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Is my PSU likely bust?

R

Rusty Roy

Junior Member
While I was using my PC it just switched off and then a few seconds later there was a large bang, which tripped the circuit breaker. My guess is that a cap blew in the PSU. I can't see any blown caps on the motherboard, graphics, or sound cards.

But I opened the PSU up and I can't see any blown caps in there either (the large heat sinks do make it difficult to see everything though). It smells, but I do have to sniff it closely.

I have 3 questions:
  1. Is it likely to be the psu that blew?
  2. Is it safe to try the psu?
  3. If the psu works, is it possible to tell whether it is working properly?

Thanks

Rusty
 
A large, vertically mounted electrolytic cap could have blown out from the bottom. Is there any sign of leakage around the base of any of the caps?

A power semiconductor (diode, transistor, etc.) could have blown. I once inserted an 8 pin dual op amp in backwards. It blew the top of the IC off with a small bang. It wasn't a power IC, and it didn't give off that much smoke, but still... OTOH, reversed large electrolytics can end up resembling New Years Eve party favors. 😛

One sure test would be to try another PSU or to try yours on another machine.

Good luck. 🙂
 
If the circuit breaker blew, the power supply's fuse likely blew as well, and this can occur with a loud bang.
 
Thanks for the advice. I can't see any caps blown at the bottom.

I have now tried powering it up with pins 14 and 15 shorted on the mobo connector. With the power lead it was using before nothing happened, maybe the fuse in the plug went. With another lead it crackled when switched on, but the fan didn't start up. So it looks like it is dead.
 
There might be a fuse in the psu box. Have you opened up the contaption to look for that or leaks like mentioned from the capacitors. If it is a brand psu it won't just blow. 🙂

What you do is this. You disconnect your PSU for maybe 10 mins. No power at all. Then you open it up. It's prolly easy you lift the top off, but mind the screws. You might need to wiggle it a bit to get it loose. Afterwards you understand why. Then you do what we said. 🙂
As long as you do this, you need not worry.

That was the practical part.
 
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