Antec -5V issue

[SecretAgentMan]

I got an Antec 510W PSU from a friend. I hooked it up to my system and everything runs fine, and all the voltages are within about 3%, except the -5V rail, which reads 0V in the BIOS and in Motherboard monitor.

Is it safe to run this PSU in my system like that? I haven't got the gall to open it up and stick a voltmeter on it, even if I did know where to measure. Thoughts?

 

[karmasalad]

Originally posted by: SecretAgentMan
I got an Antec 510W PSU from a friend. I hooked it up to my system and everything runs fine, and all the voltages are within about 3%, except the -5V rail, which reads 0V in the BIOS and in Motherboard monitor.

Is it safe to run this PSU in my system like that? I haven't got the gall to open it up and stick a voltmeter on it, even if I did know where to measure. Thoughts?

Yes, that's safe. Intel's new ATX12V Version 1.3 Power Supply Design Guide removed the -5v line so it is no longer required.

 

[MDE]

You wouldn't have to opwn up the PSU anyway. You could back probe one of the power connectors and check the 5V line that way.

 

[bozo1]

The -5 and -12 V lines aren't used in modern systems.

 

[stevewm]

Switching power supplies, such as yours, typically need a load present to regulate voltage properly.

Since the -5v line is not used there is no load present, thus the power supply cannot regulate it properly and it shows 0v via your motherboard's voltage monitors.

The -5v and -12v lines are no longer used. And as a previous poster pointed out the newest ATX revision actually calls for the -5v line to be removed (the -12v should be removed shortly as well).

 

[SecretAgentMan]

Thanks for the info.

I was kind of nervous about using it because it looks like someone hacked off some of the wires coming out of the supply and capped them off with heatshrink.

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: stevewm
Switching power supplies, such as yours, typically need a load present to regulate voltage properly.

Since the -5v line is not used there is no load present, thus the power supply cannot regulate it properly and it shows 0v via your motherboard's voltage monitors.

The -5v and -12v lines are no longer used. And as a previous poster pointed out the newest ATX revision actually calls for the -5v line to be removed (the -12v should be removed shortly as well).

Shoot I just got a new PSU...

In the future will it HURT to have those lines present? I just spent on an Antec 430W truepower

 

[stevewm]

Originally posted by: Johnbear007

Originally posted by: stevewm
Switching power supplies, such as yours, typically need a load present to regulate voltage properly.

Since the -5v line is not used there is no load present, thus the power supply cannot regulate it properly and it shows 0v via your motherboard's voltage monitors.

The -5v and -12v lines are no longer used. And as a previous poster pointed out the newest ATX revision actually calls for the -5v line to be removed (the -12v should be removed shortly as well).

Shoot I just got a new PSU...

In the future will it HURT to have those lines present? I just spent on an Antec 430W truepower

Well future ATX revisions would most likely use a slightly different connector.... So your would ethier be getting a new PSU or is possible using a adapter. Once again the -5v and -12v lines would continue to go unsed. I don't see the source of any harm....

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: stevewm

Originally posted by: Johnbear007

Originally posted by: stevewm
Switching power supplies, such as yours, typically need a load present to regulate voltage properly.

Since the -5v line is not used there is no load present, thus the power supply cannot regulate it properly and it shows 0v via your motherboard's voltage monitors.

The -5v and -12v lines are no longer used. And as a previous poster pointed out the newest ATX revision actually calls for the -5v line to be removed (the -12v should be removed shortly as well).

Shoot I just got a new PSU...

In the future will it HURT to have those lines present? I just spent on an Antec 430W truepower

Hmm thats fine then. I wonder how long before there will be a new ATX revision.

Well future ATX revisions would most likely use a slightly different connector.... So your would ethier be getting a new PSU or is possible using a adapter. Once again the -5v and -12v lines would continue to go unsed. I don't see the source of any harm....