Per the thread title, another low-cost source of DC power is a 12V DC "brick" which you may have lying around from a consumer gadget...or buy one for less than 10 cents per Watt. For example, from a previous OGR thread:
Many bricks and wall-warts use the coaxial-barrel style connector. In above, seller supplies a "free" adapter to screw terminals though you can buy them for 50 cents or so on eBay.
If fooling around on the bench before committing an accessory/lighting to the layout room it's handy to measure the current. Yes, you can use a DMM but for $3 (free shipping) you can wire up a DC combo volt-current meter - no soldering. These meters have been discussed many times on OGR.
The key is it's simply two-wires in, two-wires out. Self-powered, compact, and for $3 (free shipping from Asia) I think a nice add-on even for the ATX breakout board. Since they operate from 4.5V to 30V DC it could be used for the 5V output or the 12V output.
gunrunnerjohn posted:This one appears to have the altered spacing Stan mentioned, it may be compatible with the dual banana plugs. Maybe people asked for it?
24/20-pin ATX Computer PC Power Supply Bench Top Power Board Module Adapter GW
Those look like 20mm (length) fuses...and the connector spacing within a pair look a tad under the fuse length so it probably is the dual-banana "standard" spacing of 0.75" (19.05mm).
