Power Supplies going crazy!

[imported_armoara]

I have a client who is having a hell of a time with the computers we built him. He has 5 micro/mini ATX computers in his office. I have had to replace 3 of the computer's power supplies, EACH TWICE NOW! Some of them die. Others, stop working in the morning, and in the afternoon when he tries to turn them on, they work. It is so weird.

I have built many computers using the same case/power supply (L&C 200W PSU - I know, cheap PSU, but they shouldn't be dropping like flies! And it is only in this one office). He even has another office here I have built him the same computers, and they have never given any problems.

What would make a PSU stop working in the morning, and start working in the afternoon? I think it is an electricity problem, and suggested UPS for each computer, but he doesn't think there is an electricity problem. Please help! Thanks!

 

[EyeMWing]

Grab your multimeter, go jam it in one of his electric sockets. Failing finding a voltage problem, grab your oscilloscope (you DO have one, right ) and try with that.

 

[imported_armoara]

Oh, and in case this helps..the systems are running on:
Biostar M7VIG PRO
AMD Athlon XP 2400+
512MB RAM
40GB HD

And as I stated earlier, L&C and ALLIED 200W PSU, which are both just rebranded DEER PSUs. They came with the "AHANIX" cases we bought. Won't do that again! But the ALLIED PSU comes highly recommended on newegg, 5stars with 15votes, not one person has complained about it. None of my other clients have this problem. How can this one client have so many problems only in one office?

 

[biostud]

Maybe 200W just isn't enough to handle the system

 

[imported_armoara]

That's certainly a possibility...but get this...what would make 2 power supplies on different computers, stop working over the weekend (with no users accessing the computers, just sitting ON but IDLE). And then come Monday morning...the computers won't turn on. But, Monday afternoon, the computers do turn on. Isn't this something with the CMOS?

 

[montag451]

Firstly - if you made the systems up for him and you are using cheap psu and a low voltage cheap psu at that - then you are asking for trouble.
Secondly - if the psu's are dropping at the same time, then it is most likely to be a problem at your client's supply.
Thirdly - get some proper psu's in the computers -
Fourth - get some proper psu's in the computers

 

[imported_armoara]

How would low voltage be the issue if the computer works fine for months when they are using it...but when it is sitting there over the weekend with no user intervention, 2 of the 5 computers' power supplies "freeze"? With my thinking, I would say..."if the PSUs are dropping at the same time, then there is a power problem, not a problem with the PSUs themselves, since they are not dropping for any other client, or even this very same client in a different office"?

 

[montag451]

You are right to say that there is probably a problem with the supplies to the computers.

BUT, when you have a good psu, that can make all the difference if there is a flicker, or a mini-surge. The psu doesn't just supply power - it also, [a good one anyway] will take a bullet, metaphorically speaking, and will be more sturdy when it comes to surges - and, to some extent, clean the power so that there is less 'noise'.

There is NO excuse to be shoving cheap psu's [OR RAM] into a client's computer. If they are not willing to pay the extra at the start, then it must be explained to them why they are making a mistake - and you should expect comeback if you still build systems for them under the 'get the cheapest parts that will fit in a case' remit.

 

[imported_armoara]

I actually didn't know the PSUs that shippsed with the Ahanix mini cases were cheapies. I probably should purchase seperate PSUs from now on, even if the case I buy comes with one. Thanks for the help montag.

 

[montag451]

No worries -
thing to remember is that you usually gets what you pays for

 

[Stonesoldier]

while the start of the problem is the cheap PSU's
it sounds like the office has power problems also
spikes and dips in power

ie Air conditoner turns on and might cause a spike throughout a poorly wired building
try useing a UPS system on them might save ya a headache

worked for my daughters school
one classroom was jinxed with bad ac power
turned out to be a bad exhaust fan

 

[montag451]

Good point stones, except that ups's are expensive and the client seems to not want to spend any money