Power Problem

[olds]

I have 2 computers in my home. They are in different rooms and both are on surge protectors. Both have more than adequate power supplies. Machine #1 will restart on it's own if my 220 volt dryer or my 220 air compressor comes on. Machine #2 is fine. If the dryer or compressor is running when I try to start #1, it just reboots over and over again at the first POST screen, displaying the video card info. Both machines are in my sig, machine #1 is "Chris' Contraption". No overclocking, default settings.
Short specs:
#1 AMD 1.33, Enermax EG651P-VE, full tower, DVD, CDRW, ZIP, floppy, Elsa Ultra 64 DDR, 512 PC2100
#2 AMD 1.0, Antec 400 Watt, mid tower, DVD, CDRW, floppy, ATI 7000, 256 PC2100

 

[morkinva]

Do you have 100 amp service? It sounds like those 220v items are drawing enough current so that your puters are getting confused. If you try to plug the computers into UPS's, that might work for the compressor which isn't on for a long stretch, but the dryer's current draw would exceed most UPS time constraints. Is there a chance you could get 200 amp service?

Maybe the electric service is shared with you and some other families? <scratches head>

 

[olds]

The main breaker is 125 amp. It didn't do this in the past, it's worked for 8 months and only affects one machine. The other is fine. The electric service is not shared and all lines in this neighborhood (5 years old) are underground. I used an antec power supply tester to check the ps out of the machine and it checked fine. I used Motherboard Monitor 5 to check voltages and the 5 volt is a little low at 4.86v. I suspect a hardware problem as everything was working in the past. :frown:
Forgot to mention that I will probably buy a Cyber Power UPS. They also up the voltage if there is a drop. I think the APC only protects against spikes.

 

[olds]

I just checked the power at the outlet for the computer. It is 123.4 volts. I used Motherboard Monitor 5 to check the 12 and 5 volt rails. It is now reporting 4.49 for the 5 volt rail and 28.06 for the 12 volt rail! Is there another program I can d/l to verify the voltages?
Neither the dryer or compressor are running.
EDIT
I ran a test.
Start voltage = 122.4, turn compressor on drops to 119 then back to 122.4, start dryer (compressor still running) drops to 119.5 then back to 121.07. I did this with the machine running and it didn't restart. (I hate intermittent problems)
MBM 5 still shows 28.06 for the 12 volt and 4.49 for the 5 volt. The power would seem to be within reason so I would assume it's a power supply problem. Does this sound reasonable?

 

[DaiShan]

it's always possible that it is a pus relate problem, but the way you described it earlier that when you turn on those things it restarts sounds like it is having a hard time getting enough power (even though you said it was) in my house sometimes when I turn on the hair dryer or something the light will get dim, maybe try plugging the computer into a socket that is on a different circuit (not sure if this is the right term here) I mean when you go into the circuit breaker, if you flipped the switch would it affect both the dryer and the computer? if so try switching it around. Dunno if this will help you at all, but it is worth a try before buying more parts!

 

[morkinva]

<< I just checked the power at the outlet for the computer. It is 123.4 volts. I used Motherboard Monitor 5 to check the 12 and 5 volt rails. It is now reporting 4.49 for the 5 volt rail and 28.06 for the 12 volt rail! Is there another program I can d/l to verify the voltages? Neither the dryer or compressor are running. EDIT I ran a test. Start voltage = 122.4, turn compressor on drops to 119 then back to 122.4, start dryer (compressor still running) drops to 119.5 then back to 121.07. I did this with the machine running and it didn't restart. (I hate intermittent problems) MBM 5 still shows 28.06 for the 12 volt and 4.49 for the 5 volt. The power would seem to be within reason so I would assume it's a power supply problem. Does this sound reasonable? >>



That 12-volt rail voltage can't be right, you'd blow out yer o'ring ! But seriously, I don't know of other programs you could use to test this.

It sounds odd that this problem would occur after 8 months of troublefree use. Maybe you could eliminate the 'outlet' question by getting a big fat extension cord and using another outlet on a different circuit than the 220v stuff, or a different circuit than the one it's currently on. and/or get one of those outlet testers at home depot (about 4 or 5 dollars), plug it into the suspect outlet, turn on the suspected interfering machinery, and jiggle the outlet tester (this tester only tests whether the outlet is hooked up correctly, and doesn't test load and stuff like that)

Or if that stuff tells you nothing, maybe switch power supplies and see if it still happens.

Obviously I have no clue what the problem is. But I wish you luck. Let us know how you make out.

 

[GregANDTCH]

<< I think the APC only protects against spikes. >>



I know my APC protects against low voltage, but I don't really know
how to tell before you buy one.
Sometimes I'm sitting there and the fridge will turn on,
the APC will click it's light on, then go out.
The room lights will blink just a little, so I'm sure it's
the voltage dropping too far.

 

[olds]

I couldn't find anything to verify the MBM 5 results so I uninstalled/reinstalled it and it now reads 11.94 instaed of 28.06. I am going to put in an Antec 400 watt ps from my other machine and see if that makes a difference.

 

[olds]

Results:
Unplugged Enermax ps to mobo and plugged in Antec tester; 12 = 12.27, 5 = 5.116, 3.3 = 3.409
Within specs but installed Antec 400 watt anyway. Booted to windows.
Started dryer, compressor, washing machine, dishwasher, home theater w/12" 100 watt sub, daughter's stereo, all tv's, lights, ceiling fans.
No reboot! Looks like it's fine but I'll run it for a while before I pick up a new power supply. Thanks again for the help.

 

[morkinva]

<<< hoping it works.

If it does, then those power supply testers aren't worth a crap, which I've always suspected.