Making a Custom Power Supply for a 30" Apple Cinema Display

In this video, I go over the process of modifying a cheap LED light transformer to power a 30" Apple Cinema Display. I got the Cinema Display off eBay for about $100, which is actually a pretty good deal for one of these. Unlike most people who use these cheaper power supplies with these displays, I kept the original power connector attached to the monitor, and used the power connector from a dead Mac Mini logic board to connect the monitor to the power supply.

[@JohnLysonmusic]

Apple silver Cinema screens are still one of the best. The Build quality for what they are is great and they still look top notch imho.

[@agxster]

I managed to snag two of these on eBay over the past year. Really like them, hooked up to my main rig a 2009 4,1 Mac Pro. Thanks for the video, will refer back and make my own should the power supplies fail.

[@supercrazymario404]

I got one of these except my power supply wasn’t the problem but rather the DC in cable was absolutely destroyed but it still worked for a little bit and then it completely stopped so I’m glad it uses the Mac Mini connector since I can easily buy one of those power cables and use it to fix this

[@viktor7401]

Any suggestions on how to get a power connector if I don't have a dead mac mini to salvage one from? I'd also like to not splice the cable, if possible.

[@joshuanorris5860]

Man i had the exact same question! Also what is the connector even called? Is it the same as new iphone charging connectors?

[@joshuanorris5860]

Getting it from an adaptor or cable extension might be the best way.. but whats its called? >

[@EvertvanIngen]

If your screen's LED is blinking and not turning on... 𝗙𝗜𝗫: Use a very thin piece of tape to isolate the middle pin on the upper row and bottom row of the Display's DC connector.

[@epicmap]

The problem is, I don't have a spare mac mini logic board to harvest a connector from it. So if I choose to go the 'cut this cable' way, how to connect power to it? Do I need to add a resistor between some wires? You referring to this process, as if it was the default way, but actually I can't seem to find any related information about doing so.

[@derekp9737]

great job!

[@haramaschabrasir8662]

You didn't show if the brigthness control and the USB and FireWire hub on the back works. On the internet I find mixed reports on this, I don't know which to believe.

[@alexandr6977]

Hello.It is a great video! How do you think, is it possible to make such a trick with a damaged mac pro 5.1 power supply? I mean to find a server power supply and make it fit to work in a mac pro 5.1?

[@fasdfaerystdfg]

Does the 30" Cinema Display fully utilize its original 150W adapter? Just curious about the power consumption, since I'm considering using one daily. Update: I finally found a resource, on the 30" display, which claims that it uses 111W at full brightness and 49W at minimum brightness. That's more than I'd like, but it's actually not any more than I had imagined it would consume.

[@angelooliveira7757]

It was very clear thank you , but u didn't understand the soldering connections you made on the mac mini power adapter. Do you have a clearer schematic for . Thank you so much !

[@calebveazey1426]

what is the DC power cable called that comes out of the power conditioner? I have the apple brick but not the connector cable for the computer? thanks

[@ajpenninga]

Could you run multiple 20/24/30" monitors on one psu?

[@dosdude1]

Yes, but you'd have to make sure that it wouldn't exceed the max power output of the PSU.

[@simonbaldwin8966]

Could you do something like this to replace the PSU on a G4 cube? Looks like it might last a bit longer than just re-capping the old one...

[@dosdude1]

Yeah, you could.

[@ixlr8677]

butt ta... yeah.

[@Zebra_Paw]

How can you still do anything with that OS X version today?? It must hold the hardware performance back terribly!

[@Charles2181]

There are several videos and articles on how to put together a custom power supply for the Cinema, your's is by far the best. The ONLY confusion for me is the wiring of the connector, because of focusing issues, it is quite difficult to see with certainty where you connected the black and wire wires on the connector. From what I can tell, there are three connectors on one side and two on the other. Does the black wire attach to the 3 connector side or vice versa? On the 3 connector side did you add the jumper from connector top connector to the bottom connector, leaving the middle one empty? Your clarity on this would be very helpful. Thanks!!!

[@dosdude1]

The two ground pins are on their own side, the other side with the 3 pins has the sense pin in the center, and the outer two are the 24V positive pins.

[@Charles2181]

@@dosdude1 That's exactly what I needed, thanks for the prompt and helpful response!😀

[@quintondalton4001]

Good Day, this works great but my Screen in overheating and even the power supply. Any help with this

[@yoofrancis9975]

Thank you so much. It's basically impossible to get a good one now, and only thing I have to do is getting 24V power supply replacement for my 3d printer. (USD 16) This is my life saver.

