Troubleshooting the short

[Eddie]

I'm not sure if this is the proper place to post this
question, but I'm not familiar with any other newsgroups.

A friend of mine recently moved from the US to England,
and in the process of setting up her computer (cables
etc.), she forgot to switch the power supply over to 230
V from 110 V. After making all of the necessary
connections, she turned on the surge protector, she heard
a crackle, then saw sparks fly out of the back of the
computer (I assume the origin of the sparks were the
power supply). I was hoping that maybe she just fried
the power supply, but after replacing it with a new one,
it was evident that this was not the only problem (I
heard a soft high humming when the new power supply was
energized). What else could have gone wrong? Could the
motherboard/processor be dead? What about other
components like hard drive, CD drives, and such?

Thank you in advance for any help, it is greatly
appreciated.

[Alvin A Brown]

Helllo

Well more than likely her mother and processor needs to
be replace, but sometimes maybe it;s just the mother board
my adice get a new mother.

Your other components should be fine like Floopy, Cdrom,
harddrive and Video, but start with the mother and go from
their.

Alvin


Eddie wrote:

> I'm not sure if this is the proper place to post this
> question, but I'm not familiar with any other newsgroups.
>
> A friend of mine recently moved from the US to England,
> and in the process of setting up her computer (cables
> etc.), she forgot to switch the power supply over to 230
> V from 110 V. After making all of the necessary
> connections, she turned on the surge protector, she heard
> a crackle, then saw sparks fly out of the back of the
> computer (I assume the origin of the sparks were the
> power supply). I was hoping that maybe she just fried
> the power supply, but after replacing it with a new one,
> it was evident that this was not the only problem (I
> heard a soft high humming when the new power supply was
> energized). What else could have gone wrong? Could the
> motherboard/processor be dead? What about other
> components like hard drive, CD drives, and such?
>
> Thank you in advance for any help, it is greatly
> appreciated.

[D.Currie]

The only way to know for sure is to test the parts. There's no other way. A
visual inspection of each component might show burn marks and let you toss
those out right away, but bad parts aren't necessarily going to be singed,
so the lack of a burn doesn't mean something is good.

Anything else is just a guess.

"Eddie" > wrote in message
...
> I'm not sure if this is the proper place to post this
> question, but I'm not familiar with any other newsgroups.
>
> A friend of mine recently moved from the US to England,
> and in the process of setting up her computer (cables
> etc.), she forgot to switch the power supply over to 230
> V from 110 V. After making all of the necessary
> connections, she turned on the surge protector, she heard
> a crackle, then saw sparks fly out of the back of the
> computer (I assume the origin of the sparks were the
> power supply). I was hoping that maybe she just fried
> the power supply, but after replacing it with a new one,
> it was evident that this was not the only problem (I
> heard a soft high humming when the new power supply was
> energized). What else could have gone wrong? Could the
> motherboard/processor be dead? What about other
> components like hard drive, CD drives, and such?
>
> Thank you in advance for any help, it is greatly
> appreciated.

[Eddie]

D. Currie -

I did a visual inspection of all the parts, and came to
the conclusion that I didn't see anyhing wrong. Like you
said, I know that even though I might not see any
problems with the hardware, there could be problems...
the wiring on some of that stuff is too small to see with
the naked eye, and I don't have an extreme amount of
familarity with circuits to understand it completly. I
agree with you in trying to replace/swap parts until she
finds something that'll work. If nothing else, she could
buy a bare bones type system for a couple hundred bucks
and rebuild it with components she already has.

Thanks again for the help.





>-----Original Message-----
>The only way to know for sure is to test the parts.
There's no other way. A
>visual inspection of each component might show burn
marks and let you toss
>those out right away, but bad parts aren't necessarily
going to be singed,
>so the lack of a burn doesn't mean something is good.
>
>Anything else is just a guess.
>
>"Eddie" > wrote in message
...
>> I'm not sure if this is the proper place to post this
>> question, but I'm not familiar with any other
newsgroups.
>>
>> A friend of mine recently moved from the US to England,
>> and in the process of setting up her computer (cables
>> etc.), she forgot to switch the power supply over to
230
>> V from 110 V. After making all of the necessary
>> connections, she turned on the surge protector, she
heard
>> a crackle, then saw sparks fly out of the back of the
>> computer (I assume the origin of the sparks were the
>> power supply). I was hoping that maybe she just fried
>> the power supply, but after replacing it with a new
one,
>> it was evident that this was not the only problem (I
>> heard a soft high humming when the new power supply was
>> energized). What else could have gone wrong? Could
the
>> motherboard/processor be dead? What about other
>> components like hard drive, CD drives, and such?
>>
>> Thank you in advance for any help, it is greatly
>> appreciated.
>
>
>.
>

