Just got new case...please help !

[herbage11]

OK here is the deal. I am broke but got up enough $ to buy just a case for now. Got a Chieftec Case from newegg. one w/ CWT-420AYX12 power supply. I also have bought 3 panaflo fans w/ 4 pin adapters. I want to test the fans and power supply. It came w/ no manual and I am a first timer. When I plg fans into 4 pin wires nothing happens. There is a red setting on the back that reads 230 right now. Someone please help a newbie out so i know that this PS is ok. The fans work on my old comp. Thanks all

 

[herbage11]

OK i get the 115 vs 230 volt setting and changed to 115 and still nothing w/ my fans.....someone let me know whats up pls. thanks

 

[punkrawket]

let me get this straight... you are hooking your power supply up to your fans and trying to get them to turn....

without any other internals in there? like your motherboard and cpu.....

there is one way... i think.... if you short your psu... i'm unclear on how to do it.. but others do....

**Leave the red thing on the power supply ALONE!**

EDIT: oh ya... there is also another forum called Cases and Cooling..... you'd get more response for a question like this there

 

[herbage11]

OK to get it straight. I have nothing else in the case. Just want to hookup fans to PS. The Red thing needs to be on 230 or 115? my old computer is on 115? thanks

 

[ST4RCUTTER]

Why do you want to test your fans and PSU (with virtually no load I might add...)?

Keep it at 115. If for some reason you can't shake the need to "play with it", go here for information on how to short the correct pins on the ATX connector to start the PSU. I wouldn't advise it though. Running a PS without load can put an undue strain on the regulating circuits and could possibly damage the PSU. You have been advised.

 

[herbage11]

I just wanted to test it now cause it is going to be sitting until I get enough $ to buy the rest of the parts and if the PS is bad I would like to know now. If they usually dont work like this great but I am just a curious newbie. Thanks sta4r

 

[SilentRunning]

If you live in the US you want 115 setting as your voltage. This is the line in voltage (what is supplied at your wall outlet). And yes current power supplies are actually turned on by the motherboard so nothing is out of the normal.

 

[herbage11]

Thanks a lot SilentRunning. I was just curious. Now I know a little more thanks to the good people of the Anandtech forums. Sry I did not use Cases and Cooling forum . thanks again all

 

[punkrawket]

i say you have a 5% or less chance of getting a bad psu

i wouldn't worry about it

 

[PowerEngineer]

herbage, I recently received the exact same case from Newegg and it's sitting right next to me. I haven't fired it up yet because I'm still wrestling with my motherboard selection.

Not having my fans yet, I'm assume you are talking about the smaller four pin connectors (of which I see two). I also see the 230/115 volt switch you mention, and (like yours) mine seems to be set to 230 (at least the 230 is showing and the 115 is hidden). Of course this indicates the voltage your power supply expects from the source, and so a setting of 230 when the actual source is 115 probably results in DC output voltages that are lower than 12,5,3.3,-5,-12 volts expected (most likely half). This might mean that your fans aren't going to run (well or maybe at all) on 6 volts. If you have a voltmeter handy, I would check the output voltages to see if they are correct (not sure what the wire color coding is, but you should be able to find 12 volts across two of the pins...checking the drive plugs will be easier). If you don't, then I'd move the switch from 230 to 115 and check voltages again. This seems safer to me than just switching to what we think is 115 and seeing what happens. It's much better to put in lower voltage than a device like the PSU expects (i.e. set at 230 when it should be 115), rather than fry it with higher voltage (i.e. set at 115 when it should be 230).

Sorry I can't be more hekpful...good luck

Okay...Thanks St4R...that helps me too! Great link!

 

[SilentRunning]

Ignore what he said don't leave it at 230 if you live in the US.

There is a volt switch too, which should read 110V or 115V depending on the wattage of your power supply unit. Power supplies are sold throughout the world and some countries use the higher voltage of 240V.


Edit: Unless of course you plan on plugging your computer into your electric dryer outlet