[@icantgivecredit871]

I have a genuine power supply, for my 30" Cinema Display, but it emits a nasty coil whine while the monitor is asleep-unless I have the integrated FW400 cable plugged in to the old Mac Pro it temporarily serves. Do you think the power supply is on its way out, or is this merely an audible quirk that can be deadened? It's rather annoying, especially considering the computer with which I actually intend to use this display does not even have FireWire to begin with.

[@edoggxxx4598]

is there a reazon why you got mountain leon (i think?) running on your main Mac Pro? i do have a mountain leon in a separate hard drive for restore reasons i like the disk utility better

[@dosdude1]

I prefer running Mavericks on my main machines, simply because it looks so much nicer than newer versions.

[@amdintelxsniperx]

there shouldbea way to remove the quooges

[@redkurn]

@dosdude1 I have the same setup with the power supply, but my usb ports do not work and sometimes i will get artifacts on my screen. I was wondering if you sometimes get this issue or if it could be over or under powering the monitor? I also get on occasion a high pitched coil whine from the power supply. if so, then i am sure my ports do not work because i may have the wiring wrong, i followed a different video that involved cutting the cord and I only removed the power connector. maybe you'll have some sort of idea, my hackintosh will thank you!

[@jackzy7223]

hey hello ,thank you for this vidoe I bought one test is 24v ,7a ,but display not work,small light also not on，but PC can find this apple display. so I want buy again..could you give a Purchase link，thank you!

[@MrLealHamilton]

The Apple Power Supply of the Apple Cinema Display of 20 inches A1081, Work's fine on Apple Cinema Display A1083?

[@michaelbellis2488]

I wouldn't think so as the 20inch is much lower wattage. The 30" needs 150w

[@Zebra_Paw]

I always open these PSUs to redo all the soldering when I buy them. The mains filter capacitor are also dangerous garbage you should replace. These PSUs are really good for the money as long as you finish the assembly job correctly!

[@hirilpatel3189]

I have 30invh cinema display lying around with no power supply, i am working on how to get it on since i don't know if the display is working or not can you advice me what should i do?

[@Zebra_Paw]

​@@hirilpatel3189I got a 22 inch as second monitor for my gaming PC (I got a gaming display and this next to it for other stuff such as Discord). For the 30 inch seems very easy to wire. There is the DVI which can be easily converted to HDMI as it is a digital DVI luckily. Then there is the USB, which isn't necessary to use with my 22 inch, but maybe on the 30 inch it's mandatory to plug it in. Anyway I don't see why you wouldn't since it gives you a free USB hub. Though I learned the hard way that you shouldn't plug your mouse into it if you're gonna game lol You can just cut the power cable, and connect both wires to any 24V 180W+ power source. + and - should be pretty easy to identify, there's likely a shileding which is - and a cable inside of it which is +. If you are not sure which is which, just take a multimeter in diode mode and measure between the DVI metal ring (like the thing around all the pins) and the power wires one by one. When it beeps, it's gonna be minus. Now these chinese power supplies are often not the best to use. The design is good, but unless you can redo the soldering and add a 150 ohm power resistor between ground and negative output, then I'd advise just getting something safer (even though likely expensive). If you still choose the chinese PSU, never use it without ground, make sure you do solid wiring, and you should be good.

[@MrCsilva3]

So you still get the maximum HD resolution with 110w adapter when it’s powered by 150w?

[@dosdude1]

What? I'm using a 240W power supply...

[@MrCsilva3]

dosdude1 I understand that, but I noticed you switched the adapter to 110w... the original Apple adapter power supply I believe is 150w. That’s 40w less.

[@dosdude1]

No... The proper adapter for the Intel Mac Mini is 110W... The 30" Cinema display comes stock with a 150W power supply.

[@dosdude1]

And the switch on the power supply is to set the input voltage... In the US, the AC line voltage is ~110-120V, so you need to set the power supply to accept that input voltage.

[@MrCsilva3]

dosdude1 dosdude1 oh ok. Im trying to find out how to power the 30 inch screen and not the Mac mini.

[@Guitarsuphu]

Thank You God for this talent person with lots of Love!

[@clayvinlunsford9697]

Doesn't the 30 inch Cinema Display need two DVI connectors? I may be wrong, but I could only see one plugged into the Mac mini

[@dosdude1]

No, it only uses a single DVI dual-link connector.

[@clayvinlunsford9697]

dosdude1 Oh, ok. Thanks!

[@luisfernandoescobar2131]

Gracias!!!

[@Taras-Nabad]

This is silly. That power supply is an internal power supply meaning its supposed to go inside of something. It's dangerous to use it the way you are using it.

[@dosdude1]

I used it this way powering this monitor for years... I only stopped using it about 2 years ago when I got an official 150W adapter.