On a computer power supply can I add 12 volts and 5 volts supply to get 17 volt supply? **Edited for clarification
Combining power
power supplyvoltagevoltage measurement
power supplyvoltagevoltage measurement
On a computer power supply can I add 12 volts and 5 volts supply to get 17 volt supply? **Edited for clarification
Best Answer
In short, no. Not if the 5V rail that you intend to use is the one available on the same PSU.
The reason for this is that every supply rail in that PSU (+12, -12, +5, -5, +3.3, etc) shares a common reference ground. If you attempt to stack the 5V on top of the 12V, you will instead short 12V directly to the common ground of the PSU.
If, however, you use an entirely isolated power supply, then you can stack the voltages. But they must have isolated ground references.