Dumb 'Power Supply' Question of the Day

[purcellj]

I picked up a new Antec 880 case w/ True 430 PS.

I'm still waiting on the motherboard to arrive, so I was doing prep (installing hd, floppy, etc). Without any HD, floppy plugged into the PS, I plugged it into the wall and turned it on. I expected the PS fans to turn & hear the PS hum. But nothing happened.

Is this normal? Does a mobo need to be plugged in?

Thanks,

 

[fatbaby]

Step away from the psu!

NEVER plug in a psu w/o all your components (unless you have some sort of psu tester like the thing you can buy from antec). You can really damage your psu that way

 

[purcellj]

Chill...it was on for about 2 seconds.

 

[mechBgon]

ATX power supplies don't fire up without a motherboard.

 

[purcellj]

Thanks, that's what I was hoping.

Prior to your post, I ran a 2nd test with the case fans plugged in...they didn't start running either.

 

[mechBgon]

Sure thing, hope your new rig goes together smoothly for you.

 

[purcellj]

Me too...it's started off interesting already

The mobo & monitor will be here tomorrow, then the real fun begins.

 

[bozo1]

1. The supply needs to be under a load - a hard drive or a couple of fans. (one fan usually is not enough)
2. You need to fool the powersupply into thinking it got an 'on' signal from the motherboard. You do this by shorting the green wire on the mobo connector with any of the blacks using a wire or a paperclip.

 

[Lizardman]

1. The supply needs to be under a load - a hard drive or a couple of fans. (one fan usually is not enough)

#2 your right on the money.

#1 your wrong. Your PS doenst have to have anything plugged into to it to run. Just do the wire trip and see if the cooling fan in the PS spins if it does you know it works. Very Easy way to test and I have been doing it for a long time.

 

[purcellj]

Based on last night's experience, I would agree that you need to short the power supply to "turn it on". Unfortuately, I can't test that at the moment -- work keeps getting in the way.

I'll have the motherboard today, so I'll know definitively if it's good or bad.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[purcellj]

First, the PS turned out to be fine. Powered right up with a motherboard installed.

Second, in regards to the "under load" debate. An Antec Rep said it needed to be under load for the PS to power up. Then the Antec Rep said you could try the "short" approach or buy our PS tester.

Thanks for all the responses.