power supply issues???

[ChocoboFarm]

2005-01-14 02:01:44 WARNING +12V ( 0.00 V) exceeds High/Low limits (13.74/10.15 V)
2005-01-14 02:01:49 ------- +12V (12.04 V) functions well

This is the basis of my problems. At first, I thought that this computer might be pulling heavy on the 120V line, so I installed a 1100 VA UPS unit. Still happens. So I thought it might be working the power supply a lot, so I put in another power supply. I now have an Enermax 660w 24-pin power supply and an Enermax 460w power supply in my computer. The 660w powers the motherboard and boot RAID array, and the second power supply power the case's 12 fans, as well as the other hard drives (4 others). So I thought that these might be approaching the limit of the 120v line, so I got a Power Angel (very nice I might add), and I'm pulling a steady 4.8a on 120V line, plus the laser printer pulls about the same, but this is a 20a breaker on the line. I don't know what else it could be. But every once in a while (not nearly as often now), either the +12V or -12V lines, or sometimes others, exceeds the limits, and then about 2 seconds later, returns to normal. I'm out of ideas, and I can't find really any help anywhere else, so I will try here to see if anyone has any ideas.
Is there any way this is ust normal for a power supply? It doesn't seem to be affecting anything anymore, so manybe it's like a self-check or something? I don't know.

 

[Big Lar]

I take it you are measuring with software?
Try a volt meter, set to dc, and check your outputs at a molex.

 

[ChocoboFarm]

Well, the problem is too sporadic for that. There isn't a permanent decrease. It's just every once in a while, I get that error message. I used to get it about every day. Then I noticed it was doing it when all the hard drives spun up for defragging. So I got another power supply, and put four hard drives on the second power supply. That took care of that. Now about once a week it happens.... But I will hook up the Fluke to see what it says, at the very least, to verify the software... Thanks.

 

[NesuD]

I've seen stuff like this before. after trying a couple of different PS's and putting the volt meter on it I came to the conclusion that there wasn't in fact a problem but that what was actually happening was a false positive originating in the health monitering of the board. After comparing readings in several similar but different model boards with the identical powersupply i think it is safe to say that board health monitering is ridiculously inconsistent from board to board. the alert you showed that reported +12v at 0.00 is impossible. If that really happened the sytem would immediately crash. That looks like a definate c case of the boards health monitering screwing up. whatever software you are using is taking it's snapshots in to small a time frame so it shows up these inconsequential anomalies in the health monitering hardware.