ATX power supply

[Yoast]

Hey,

I'm using an ATX PSU from my old computer in my RockPro64 powered home server. It is a really nice solution, as it has enough power reserves to run 4 hard disks, cooling fans etc., and even has the right connectors to them.

The only problem is turning the system on and off. As you may know, an ATX PSU does only provide 5V in the 'off' state, so in the case you want to really be able to turn off your system (also the fans and hard disks), you need a device that turns the PSU on and off for you.

That might be just a simple switch that connects the Power-Supply-On line with Ground. I used a transistor as a switch that is activated by an arduino that is running from the 5V standby line (and thus is always on). To tell the Arduino to switch the system on, I just use a push button. The advantage of this setup is that you can connect your Arduino through serial to the RockPro64 and instruct it to send a regular heartbeet signal. If this signal is interrupted (because the RockPro has powered off or crashed), the Arduino just shuts off the PSU and thus the fans and hard disks. Obviously, in my server it restarts everything as I want 24/7 online time. I have to say though, the RockPro is running 24/7 for the last couple of weeks and did so without as much as a hiccup.

PS: a nice thing about using an Arduino: you can use its PWM function to speed control many fans...

Digging up an old thread but I am thinking about build my own NAS using the RockPro64 and I hope you still hang around
I think it's a match but I still have difficulties to ensure how to integrate it. I played with my RPi but it's very different this time.

I basically need a ATX PSU to power my HDDs (plan to have 2), and I would like to use it to power the RP64, but how do you connect it to the ATX PSU?

Nice to have the Arduino control! I was thinking about using a Pi Zero to do a similar thing. Basically, I want to keep power consumption low and was planning off-hours (with possibility to start it remotely eventually - let me dream).
Does the RP64 reboots by itself or do you send a WOL call?

Thanks!

PS : No PWD function with the RP64?

I'm using a breakout board and power the RP64 using a GND and the +12V line. A board such as this one:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32816898198.html

Since my RP64 is running 24/7 there is no need for me to turn the system on or off