to go from 12v to 120 it just doesn't work as well as a dedicated one, but if you have a lot of them laying around, go ahead and use them.

8/26/2010 10:40:46 PM

^ are you on crack?

This definitely wouldn’t work.

It’s not dangerous, but it wouldn’t do anything.

[Edited on August 27, 2010 at 1:19 AM. Reason : ]

8/27/2010 1:17:42 AM

The power supply will not take off.

8/27/2010 3:52:22 AM

^

8/27/2010 7:08:18 AM

^^ It will for sufficiently large values of 1

8/27/2010 7:09:31 AM

hahahahahahahh

wow.

8/27/2010 9:19:36 AM

It is not dangerous and it most certainly will NOT work.

8/27/2010 9:57:10 AM

oh well, it was worth asking, thanks

8/27/2010 10:37:40 AM

Bahahahahaha.

It's a valid question, but I want to know what Potty Mouth is smoking.

8/27/2010 10:49:20 AM

Potty Mouth

Quote :

"Class : Alumnus Major : EE "

Dear god, I hope this is incorrect.

8/27/2010 11:00:03 AM

You don't have to be an electrical engineer to know the answer.. common sense says this will most certainly not work! you do know how AC power is generated and how rectifiers work right?

8/27/2010 11:02:12 AM

So, um, why won't this work? Motors can either consume or produce current, same theory here.

8/27/2010 4:22:37 PM

I think he's trolling maybe?

There's tons of reasons why this wouldn't work, but the simplest is that diodes only let current flow in 1 direction, and there are tons of diodes used in voltage rectification...

8/27/2010 4:26:29 PM

Not to mention, there are voltage regulators in computer power supplies that dont go backwards either.

There are a million reasons why this wont work. I really hope you arent an EE grad.

8/27/2010 4:51:27 PM

Look, forget what you know about the voltage regulators. At the end of the day, they are just arrays of transistors and if you work it right, they can be coaxed into working in reverse without a lot of trouble.

8/27/2010 7:41:07 PM

A++ Trolling

8/27/2010 7:56:24 PM

This thread: on one hand I'm on the other

Most eloquent troll I've seen in AGES.

8/27/2010 8:59:54 PM

I wish this was true. Rectifiers are a lot cheaper than inverters.

8/28/2010 1:35:53 PM

I got trolled multiple times, and didnt pick up on it. Sigh.

8/28/2010 3:48:03 PM

I was kind of hoping others would pick up on it and pile on...then we'd get a funny story about how this guy tried it out and epic failed.

But noooooooo....everyone has to assert their e-dick by being 'right' all the fucking time, killing the fun for the rest of us.

I mean god damn, you simply can't get through EE at any real university and be that god damn stupid to suggest this would work.

8/28/2010 4:29:53 PM

Look, yes you can do this but its probably going to blow up in your face.

Voltage regulators, diodes, and to a small degree caps, any one of them is gonna blow up as all of them are one way without a lot of work.

Yes in theory motors can both produce and consume power, but that doesnt mean you do it. Theres also a think called brushless motors which dont. Same with this. Transformers can, and same with fullwave rectifiers, but you normally need to change stuff around, not just invert it.

8/28/2010 4:58:18 PM

Quote :

"Yes in theory motors can both produce and consume power, but that doesnt mean you do it. Theres also a think called brushless motors which dont. "

It's not just theory; all motors will produce power if mechanical force is applied to them. When you kill power to them, they dump current back into the line. That's why you always have to take them into consideration when determining available fault current levels. Even brushless motors work as generators; that's how most commercially available flywheel UPS systems are constructed.

The biggest difference between what you buy as a motor and what you buy as a generator are thermal ratings. Same thing for step-up transformers and step-down transformers - the only difference is how you determine the thermal rating of the device.

8/29/2010 1:46:55 AM

Harbor Freight tools sells inverters cheeeeeeaaaaap.

8/29/2010 2:07:36 PM