Connecting SMPS in parallel?

[pokmo]

Hi

I see that many of us here power steppers by boosting ATX PSUs to 24V/32V/etc, but is it actually safe to connect SMPSs in parallel? Isn't there a possibility of catastrophic oscillating events when one switches on and one switches off?

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[dazp1976]

Hi

I see that many of us here power steppers by boosting ATX PSUs to 24V/32V/etc, but is it actually safe to connect SMPSs in parallel? Isn't there a possibility of catastrophic oscillating events when one switches on and one switches off?

Why risk it when you can get switching 24v/36v/48v power supply for <£30?

[pokmo]

Why risk it when you can get switching 24v/36v/48v power supply for <£30?

Yeah, I know I could get a Meanwell and save the hassle, but where I am only licensed electricians can legally work with mains.

[CitizenOfDreams]

There are special power supplies designed for working in parallel and sharing the load. Regular switching power supplies should not be paralleled.

If you have separate stepper drivers, you can use a separate power supply for each one of them. That would be OK.

[dazp1976]

Yeah, I know I could get a Meanwell and save the hassle, but where I am only licensed electricians can legally work with mains.

When you say mains it's not like you're moving sockets and channelling walls etc.

Technically all you need to do is get a 3 core cable say 1.5mm2, stick a plug on it, and connect it to the psu terminals.

Or if you find an old washing machine or similar with 3 core. Cut a length of cable off it with the plug still fitted and just connect the other end to the psu.

There's more chance of you going bang and more dangerous if you start pratting around with trying to parallel ATX stuff.