Power Supply DOA? Or did I mess up?

[bigoman]

I just constructed a new computer today.

I had everything hooked up, plugged the power supply in, and flipped the switch on the power supply. The power supply sparked through the back where the fan is and a small puff of smoke came out. I unplugged it without ever trying to turn the computer on.

I'm assuming that the power supply was dead on arrival, but I am wondering if it was possible for me to connect something wrong such that the power supply would destroy itself instantly, before anything was turned on.

I mainly want to know this because I am going to borrow a power supply from someone to test out the rest of my machine to make sure the power supply didnt take anything else with it, and I don't want to blow his up too if I screwed up.

Thanks.

 

[stogez]

Was the right voltage selected in the back of the PSU. Not sure if that would kill it though. Or maybe you plugged the ATX connector the wrong way. Again don't know if that would cause the problem. I guess consider this a free bump until someone know knows more comes along

 

[bigoman]

Thanks for the response. The voltage was selected as 115 rather than 230, which I believe is correct (I am in the US)

I double checked, and all connections are the correct direction

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Are you sure you didn't flip a 4 pin Molex, they are easy to do. That will send 12V into 5V.

A PSU with active PFC will select it's own main's voltage. What brand & model of PSU are you running?

Cheaper PSUs have a selector switch. It's when 115 is selected and then it's plugged into 230 that there is a problem.

 

[dfuze]

I don't think you could have plugged anything in wrong, as all power connections are "keyed" to fit only one way. Sounds like a bad psu. Just hope it didn't take any other parts with it.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: dph1077
I don't think you could have plugged anything in wrong, as all power connections are "keyed" to fit only one way. Sounds like a bad psu. Just hope it didn't take any other parts with it.

As tight as the 4 pin Molex fit when new, it is very possible to flip one and connect it inspite of those little champherd cornors.

 

[bigoman]

I didn't flip any of the molex wires, I triple checked.

I used an unreliable power supply of mine (kinda old, sometimes fails) just to try to power on the system and it worked. So I'm pretty sure it was the power supply, and I don't think it took anything out with it.

I bought a new power supply (old one came with the case, and I don't feel like taking it all apart and waiting a month for RMA) and I'm currently trying to get the 24 pin motherboard plug in, its a tight fit and won't go in (yes, it is pointed the correct way =) )

Thanks for all the help