3 blown Power supply's in 6 months.

Being a former electrician your AC circuit is not grounded. No amount of
surge protection will help you . Surge protectors rely mainly on the
circuits ground fault to discharge a surge in the line when it happens.

--
Peter

Please reply to newsgroup for the benefit of others.

"RobW" wrote in message
...
Hi all,
I have a P.C. that keeps blowing power supply's.
It is P4 2.4, Gigabyte GA-8IG100MK Main Board in a "whitebox" of
unknown make.
Low spec AGP video card
2 x Optical drives
1 x 80gig Seagate Barracuda
The last power supply it blew was a Unicase 400W Silent power supply.


I has been plugged into a middle of the road surge protector the whole
time (which seems to fine.)
This has all happened in the same house; however there hasn't been any
other power problems.

I'm thinking maybe it's the case because the problems happend when the
unit is being switched o every time.
Anyone else seen something like this?
TIA

Rob

Hi all,
FYI the machine has been accepted back by the business who built it to
be repaired under warranty.
I have passed on the relevant suggestions posted on this thread and
hope they pull it down and check it according to your suggestions.
Thanks again and I will be sure to post the outcome. However it may be
a couple of weeks?
Rob

Hi all,
FYI the machine has been accepted back by the business who built it to
be repaired under warranty.
I have passed on the relevant suggestions posted on this thread and
hope they pull it down and check it according to your suggestions.
Thanks again and I will be sure to post the outcome. However it may be
a couple of weeks?
Rob

In article ,
says...
Hi all,
FYI the machine has been accepted back by the business who built it to
be repaired under warranty.
I have passed on the relevant suggestions posted on this thread and
hope they pull it down and check it according to your suggestions.
Thanks again and I will be sure to post the outcome. However it may be
a couple of weeks?
Rob

Just make sure that you install a quick-acting fuse in the shower matt
so that you are fully protected from slipping in the shower

--
--

remove 999 in order to email me

In article ,
says...
Hi all,
FYI the machine has been accepted back by the business who built it to
be repaired under warranty.
I have passed on the relevant suggestions posted on this thread and
hope they pull it down and check it according to your suggestions.
Thanks again and I will be sure to post the outcome. However it may be
a couple of weeks?
Rob

Just make sure that you install a quick-acting fuse in the shower matt
so that you are fully protected from slipping in the shower

--
--

remove 999 in order to email me

Right! Fuses protect lives!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!


"Leythos" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...
Hi all,
FYI the machine has been accepted back by the business who built it to
be repaired under warranty.
I have passed on the relevant suggestions posted on this thread and
hope they pull it down and check it according to your suggestions.
Thanks again and I will be sure to post the outcome. However it may be
a couple of weeks?
Rob

Just make sure that you install a quick-acting fuse in the shower matt
so that you are fully protected from slipping in the shower

--
--

remove 999 in order to email me

Right! Fuses protect lives!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!


"Leythos" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...
Hi all,
FYI the machine has been accepted back by the business who built it to
be repaired under warranty.
I have passed on the relevant suggestions posted on this thread and
hope they pull it down and check it according to your suggestions.
Thanks again and I will be sure to post the outcome. However it may be
a couple of weeks?
Rob

Just make sure that you install a quick-acting fuse in the shower matt
so that you are fully protected from slipping in the shower

--
--

remove 999 in order to email me

These undersized power supplies are why the 3.5 digit
multimeter is so much a powerful tool. Simply power up the
machine and measure all critical voltages. Then have machine
access all peripherals simultaneously. Play music on sound
card while each Command Prompt program accesses a disk drive,
CD-ROM, and floppy simultaneously. Access other computer disk
drives on the network. And use the internet. Do all
simultaneously and measure those voltages again. If the power
supply is sufficiently sized, those voltage will remain in the
upper three quarters of those defined voltage limits.

This does not mean the power supply contains other essential
functions - a good condition. But it will identify inferior
supplies - a bad condition. This load test being effective to
identify a sufficiently sized power supply - to confirm what
they claim in writing probably does exist.

What is so often missing in supplies that can't provide the
power as claimed? A long list of written and numeric specs.

Vanguard wrote:
"w_tom" wrote in message
...
First thing that power supply must provide is a long
list of written and numeric specs.

