Dual power supply?

[imported_lpbman]

Is the dual power supply cable listed 3/4 the way down http://www.performance-pcs.com...n_page=index&cPath=186 going to work on my 20+4 or do I need yet another adapter?

Also, do I need to load the 5v rail on the second PSU and if so how would I go about doing so? Would the 6 pin connector going to my video card do the job? I'm guessing that's on the 12v rail but I thought I'd ask.
I've got an old IDE controler, empty PCI slots, seven 60-120GB hard drives and an older PSU collecting dust. Might as well use the old birds.

Thanks for your help!

 

[imported_lpbman]

Ooops, wrong forum... Great way to start off my posting career. Sorry.

 

[RallyMaster]

Your link does not work.

 

[imported_lpbman]

Fxt

 

[RallyMaster]

Wait...why do you need an adapter? What are you trying to do with your power supply?

 

[imported_lpbman]

So I can run two power supplies instead of buying a 650w PSU. My motherboard has a 20+4 and that is a 24 pin cable listed on the website... so I'm pretty sure I need an adapter for this cable to let me plug in both power supplies. I might be missing something though so I thought I'd mention it.

My main question has to do with how running the second PSU off of that cable affects it's operation.

 

[RallyMaster]

Okay...I think the number one question I'd like to ask is...why risk it? What are you running that requires 650W of power? What power supplies are you trying to daisy chain together?

 

[imported_lpbman]

I already have a good 400w Antec, and a cheap 300w no-name. I don't think I'm risking anything, but that's why I'm here asking questions to make sure. I've got an E8400 @ 3.6 and a HD 4850, 2 DVD burners and 2 hard drives. That's about the limit for the Antec so I'd like to run all my spare hard drives off of the 300w PSU, or put all the HD and DVD drives on the 300w.

 

[jarsoffart]

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
Okay...I think the number one question I'd like to ask is...why risk it? What are you running that requires 650W of power? What power supplies are you trying to daisy chain together?

lpbman is making a compromise between saving money (and the environment) and not risking his system stability. I think daisy-chaining is the wrong word to describe what the author intends on doing though. He's trying to run two power supplies in parallel.

As for the 20+4 adapter issue, I don't quite remember if the ATX 24-pin main was the same as the ATX 20 pin main + 4 pin auxiliary. If so, then just be careful that you plug the 4 pin and 20 pin in the correct order. For pinouts, check here.

However, about the "dual power supply cable," that really isn't necessary if you aren't afraid of some soldering. To turn on a power supply, all one needs to do is short the green wire to any of the grounds (useful tip if you want to just test a power supply without connecting it to a motherboard and case). Hence, to have both power supplies turn on simultaneously, simply splice the green wire from each power supply together and one of the blacks from each power supply. That is all the adapter is doing, albeit in a more user-friendly "tools-free" way.

About loading the 5v rail or 12v rail, I don't think any of that is necessary. Again, one can turn on any power supply by simply plugging in the thick black power cable in the back and then shorting the green pin with any of the black pins.