Possibly sent a totally bogus power supply?

[JenniCHP]

I've had no problems getting the cpu, heatsink memory, etc..

I can't seem to get any signs of life out of the Power supply.

I tried plugging it in and turning the supply on before I even had it connected to anything - and there was absolutely no fan activitiy or lights that activated in the power supply - it's as if there wasn't a bit of life.

Granted I'm using a heavy duty(three prong) extension cord to connect the power supply ot an outlet not too far away - I'm starting to get worried. Is there something that needs to be done with a power supply to activate it? (It almost 'feels' like it needs to be activated before it can turn on - there's no life to it) - or is there a good chance I was sent a dead power supply?

It would totally suck if I have to send the supply back - but I'm hopeful in my noobness that there's something silly or stupid I just haven't done. Perhaps certain cables from the power supply need to link to certain areas on the MOBO or something before the power supply will activate/show signs of life at all. Any ideas? I'm not quite sure how to proceed further, here.

 

[mechBgon]

That's normal, they get their "wakeup" signal from the motherboard. No motherboard, no wakeup signal, no activity. Hang in there

 

[JenniCHP]

Whew! Gosh..I was really worried there. I'm guessin I don't have the 'SW power' connector plugged into the right pin setting on the F Panel thing. I'm online - if there's anyone that's available for a bit of free time and feels up to helping me with this - I'm on ICQ as 93127116 or aim as Rainbow Roo5

Anyhoo..either way, I'll hopefully get it soon. Thank you so much. =)

 

[Feep]

hook everything up, then plug the power switch from the case in to the MB(see manual for location) then press the switch and you should have power. most psu's have a switch on the back that does need to be set to on, but this switch does nothing by itself.

 

[Feep]

sorry, i was typing while you post that. Just read your MB manual, im sure you can find a pdf of it online if you cant find it.

 

[mechBgon]

I have about 160 mobo manuals here, which mobo did you choose?

 

[JenniCHP]

GIGABYTE "GA-K8NSNXP-939" nForce3 Ultra Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL

Link/pics --> http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-128-254&depa=1

I just feel bad about talking too much on here because I don't want to bump my stuff up above other people that may need more help..but as it stands there's no power to my system, heehee...I'm ready to give it a test and see if I get the bios screen since the cpu/heatsink/ram are in but I don't know how many of the little pin connectors need to connect to the f-panel.. I know the SW power does and I know red coded = power but I see a - and a + and I'm not sure which combination or how to do it to give it a test just to see the bios =D

 

[Ka0t1x]

For the power switch +/- doesn't matter, the switch just cuts/makes a circuit. Your motherboard should have came with a "Quick Install Guide" the pins are almost ALWAYS listed in those small booklets.

 

[JenniCHP]

I don't want it to seem like I'm not looking at my booklets - I am, trust me. I have the page right here that shows the F-panel - ie where the speaker pin goes etc etc..but the color coded doublepins confuse me - as does the + and - = sorry about this guys, I'm pretty new to the whole deal. I've tried plugging the 'power sw' into what seems to be stated as the power pins in the motherboard booklet, but nothing happens at all. I have the info here - it's just my non techy brain is having trouble decoding it. Many apologies

 

[Feep]

just try a bunch of configurations until it works, you really cant hurt it

 

[NinjaGnome]

to see if the power supply works get a little paper clip or peice of metal and connect the green wire to one of the black wires on the mobo connector. If there is no activity then your power supply is dead. thats how you test a power supply without using a motherboard.

 

[Ka0t1x]

have a digicam or scanner, show us the manual/mobo. Looking for online manual atm.

 

[mechBgon]

It could also be that the case's power button is faulty or simply not actuating well. Usually it's pressed indirectly by a button that's attached to the bezel, so make sure the bezel's fully snug against the front wall of the chassis itself.

You can do an end-run around the button and its wire by simply making a momentary electrical contact between the mobo's power-switch pins, like shown here: :Q ~ Ooooo, that tickles!!

 

[Feep]

Originally posted by: NinjaGnome
to see if the power supply works get a little paper clip or peice of metal and connect the green wire to one of the black wires on the mobo connector. If there is no activity then your power supply is dead. thats how you test a power supply without using a motherboard.

