Four dead PSUs.

[BGP Spook]

I had a 480w PSU from Axio that died today. Fourth one to dead with my current setup.

Although this one lasted 9 months.

Note: I am not a top of the line user. Although I tend to tweak alot.

[Snafu]

I suspect you cannot jump start these PSUs outside the case to see if maybe your board is causing some issues?

Did you get a chance to measure the rails before they died on you?

That is a tough break.

[Moonwizard]

Might be a short somewhere in your setup, but it might also be that the system is taxing one of the lines for more then it's capable of handling.

[BGP Spook]

I suspect you cannot jump start these PSUs outside the case to see if maybe your board is causing some issues?

Sanfu:
Did you mean to ask, 'Do any line of the dead PSUs work?' If that was the question the answer is...No. Absolutly no power at all from any of the lines.


Did you get a chance to measure the rails before they died on you?

No, I didn't get a chance to check them with any reliable measure.

[BGP Spook]

Might be a short somewhere in your setup...
Moonwizard:
I had thought of this, one of the other PSUs died when I had a totally short proffed it. (carefully mounted the motherboad to bit of wood with only the hard drive and video card connected) So I don't think this is the problem. Although I won't rule it out.


...but it might also be that the system is taxing one of the lines for more then it's capable of handling.

I have also thought of this, but my last two PSUs died when the computer was basicly idling. (nothing more demanding than a word processer and a browser running)

Again I will not rule this out as a possible problem, so I have included some details of my setup.

details:
Asus A7V600 bios 1.08
AMD Athalon XP +2600 (Bartron, 1.917 Ghz)
PNY Nvidia GeForce 4 Ti 4200 64 mb
Elixir PC 3200 512 mb (I was using it under-clocked)
Maxtor 5400 rpm 80 gig (none sata)
generic 52x CD
generic PS2 Mouse
generic PS2 Keyboard
Three generic 80mm case fans
Everything else was a part of the mother board.

[Snafu]

I asked if you have tried to jump start the PSU in case it was a board problem. I have seen it before hence my question.

It is odd that you lost 4 PSUs so it may be related to something with your system that is not letting the PSU turn on.

Just trying to help you out before your shell out for another PSU that might very well become dead as well.

[BGP Spook]

Thank you Snafu.

No, I have never tried to jump start any of my PSUs.

After this last one I don't know what it could be related to. Althogh, I would think my motherboard might in some way be involved.

One strange problem I had experienced was once in a while, the BIOS would lose track of what cpu I had. It would try to set the Mhz too high.

Not sure if that information could be of any use.

I have considered buing another motherboard, along with another PSU.

All this trouble started last time I upgraded, so it might be my motherboard. But, I have already had it replaced with like models twice.

[Jim]

Is your PSU plugged into a quality Surge protector? Could be an issue.......

[BGP Spook]

Yes, Jim, (thanks for your post :) ) it is plugged into a good surge protector. :yup:

I have thought getting a UPS. But haven't gotten one yet.

I am thinking of getting:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-104-152&depa=0

(One question, would a PSU from PC Power and Cooling or Antec be good as well.)

Along with a UPS. And a new case. (To try eliminate unseen shorts. :fire: )

But $$$ may be an issue. :cry:

[joeMan]

The inop units are not useless though - even at this stage in the game. Here's what to do:

Grab the entire wad of wires by the very ends, just above the last molex's - clinch them all in one tight fist. Now, make sure no-one is nearby when you do this - swing the PSU up over your head in an arcing motion and twirl it over your head like a rotor blade. Once maximum inertia is achieved, let it go flying - try to hurl it in the general direction of something you want to break.

I'm sorry, I could not keep myself from saying that :help: :beat: .

For reals though, I agree with those guys - four PSU's burned up on the same setup is statistically just highly highly improbable (although not totally impossible)...get out a digital multi-meter and get some readings to see if you can zero in on the culprit...here (http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6846) is a good thread to read with some links on jump-starting and DMM testing.

[BGP Spook]

Thanks for the link and advice joeMan. :)

I had already taken the PSU apart and looked at it, before I threw it away. So you suggestion of adapting it to missilery was a little late.

I will need to add a digital multi-meter to my shopping list. :smash: :beat:
(I have an OLD analogue one that I can use but it isn't really mine.) :shhh:

[Hawk]

Even without a surge protector, you should not have PS's failing so often. Is the outlet that the computer is plugged into grounded? New or old wiring, correct polarity?

Older houses w/ older wiring cause similar issues.

