Random audible click from PSU

[MagickMan]

I've built a system with a new Corsair AX860 and it's been fine, except for a single (fairly loud) click that occasionally comes from the PSU, every hour or so. It doesn't seem to affect the system in any visible way, and happens whether it's under load or sitting idle.

It isn't the fan, which I have set to run 100% of the time (it runs at a low speed unless the power ramps up, like when gaming), I turned it off just to make sure and it clicked even when the fan wasn't turning. To me it sounds like a relay.

 

[Seba]

I recently had a Seasonic S12II-620 Bronze that started to make some clicking noises (at few seconds apart, relatively constant but occasionally was silent) and got my money back for it (it still was in warranty). Voltages were good. No stability problems.

Maybe yours has the same problem.

 

[MagickMan]

Update: Corsair got back with me, after talking with their engineers, and it seems that all of their Seasonic-made AX PSUs do this, just that some relays are louder than others. It has to do with power regulation and it's actually a "good thing". If I had a better UPS, like an APC Smart-UPS (I have a cheaper 1500VA Back-UPS Pro), it would be triggering much less often, if ever. My electric company isn't that great, so I'll probably get a better UPS anyway.

 

[tweakboy]

Seems like a bustesd fan. Are you able to boot up and do something like gaming or video stuff, RMA the unit if you can.

 

[MagickMan]

I hauled my UPS into the shop to get it checked out, just for curiosity's sake, and it has regulation issues. Simply put, it was getting old and wasn't working up to snuff anymore. Probably took too many surge hits over the years. So I bought a Cyberpower PFC 2200VA monster, hooked up everything on or near my desk to it (except my laser printer), and my PSU hasn't audibly clicked since. Problem solved, apparently.

 

[HOOfan 1]

My guess is that Corsair was suggesting you buy a pure sine wave UPS...which you did

 

[JasonCoder]

Kind of eye opening how nasty the power coming into your home can be. For fun and games try operating on generator power... actually not fun, really

 

[MagickMan]

My guess is that Corsair was suggesting you buy a pure sine wave UPS...which you did

Nah, I bought one because it was open-box for $280 and @1500W I can run everything in my workspace off of it (except for my color Laserjet). It's a big, heavy beast.