I would do that AFTER finding the correct MB config

 

[mechBgon]

As you probably know already, these are your target: link to :camera:

(and as Ka0t1x said, polarity doesn't matter on the switches, only the LEDs)

 

[JenniCHP]

Sure! You guys are so sweet to offer to help me - it's the *least* I can do! I'll try to accomodate any requests you guys ask of me. Here's the pictures of the F-panel, me holding the power SW connector, and the mobo info booklet with the necessary info on the page. Keep in mind I've *only* been trying to plug in the sw power cable and turn the power supply on after that..I haven't tried plugging in all the other cables.. I don't know if that's required? If you need any other pics, let me know.

http://img18.exs.cx/my.php?loc...amp;image=DSC02258.jpg
http://img87.exs.cx/my.php?loc...&image=DSC2261.jpg
http://img87.exs.cx/my.php?loc...&image=DSC2260.jpg
http://img87.exs.cx/my.php?loc...amp;image=DSC02261.jpg

Sorry my nails are such a mess! Heh =D

 

[Ka0t1x]

Download for the PDF was going so slow

 

[mechBgon]

By the way, you did get your ATX12V cable plugged into the motherboard, right?

 

[JenniCHP]

MechB - so as shown in my pics - if connect that power SW cable over the two pins highlighted in your picture - the two reds - then the power supply should light up/activate when I turn the button on? I've tried that and it hasn't made a bit of noise at all. I have a video card in - the ram, the cpu (I know it's in quite properly - I treated that part as if it was neurosurgery). I have the 12V and the other power connector (2 altogether) plugged into the mobo ..so I'm not sure if maybe it's not activating because I'm trying to test it so soon without all the stuff connected (Ie the little other F panel cables like Speaker, Reset SW, etc)

 

[JenniCHP]

Sure did Mech - that one and the longer one with much more connectors - can't think of the name exactly but I have *both* of them plugged in.

 

[Ka0t1x]

All those really don't matter for normal function ( the switches and LEDs ).. Flip the power switch in the back of the PSU ?

 

[JenniCHP]

More pics - shows the 2 power connections plugged in, just for reference.

http://img45.exs.cx/my.php?loc...&image=DSC2264.jpg

 

[mechBgon]

I suggest you take the motherboard out of the case, lay it on cardboard, and bargain with it a little. Promise it a new Enermax or Antec power supply if it will just give you a faint ray of hope. Then ream the video card firmly into the slot (two rows of contacts in there, remember, don't stop halfway), install your RAM in the slots that Gigabyte says for dual-channel (I got a pic for that too , DDR1 & DDR2 or else DDR3 and DDR4), and leave out the drives and all other non-essential stuff. Check that your PSU is switched on and set for 115V input, and try that out-of-case-on-cardboard arrangement. If it won't work... I guess it is conceivable that the PSU is actually DOA...

edit: and skip the case's power button wire, use the direct metal tickling technique

 

[JenniCHP]

Picture of the rear of the power supply ---> http://img23.exs.cx/my.php?loc...amp;image=DSC02265.jpg

I've tried flipping the big green switch once the power sw cable is connected..not a stir of life. The little red thing says 115 and i can switch it down and it gives me the # 230 ..I haven't tried messing with that.

I'm also aware that the supply is upside down. That's how it shipped as inside the case.

 

[JenniCHP]

The motherboard is on the case it came in - yeah. Got the ram in slots DDR 1 and DDR 2 for dual channel capabilities. Now the video card in it is my ultra old $X AGP Nvidia GeForce2 MX with 16 mb vram ..it's a darned old card...could that be why nothing is working as far as power supply goes? Once I get it working I'm going to take out the more recent - but still semi old card in the system that I'm responding in these forums with - and try that (a GeForce 4000 Verto with 64 megs DDR ram) - Didn't have enough for a major nice video card so I was going to put that in..but I was going to test things with this old card before shutting down this system, removing the card and putting it in the new system (I guess I could put the old card in this system I'm online with, which is what my plans are ultimately) - but I was hoping to avoid some clutter.

I'm not sure guys.. if it's not that the video card is pretty old, I really have no clue what could be keeping the power from turning on. I mean like - the power supply fans aren't even spinning, and the LED in the supply aren't lighting up..there's no activity at all.