[D.Currie]

A good shop should be able to test all the parts worth testing for a
reasonable fee. I do it all the time for computers that have been hit by
lightening, and it's not all that tough. The best way to do it is take parts
out of the fired machine one at a time and test them in a working machine.
That way you know they're good.

The problem with swapping parts in and out of the dead machine is that
several components could be bad because you have to hit the right
combination.


--
D.Currie

"Eddie" > wrote in message
...
> D. Currie -
>
> I did a visual inspection of all the parts, and came to
> the conclusion that I didn't see anyhing wrong. Like you
> said, I know that even though I might not see any
> problems with the hardware, there could be problems...
> the wiring on some of that stuff is too small to see with
> the naked eye, and I don't have an extreme amount of
> familarity with circuits to understand it completly. I
> agree with you in trying to replace/swap parts until she
> finds something that'll work. If nothing else, she could
> buy a bare bones type system for a couple hundred bucks
> and rebuild it with components she already has.
>
> Thanks again for the help.
>
>
>
>
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >The only way to know for sure is to test the parts.
> There's no other way. A
> >visual inspection of each component might show burn
> marks and let you toss
> >those out right away, but bad parts aren't necessarily
> going to be singed,
> >so the lack of a burn doesn't mean something is good.
> >
> >Anything else is just a guess.
> >
> >"Eddie" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> I'm not sure if this is the proper place to post this
> >> question, but I'm not familiar with any other
> newsgroups.
> >>
> >> A friend of mine recently moved from the US to England,
> >> and in the process of setting up her computer (cables
> >> etc.), she forgot to switch the power supply over to
> 230
> >> V from 110 V. After making all of the necessary
> >> connections, she turned on the surge protector, she
> heard
> >> a crackle, then saw sparks fly out of the back of the
> >> computer (I assume the origin of the sparks were the
> >> power supply). I was hoping that maybe she just fried
> >> the power supply, but after replacing it with a new
> one,
> >> it was evident that this was not the only problem (I
> >> heard a soft high humming when the new power supply was
> >> energized). What else could have gone wrong? Could
> the
> >> motherboard/processor be dead? What about other
> >> components like hard drive, CD drives, and such?
> >>
> >> Thank you in advance for any help, it is greatly
> >> appreciated.
> >
> >
> >.
> >

[w_tom]

If the original power supply included functions that were
even standard 30 years ago, then no damage occurred to the
rest of that system. However if someone was the classic bean
counter - bought power supply on price and paid typically less
than £50 - then damage will be widespread.

What are specifications of that original power supply? No
specs? Then assume the worst. Every standard power supply,
as even required by Intel specs, would never damage any
computer parts - even if the switch was in 110 position.

Power supplies, properly built, even will withstand
transients in excess of 1000 volts. But that means the power
supply bothers to install those essential functions. If it
did not provide a list of specs, then it was being marketed to
bean counter mentalities; not serious computer users.

Eddie wrote:
> I'm not sure if this is the proper place to post this
> question, but I'm not familiar with any other newsgroups.
>
> A friend of mine recently moved from the US to England,
> and in the process of setting up her computer (cables
> etc.), she forgot to switch the power supply over to 230
> V from 110 V. After making all of the necessary
> connections, she turned on the surge protector, she heard
> a crackle, then saw sparks fly out of the back of the
> computer (I assume the origin of the sparks were the
> power supply). I was hoping that maybe she just fried
> the power supply, but after replacing it with a new one,
> it was evident that this was not the only problem (I
> heard a soft high humming when the new power supply was
> energized). What else could have gone wrong? Could the
> motherboard/processor be dead? What about other
> components like hard drive, CD drives, and such?
>
> Thank you in advance for any help, it is greatly
> appreciated.