This is still a user beware situation. Many PSU makers actually lie
about what load their product will support. They may rate the PSU as a
400W unit but include the voltages and their supposed load support when
those voltages aren't used, or they list an aggregate load for a common
rail voltage when the combined or simultaneously load will be much
smaller. That 400W cheapie PSU may only be able to actually support a
concurrent 200W to 300W load. Figure 50% to 75% of actual wattage
rating from a cheapie PSU. So you may simply be trying to suck out 300W
of an actual load from a PSU that can only supply 200W but has a "400W"
sticker on it. A good PSU will tell you what is the load available per
tap but also mention if there are any caveats regarding a combined load
limit across taps.

Just because it says 400W on its sticker doesn't mean it will actually
support that load level on all its taps at the same time. Not only is
that a concern but also many cheapie PSU makers will outright lie about
what load can be safely applied to any tap. There is also the problem
of excessive ripple. Although many computer components are designed to
accommodate some ripple, they won't handle it when it is so severe as to
look like a sawtooth pattern on an oscilloscope. It sounds like the OP
has been trying to get by on cheap PSUs and then wondering why they
blow. Sort of like buying the cheapest tires and expecting them to be
equivalent to the pricey ones. Your PSU provides the lifeblood of your
computer.

These undersized power supplies are why the 3.5 digit
multimeter is so much a powerful tool. Simply power up the
machine and measure all critical voltages. Then have machine
access all peripherals simultaneously. Play music on sound
card while each Command Prompt program accesses a disk drive,
CD-ROM, and floppy simultaneously. Access other computer disk
drives on the network. And use the internet. Do all
simultaneously and measure those voltages again. If the power
supply is sufficiently sized, those voltage will remain in the
upper three quarters of those defined voltage limits.

This does not mean the power supply contains other essential
functions - a good condition. But it will identify inferior
supplies - a bad condition. This load test being effective to
identify a sufficiently sized power supply - to confirm what
they claim in writing probably does exist.

What is so often missing in supplies that can't provide the
power as claimed? A long list of written and numeric specs.

Vanguard wrote:
"w_tom" wrote in message
...
First thing that power supply must provide is a long
list of written and numeric specs.

This is still a user beware situation. Many PSU makers actually lie
about what load their product will support. They may rate the PSU as a
400W unit but include the voltages and their supposed load support when
those voltages aren't used, or they list an aggregate load for a common
rail voltage when the combined or simultaneously load will be much
smaller. That 400W cheapie PSU may only be able to actually support a
concurrent 200W to 300W load. Figure 50% to 75% of actual wattage
rating from a cheapie PSU. So you may simply be trying to suck out 300W
of an actual load from a PSU that can only supply 200W but has a "400W"
sticker on it. A good PSU will tell you what is the load available per
tap but also mention if there are any caveats regarding a combined load
limit across taps.

Just because it says 400W on its sticker doesn't mean it will actually
support that load level on all its taps at the same time. Not only is
that a concern but also many cheapie PSU makers will outright lie about
what load can be safely applied to any tap. There is also the problem
of excessive ripple. Although many computer components are designed to
accommodate some ripple, they won't handle it when it is so severe as to
look like a sawtooth pattern on an oscilloscope. It sounds like the OP
has been trying to get by on cheap PSUs and then wondering why they
blow. Sort of like buying the cheapest tires and expecting them to be
equivalent to the pricey ones. Your PSU provides the lifeblood of your
computer.

Why do codes call for protection of that wire? A wire
destroyed by too much current causes fire. Fires threaten
humans. The wire is protected by fuse firstmost because a hot
and burned wire creates a threat to human life. We are not
first worried about the wire. We first worry about the
human. A primary function of fusing is protecting humans from
failure. Fuse may perform other secondary functions. But its
primary purpose as even defined by codes is human protection.
Fuses typically blow after hardware has failed. Fuses
typically do not just protect hardware.

Why would that fuse inside his power supply blow? Hardware
damage has already occurred. Did the fuse protect the power
supply from damage. Not likely. The fuse blew after damage
existed.

Next you will tell us how some UPS provides protection that
its own manufacturer does not even claim to provide.

Leythos wrote:
As a designer that's worked in the industrial sector for almost 2
decades, I also spec fuses/breakers for the protection of the wiring and
device depending on the application. I don't recall ever fusing for
protection of personnel.

