Wiring a 115/230 VAC Power Supply Without a Wall Plug

[Galgenstrick]

I have a power supply with an input of 115/230 VAC. There is no wall plug wired to it, just cut wires. I don't have much experience with this. If I wire this to a cord can I plug it into the wall (120 volts)?

 

[berkeman]

I have a power supply with an input of 115/230 VAC. There is no wall plug wired to it, just cut wires. I don't have much experience with this. If I wire this to a cord can I plug it into the wall (120 volts)?

Lordy. I just replied in your laser power supply thread. Why are you migrating to dangerous stuff?

But in case you are really interested in learning how to deal with high voltages in a safe way, there are design rules for trying your best to avoid fire hazards and shock hazards. Do you have an idea of what those design rules would be?...

 

[Galgenstrick]

Lordy. I just replied in your laser power supply thread. Why are you migrating to dangerous stuff?

But in case you are really interested in learning how to deal with high voltages in a safe way, there are design rules for trying your best to avoid fire hazards and shock hazards. Do you have an idea of what those design rules would be?...

I do not know, that is why I am asking here before I try anything.

 

[vk6kro]

Equipment intended to be used in different countries often has a transformer that either has two primaries of 120 volts each or it has a center tapped 240 volt primary.

The first would have 4 wires and the second would have 3 wires.

You should be able to work out which wires are which using a multimeter on the "ohms" scale.

As your supply is 120 volts you may be able to use just one of the input windings if the transformer is the first kind.

If it is the second kind, ie with a center tapped transformer, you would use one of the outer wires and the center tap as the two inputs to your primary.

You would open the box and connect to the terminal block where the transformer leads are anchored. Do not attempt to join a new cable to the wires that come out of the power supply.

Follow the same type of anchoring that was used for the original power cord.

Don't touch anything when the power is connected.

 

[berkeman]

I have a power supply with an input of 115/230 VAC. There is no wall plug wired to it, just cut wires. I don't have much experience with this. If I wire this to a cord can I plug it into the wall (120 volts)?

I do not know, that is why I am asking here before I try anything.

Equipment intended to be used in different countries often has a transformer that either has two primaries of 120 volts each or it has a center tapped 240 volt primary.

The first would have 4 wires and the second would have 3 wires.

You should be able to work out which wires are which using a multimeter on the "ohms" scale.

As your supply is 120 volts you may be able to use just one of the input windings if the transformer is the first kind.

If it is the second kind, ie with a center tapped transformer, you would use one of the outer wires and the center tap as the two inputs to your primary.

You would open the box and connect to the terminal block where the transformer leads are anchored. Do not attempt to join a new cable to the wires that come out of the power supply.

Follow the same type of anchoring that was used for the original power cord.

Don't touch anything when the power is connected.

Galgen,

You would need to learn about grounding and person access (the finger) and faults and fusing and switching and a few other things before I would have any confidence that you could build something that was reasonably safe against fire and shock hazards. This web forum is not the place for these types of questions (or answers). This thread is locked.