ATX12V(4pin) cable is burned should I replace PSU?

[Thetech]

Hi everyone, I've been wondering why my computer shuts off on me sometimes I opened the case today and gave it another inspection and I noticed that the 12v 4pin cable on the powersupply is burned on the connection to the extension cable(I have to it's an antec p180 case) the socket where the exstension connects to the motherboard is fine. Should I replace the cable and my powersupply?

Am I wrong or could this be the cause of my system shutting down?

My power supply is the Seasonic S-12 600Watt I'm iffy about RMA'ing it because if they don't see the problem they will charge me a 25$ fee to return it.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Worth a try.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Worth a try.

And $25 isn't bad for a new PSU. Better than having the PSU crap out on you, or worse.

 

[Zepper]

You should never use an extension on high-current circuits (ATX, P4, etc.). It was probably a cheap and/or loose contact on the extension giving you a high resistance connection that will do just what you see. Much better to cut the wires off the extension you bought and splice the wires into the middle of your PSU bundle with solder and heat shrink tubing. Neither your PSU nor your mobo should have been damaged by what happened there.

.bh.

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: Zepper
You should never use an extension on high-current circuits (ATX, P4, etc.). It was probably a cheap and/or loose contact on the extension giving you a high resistance connection that will do just what you see. Much better to cut the wires off the extension you bought and splice the wires into the middle of your PSU bundle with solder and heat shrink tubing. Neither your PSU nor your mobo should have been damaged by what happened there.

.bh.

He speaketh the truth here. Loose connection makes that connector a heater = melted connector.

pcgeek

 

[Thetech]

Originally posted by: Zepper
You should never use an extension on high-current circuits (ATX, P4, etc.). It was probably a cheap and/or loose contact on the extension giving you a high resistance connection that will do just what you see. Much better to cut the wires off the extension you bought and splice the wires into the middle of your PSU bundle with solder and heat shrink tubing. Neither your PSU nor your mobo should have been damaged by what happened there.

.bh.

It's the only exstension cable of that type I can find sadly could someone point me to another one?

I believe it was loose like you mentioned Zepper, I think I might have pulled it whilsht cleaning the inside of my computer I noticed after the fact that if you pull on it a little it will slide out a bit. As far as cutting and spliceing it with the PSU connector wouldn't that void my warranty? I don't think my mobo is damaged but I'm not sure about the PSU thought because like I said the 12v plug is burned not just on the plastic connector but the pins inside are browner too. I'm very thankfull for your input I'm not trying to disregard anything you have said any advice is greatly appreciated.

I really want to know why my comp kept shutting off I'm thinking it was that cable because it would always seem to shut off after I cleaned the innside of my comp, then I would open the case back up and make sure all of the cables were connected firmly then everything would be fine.

 

[Zepper]

Those P4 connector shells latch together so it should be quite difficult to loosen them accidentally.

I used to have a drive connector on an Enlight PSU that would keep my PC from starting because it was connected to my boot drive. I'd have to shut the machine down manually, tighten the contacts on the HDD and re start. Eventually I cut the original contacts off and replaced them with real Molex contacts. It worked fine from then on until I sold it. Loose contacts can cause strange things - they can allow corrosion to start and if it is just right, it can act as a diode and rectify AM radio signals. Interesting to watch your CRT screen bounce to the current tune of the local goldie oldies station. Or hear it way in the background on your PC speakers (corroded contacts in the line out jack/plug). Talk about the ghost in the machine...

Are you worried more about voiding your warranty or damaging your mobo or CPU? I wouldn't give splicing the wires a second thought. Done correctly it really shouldn't cause a problem with the warranty as all the work is external to the PSU case. Or just get a PSU with the proper length wires to begin with. Cleaning the contacts with a good contact cleaner and special brush should make them nearly good as new - or they could be cut off and replaced too.

You aren't going to find good extensions at any kind of reasonable cost. You can buy a set of male and female 2x2 connectors (P4 type) from action-electronics.com and re-do the one you have or have one custom made for you. But that would cost a good fraction of the price of the PSU.

.bh.

 

[LTC8K6]

Occasionally the contacts (pins) in the connector don't line up correctly and one of them gets shoved back into the connector instead of mating properly. This will result in a very poor connection and quite a puzzle to find.

I would carefully examine the connectors to see if you can spot any damage.

& listen to Zepper.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Thetech,


Considerations + bit&bobs for fun and for free

Google, annealing brass. The pins are made of brass and once heated to discoloring the tin flash plating and cooled rapidly, all clamping force is gone. So cleaning and reusing is out of the question for this old mechanic, no matter how well they are cleaned or rebent.