[Eddie]

W_Tom -

You are thinking along the same lines that I originally=20
was before replacing the power supply. I figured that=20
any power supply would have some type of overload/trip=20
protection in it, but for some reason, this doesn't seem=20
to be the solution. =20

She bought the computer about three years ago from Dell,=20
and the power supply is badged as a Dell, rated for 200=20
Watts. =20

You wouldn't possibly have any idea if there is some type=20
of 'limit' switch else where on the computer that needs=20
to be reset? (I am thinking something to the same effect=20
as an inertia switch on your car that cuts off the fuel=20
after getting in a wreck.)

Thank you.






>-----Original Message-----
> If the original power supply included functions that=20
were
>even standard 30 years ago, then no damage occurred to=20
the
>rest of that system. However if someone was the classic=20
bean
>counter - bought power supply on price and paid=20
typically less
>than =A350 - then damage will be widespread.
>
> What are specifications of that original power=20
supply? No
>specs? Then assume the worst. Every standard power=20
supply,
>as even required by Intel specs, would never damage any
>computer parts - even if the switch was in 110 position.
>
> Power supplies, properly built, even will withstand
>transients in excess of 1000 volts. But that means the=20
power
>supply bothers to install those essential functions. If=20
it
>did not provide a list of specs, then it was being=20
marketed to
>bean counter mentalities; not serious computer users.
>
>Eddie wrote:
>> I'm not sure if this is the proper place to post this
>> question, but I'm not familiar with any other=20
newsgroups.
>>=20
>> A friend of mine recently moved from the US to England,
>> and in the process of setting up her computer (cables
>> etc.), she forgot to switch the power supply over to=20
230
>> V from 110 V. After making all of the necessary
>> connections, she turned on the surge protector, she=20
heard
>> a crackle, then saw sparks fly out of the back of the
>> computer (I assume the origin of the sparks were the
>> power supply). I was hoping that maybe she just fried
>> the power supply, but after replacing it with a new=20
one,
>> it was evident that this was not the only problem (I
>> heard a soft high humming when the new power supply was
>> energized). What else could have gone wrong? Could=20
the
>> motherboard/processor be dead? What about other
>> components like hard drive, CD drives, and such?
>>=20
>> Thank you in advance for any help, it is greatly
>> appreciated.
>.
>

[w_tom]

If switch was in 110 volt mode when 230 volts was applied,
then up front electrolytic capacitors saw excessive voltage
and shorted. Also power diodes could have been blown. Smoke
and sparks say some internal damage will be obvious - and
permanent.

Output would have overvoltage protectors. Excessive voltage
should not appear on power supply output if it was an original
Dell supply. Damage to computer's other parts is for unknown
reason based upon information provided.

Reset of overvoltage protector or overpower protection is by
unplugging power supply; not just turning it off. But in her
case, damage in the supply means nothing works anyway.

Many electronics such as monitors, laptop computers, and
video camera contain universal power supplies. These supplies
automatically select that 110/230 switch as incoming power is
detected. But in her case, damage is permanent. Also as bad
is to change that switch when power cord is connected to power
supply.

If looking for a new supply, check for the option of a
universal supply. They are not easily found for ATX
computers. But she would never need worry about that 110/230
switch again.

Also be very careful about selecting power supplies. If a
long list of specs are not provided, then power supply
typically is missing essential functions such as that
overvoltage protection or required RFI/EMI line filtering.

Eddie wrote:
> W_Tom -
>
> You are thinking along the same lines that I originally
> was before replacing the power supply. I figured that
> any power supply would have some type of overload/trip
> protection in it, but for some reason, this doesn't seem
> to be the solution.
>
> She bought the computer about three years ago from Dell,
> and the power supply is badged as a Dell, rated for 200
> Watts.
>
> You wouldn't possibly have any idea if there is some type
> of 'limit' switch else where on the computer that needs
> to be reset? (I am thinking something to the same effect
> as an inertia switch on your car that cuts off the fuel
> after getting in a wreck.)
>
> Thank you.