Question on Power

Sharpie

I have a 300x300mm build plate and the 12v power supply is not cutting it. I have read that I can replace it with a 24v power supply and the Duet WiFi can take it. But my question is do I need to get new 24v steppers for the printer to not overload the 12v ones I currently have installed? Orr will the Duet WiFi do what is needed to make them run properly?

Thanks for the help

Mk_Nick

Stepper voltage is regulated by the Duet and I doubt any of yours run at 12v let alone 24v. What you'd need to replace are your 12v heaters (Hotend/heatbed though the heat bed may be able to be configured for 24v) and your 12v fans.

Sharpie

ok so if I go up to a 24v power supply (So my heated bed is happy) then I need to replace the little fans that cool the board and the heat cartridge? Do I understand that right?

Dougal1957

any item that is driven by the board will need to be 24V ie Heater cartridge, Board cooling Fan, Hotend cooling Fan and any part cooling fans/pumps that you have connected.

whosrdaddy

In your case I wouldn't bother going 24V since you already have everything at 12V.
Just buy a 220V AC bed heater combined with SSR, it will be much cheaper instead of replacing all parts to 24V.

DocTrucker

Since the duet switches the heater on the ground side you could run an additional 24vdc psu for the heated bed only. Tie the negatives of both power supplies and just feed the posative side of the bed directly from the psu.

You will however need a new heated bed suitable for 24vdc and as others have said mains voltage bed is an option on your current system. Make sure your frame work is fully earth bonded if you do that though.

Another option would be 24vdc to vin and feed the posative side of the fans and hot end heater with 12vdc. Still need new heater but you get the bonus of 24vdc to the steppers.

Sharpie

I am currently using this heated bed

https://reprapchampion.com/products/3d-printer-heated-hot-bed-pcb-mk2a-300x300mm-pcb-24v-360watt-large-size-reprap?variant=12137585606

and I think my power supply cant handle it

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D7CWSCG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

would be getting a new bed work? Or should I swap everything out?

dc42

For a bed of that size (300 x 300mm) you should definitely use either 24V or mains power. That heated bed is designed for 24V according to that listing, but your power supply is only 12V, so the bed is running at one quarter of its design power. I suggest you get a 24V 450W power supply and upgrade the fans and extruder heater cartridge to 24V versions.

DocTrucker

I've got a 300W 24V system that reaches a surface temp of 110C at a 120C set point, I just have to wait 20min or so for it to warm up.

Have you checked the vin voltage when the bed is warming from cold? If the supply drops from 12V then that's an obvious sign the psu is struggling. Check voltage at the bed too, you may be getting a voltage drop in the cabling unless you have already been generous. I'd review the cabling if there is a 10% loss in voltage.

Edit: Didn't spot it was 24vdc bed!

Edit 2: Not sure where I picked up 30A from. More sleep needed…

Sharpie

I have an old ATX power supply that at 500w will that work or would it just be easier to just swap the fans and heater cartridge?

whosrdaddy

it's still not 24V and you will never get 500W on the 12V rail as it is a combined wattage rating

Sharpie

What about this power supply?

https://www.amazon.com/MENZO-Universal-Regulated-Switching-Computer/dp/B06WD5TPYL/ref=sr_1_fkmr3_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514500914&sr=8-1-fkmr3&keywords=24v+450w+power+supply+3d+printer

Will this work or do you guys know where I can get a 450w PSU?

Martin_S

@Sharpie:

What about this power supply?

https://www.amazon.com/MENZO-Universal-Regulated-Switching-Computer/dp/B06WD5TPYL/ref=sr_1_fkmr3_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514500914&sr=8-1-fkmr3&keywords=24v+450w+power+supply+3d+printer

Will this work or do you guys know where I can get a 450w PSU?

The bed you linked says it needs at least 360Watt of 24V power to the heated bed alone. That's a 15a 24v PSU.
For everything else, 5a? With a 24v 480w (20a) PSU it should go ok. But if I were you, I would get a 24v 30a PSU just to be safe. It cost just a bit more.

As from where, here they sell 20a and 30a as well:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-110V-220V-TO-DC-5V-12V-24V-Switch-Power-Supply-Driver-Adapter-LED-Strip-Light/152134115704?hash=item236be66178mnohYz4NZlT_Dq5l5lWNUMg

or you could stay with the 12v one, get an AC silicone heater and drive the bed with an SSR.

Sharpie

Ok, I ordered all the parts you guys said to, to address my problem. Thanks again for the help and the knowledge I was going crazy trying to find a straight answer.

just 2 more questions if you guys know.
Do I need a new Thermostat? or is that fine going from 12v to 24v?

I have a 12VDC LED string plugged straight into my power supply, am I going to have to get new LED's or is there a step-down I can place between them?

whosrdaddy

@Sharpie:

just 2 more questions if you guys know.
Do I need a new Thermostat? or is that fine going from 12v to 24v?

I have a 12VDC LED string plugged straight into my power supply, am I going to have to get new LED's or is there a step-down I can place between them?

-> thermistor is fine on all voltages
-> for the leds, just buy a buck converter : https://www.amazon.com/DROK-Regulator-Converter-Waterproof-Converters/dp/B00CERPF0M/ref=pd_day0_23_9?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=RWBBCGKAZKTCF5DVK4C5 (just check how much current you need on 12v)

Sharpie

Thanks for all the Help I just completed the 24v upgrade and its printing so smooth and fast.