Power Supply

  • Thread starter Thread starter Help Needed
  • Start date Start date
H

Help Needed

Hello,
How do you test/check a "power supply unit" that is out
of the computer; considered "fried"?
Does it have to be in the computer to be tested/checked
to see if it is fried?
 
Do not remove anything. Your eyes cannot see electrons.
You need the other tool as important as your screwdriver to
answer your question in minutes. Procedures demonstrates in
previous discussions such as "I think my power supply is
dead" in alt.comp.hardware on 5 Feb 2004 at
http://www.tinyurl.com/2musa or
"Computer doesnt start at all" in alt.comp.hardware on 10
Jan 2004 at
http://tinyurl.com/2t69q

A power supply failure only causes damage to computer if
human failed to buy what Intel specifications demand. A
component failure only causes damage to power supply, again,
if human failed to buy what Intel specifications demand. If
human was doing his job, there only one failed component might
exist.
 
Hello,
How do you test/check a "power supply unit" that is out
of the computer; considered "fried"?
Does it have to be in the computer to be tested/checked
to see if it is fried?
Click to expand...

With it out of the computer you can check whether it turns
on, see if fan spins, measure voltages with a multimeter.
This won't necessarily tell you if it's functioning
properly, well enough to run any particular system.

Shorting the PS_ON line to ground while a load (like an old
hard drive) is attached should get it running, but what
voltages the system gets while in use, will of course need
be measured while it's hooked up to that system.

http://69.36.189.159/usr_1034/atx_on.gif
 
Help said:
How do you test/check a "power supply unit" that is out
of the computer; considered "fried"?
Does it have to be in the computer to be tested/checked
to see if it is fried?
Click to expand...

One thing you don't want to do is waste your money on a power supply
tester because all it will do is tell you if the PSU isn't dead, not
whether it works well enough to actually run a computer. For example,
my friend got one from CompUSA, and it said that my PSU was fine even
though its +12V rail measured way under +11V -- not enough to even
cause the HD to spin.

For the price of a PSU tester you can by a cheapo digital multimeter
that will not only give highly accurate readings but also be useable
for testing lots of other electrical items. You'll also need a paper
clip to short the green wire to a black wire and some kind of load,
like an old mobo or HD, to make the voltages accurate.
 
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