Can anyone describe to me how to make a pc power supply work without having to connecte it to a motherboard? Is it just a matter of crossing some wires to make a connection? Or is this something more complex?
At old AT power supply doesn't need a switching signal, it comes on as soon as you apply power. As with the ATX one, you should have a permanent load on the 5V rail for it to work properly.
go to radio shack, and grab yourself a 10 ohm 10 watt power resistor. Stick that across the 5v line and you will be all set. I have been using an AT power supply as my benchtop supply for years now that way.
If I recall, +5VSB is 5V stand-by which can be used for lower power circuits in the event that 5V is not ramped up yet, or short circuit fault.
It cannot source as much as main +5V, I think of order of 100mA or so..
Yes, this is a standby +5V for a section of motherboard. The ATX types contains two independent PSU, one for standby (always work when plugged in), and the main PSU. So possible wake-up the PC via LAN-card, from kbd,etc.
actually i have been using an old switching PSU salvaged from a computer as a general purpose power supply. i havent used any permanent load. but now ill go with evandude's suggestion.