Your Seasonic most probably uses genuine Molex pins. Cheapy extensions are made on a heart stopping production line by 12yo childern using knock-off molex-type pins & shells. I hear it now, "old know it all telling me silly stuff". Well, I've crimped several hundred Molex pins over the last six months and the pins from Action-Ellectronics.com are the real deal. The pins that come from vendors selling a row of several pins with a shell are thinnner and have less clamping force. Genuine Molex are thicker by several thousanths of an inch. Does it make a difference...Yes!

For my own rigs no extensions or adapters will ever be put into play. An extension for a fan, maybe. Anything else? NO! Solution? Cut, splice, solder and heat shrink.

Pins & shells= http://www.action-electronics.com/


VG ratchet crimping tool, that will be passed down to your Grandchildren= http://www.jab-tech.com/ >Tools@$20.

For the Full-Zoot service life of all connections, plus real world increased life from all batteries, use a trace of ProGold. To be seen here= http://www.caig.com/ No connection should be made up dry because air oxidizes metal, thats why the critical contacts are flashed with gold, like CPU pins, RAM and all other cards.

Zepper gave me a real heads-up on the crimper & ProGold. I gave him a real heads-up about quantity buys of pins/shells from Action-Electronics.



...Galvanized

 

[Thetech]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Those P4 connector shells latch together so it should be quite difficult to loosen them accidentally.

I used to have a drive connector on an Enlight PSU that would keep my PC from starting because it was connected to my boot drive. I'd have to shut the machine down manually, tighten the contacts on the HDD and re start. Eventually I cut the original contacts off and replaced them with real Molex contacts. It worked fine from then on until I sold it. Loose contacts can cause strange things - they can allow corrosion to start and if it is just right, it can act as a diode and rectify AM radio signals. Interesting to watch your CRT screen bounce to the current tune of the local goldie oldies station. Or hear it way in the background on your PC speakers (corroded contacts in the line out jack/plug). Talk about the ghost in the machine...

Are you worried more about voiding your warranty or damaging your mobo or CPU? I wouldn't give splicing the wires a second thought. Done correctly it really shouldn't cause a problem with the warranty as all the work is external to the PSU case. Or just get a PSU with the proper length wires to begin with. Cleaning the contacts with a good contact cleaner and special brush should make them nearly good as new - or they could be cut off and replaced too.

You aren't going to find good extensions at any kind of reasonable cost. You can buy a set of male and female 2x2 connectors (P4 type) from action-electronics.com and re-do the one you have or have one custom made for you. But that would cost a good fraction of the price of the PSU.

.bh.

Yes the shells did latch together but the fit wasn't that tight, if the wires were pulled even lightly the connectors would pull away from each other a little.

Shoot! as far as replaceing the PSU I can't afford the extra cost plus even if I could I don't know if I could find one with long enough cables. THe 12v 4pin connector that comes from the PSU is just a little too short by about 1-2 inches.

As far as splicing it and connnecting an extension that way, yes I am conecerned with the warranty because I can't afford to replace the PSU, the motherboard and cpu are under warranty. But I must admit the real point is I don't know how to solder

 

[Zepper]

I stand corrected (and know better, really I do - just gettin' old, creeping up on the big 60) - thanks G-Y. It is true - once those cheap chinese contacts are weakened from heat, they will continue to loosen up over time, just like the ones in the HDD power connector I mentioned earlier. So for long-term reliability, you are going to have to cut off the existing female contacts and replace them. If the contacts at the mobo weren't damaged, then there is only one cut and splice needed. It shouldn't cost much to have a local electronics shop do that for you. Then you'd have a receipt showing that a professional did the work.
Call around to computer service, TV repair, small appliance repair, etc. shops to see who'll do the work for you at a reasonable price. Two cuts (one on each side of the damaged Male/female connectors), one splice on each of the four wires. Keep the damaged connectors as the plastic shells could be reused sometime later (if not melted badly) it's just the contacts (in particluar the female ones) that shouldn't be reused and those can be removed from the shells with the proper tool. Even someone you know who has minimal soldering skills could splice the wires for you. No need for micro PCB soldering skillz for that job...

.bh.

 

[pcgeek11]

As far as splicing it and connnecting an extension that way, yes I am conecerned with the warranty because I can't afford to replace the PSU, the motherboard and cpu are under warranty.

But the warranty isn't worth anything if you burn the board or fry it due to your own lack of action to have the issue corrected.

pcgeek