[Shayd]

While you were digging around in the PS did you find any fuses (some manufacturers put additional fuses on the boards sometimes) that might have popped? Sometimes they are covered with a tube so you can't see them without nosing around a bit. just a thought for a inexpensive fix, but it would point to something overloading the PS

[BGP Spook]

Hawk, thanks for your post. :)

The house is less than 12 years old so I don't think the wirring is a problem. It should be grounded. And it should have correct polarity. My family runs seven other computers at other places in the house intermittently. So if it is the wiring it would be either just my room or just one outlet. Do you know of a safe way to check?

Shayd, thanks for you post. :)

No, I only saw the one standard fuse. Had a good look at it. It was in perfect shape, other than a little dust on the glass. And it was making good contact. Thought I would mention I also had a look at the PSU's board and various components and they all looked fine. No, noticable mis-shapening or discoloring.

This really has me baffled. :scratch: :coocoo:

One thought, what if my room is sharing the same breaker as the AC/Heater? Or maybe the kitchen? I will need to check this.

[Snafu]

It is entirely possible and probably that one specific outlet has a short/bad ground. I am not sure how this could be tested. You might need an eletrician.

I doubt very much the furnance is hooked in the same circuit. Possible if the electrician messed up.

[Hawk]

Hawk, thanks for your post. :)

The house is less than 12 years old so I don't think the wirring is a problem. It should be grounded. And it should have correct polarity. My family runs seven other computers at other places in the house intermittently. So if it is the wiring it would be either just my room or just one outlet. Do you know of a safe way to check?




HomeDepot is an ex. they sell a device that plugs into the outlet that checks for polarity, ground, etc.

http://www.tripplite.com/products/static/ct120.cfm

Also, anything else using the same circuit or outlet like a fan, flourescent light? ? ?

[BGP Spook]

I am really grateful for all the inpute everyone is giving. :wpleased:

Hawk:
There is a flourescent desk lamp pluged into the same outlet, but I never use it at the same time as my computer. (I would have to look past it to see my monitor correctly.) I wouldn't think the flourescent lamp could cause enough fluctuation to damage my computer when the PSU isn't fully on. (Am I wrong? :?: I know there is always a little draw for the -5v.)

[Hawk]

Unplug it, flourscent uses a ballast. . . . Try that in another outlet.

[BGP Spook]

I will try that. I still need to order another PSU, though.

Looking for one that I could upgrade with significantly.

A question, wouldn't putting the computer on a UPS do the same thing.

[Snafu]

Recommend OCZ Powerstream 600w - can't go wrong with it.

The UPS will help keep the power to your system clean and stable. The lamp in the same socket might be interfering with the supply to your system.

[BGP Spook]

Well, I just checked on the lamp. It was already unpluged. I know I haven't used it in months, so I don't think it was the lamp.

Some good news. I resurrected an old pentium mmx (rompen, stompen, 200mhz). Got it working just right about five minutes ago. So I have a "regular" computer now. (It actually runs OK with win 98 and 192 mb ram.) Was using my dad's 2.6 P4 but he want's his room back.

I have every intention of locking it back in the closet where I found it when I am done.

Thanks for the PSU recommendation, Snafu. Although, the price might be beyond my means. Will need to check my budget, and do some soul searching before I commit.

[BGP Spook]

After some thought I believe I will be going with the OCZ Powerstream 520w.
Mainly because I am VERY price conscious.
But also because I probally won't be OCing much, nor do I plan on using any SLI sulution, nor any RAID configuration.

I am as I said very price conscious, so any setup I use I would be most concerned about price/performance/stability ratios.

So I think the 520 would more than do for atleast my next major upgrade.

Beyond that....only time can tell.

Thanks for all the help though guys. :)

[Kureboy99]

Not sure if this will help or not but I have fried 2 power supplies because of a new heatsink (http://www.thermaltake.com/coolers/comboCool/cl-p0024tower112/cl-p0024tower112.htm) I bought (with a bottom plate to fit under the mobo) was touching a circuit on the board and therefor after 2 minutes of turning it on fried the PSU. They were damn good Enermax ones too!!! :irk: Anyway, point being is if you have (not sure if you do) a heasink other than the stock one, chcek and make sure it is not in contact with anythingon the motherboard that would possibly short it out.

[BGP Spook]

Kureboy99: (thanks for your post) :)

No, nothing special about any of my components. I am about to order the 520 watt OCZ. Anyway, before it gets here I am going to go over my case/mother board with a fine tooth comb checking for possible shorts and doing what I can to prevent possible shorts.

[BGP Spook]

Ok, my OCZ 520 should be here sometime late Friday.

One problem I am haveing is after useing several PSU Calculators. They all say that I should be useing less than 240 watts at peak!!!

I bought a UPS made by APC model BX800. Hopefully this will fix my run on the PSU market.