All the breakers in my SD panel in my home are sized based on the wire
gauge and not the devices connected to wiring. All of the fuses in the
non-switching PSU's I've used and or build were sized to protect the PSU
itself (components).

Wonder what else he's going to try and tell us this time.

Why do codes call for protection of that wire? A wire
destroyed by too much current causes fire. Fires threaten
humans. The wire is protected by fuse firstmost because a hot
and burned wire creates a threat to human life. We are not
first worried about the wire. We first worry about the
human. A primary function of fusing is protecting humans from
failure. Fuse may perform other secondary functions. But its
primary purpose as even defined by codes is human protection.
Fuses typically blow after hardware has failed. Fuses
typically do not just protect hardware.

Why would that fuse inside his power supply blow? Hardware
damage has already occurred. Did the fuse protect the power
supply from damage. Not likely. The fuse blew after damage
existed.

Next you will tell us how some UPS provides protection that
its own manufacturer does not even claim to provide.

Leythos wrote:
As a designer that's worked in the industrial sector for almost 2
decades, I also spec fuses/breakers for the protection of the wiring and
device depending on the application. I don't recall ever fusing for
protection of personnel.

All the breakers in my SD panel in my home are sized based on the wire
gauge and not the devices connected to wiring. All of the fuses in the
non-switching PSU's I've used and or build were sized to protect the PSU
itself (components).

Wonder what else he's going to try and tell us this time.

Why do we fuse vehicles wires? Fuse also protects those
wires. But again, the primary purpose is to avoid car fires -
a threat to human life. Overloaded wires cause fires - a
threat to human life inside that car.

What happens if the power amplifier outputs excessive
power. Well clearly something inside that amp has already
failed. The fuse did not protect from the failure. It is
simply disconnecting as a result of the failure. Maybe it
will protect more transistors from failing in succession. But
a failure existed before the fuse blew.

The fuse blows typically when hardware has already failed.
#1 reason for fuses? Human safety. Why do we fuse to protect
wires? Again, number one reason to is avoid wire fires -
human safety.

Your links were for circuit protection devices such as TMOVs
- not for fuses. Circuit protection devices are not fuses.

"Mike Hall (MS-MVP)" wrote:
A fuse does NOT exist purely to save human life.. the fuses inside
a hi-fi power amplifier or CB or computer power supply are there
to protect circuits.. some will be fast blow, some will be slow
blow, and some are thermal types..

Note also that automotive fuses do NOT exist to save human life..
and if you had followed any links on the URL given to you, that
would have become patently clear to you too..

Why do we fuse vehicles wires? Fuse also protects those
wires. But again, the primary purpose is to avoid car fires -
a threat to human life. Overloaded wires cause fires - a
threat to human life inside that car.

What happens if the power amplifier outputs excessive
power. Well clearly something inside that amp has already
failed. The fuse did not protect from the failure. It is
simply disconnecting as a result of the failure. Maybe it
will protect more transistors from failing in succession. But
a failure existed before the fuse blew.

The fuse blows typically when hardware has already failed.
#1 reason for fuses? Human safety. Why do we fuse to protect
wires? Again, number one reason to is avoid wire fires -
human safety.

Your links were for circuit protection devices such as TMOVs
- not for fuses. Circuit protection devices are not fuses.

"Mike Hall (MS-MVP)" wrote:
A fuse does NOT exist purely to save human life.. the fuses inside
a hi-fi power amplifier or CB or computer power supply are there
to protect circuits.. some will be fast blow, some will be slow
blow, and some are thermal types..

Note also that automotive fuses do NOT exist to save human life..
and if you had followed any links on the URL given to you, that
would have become patently clear to you too..

Right. You protect the DEVICE, which in turn may save someone's life - or
not!

I have NEVER seen a fuse protected device prevent someone from getting
electrocuted if he stuck his hand in the control panel and grabbed a 220v
terminal, have you?

Therefore, a fuse does not protect human life directly. The human protection
is ancillary to protecting the DEVICE!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!


"w_tom" wrote in message
...
Why do codes call for protection of that wire? A wire
destroyed by too much current causes fire. Fires threaten
humans. The wire is protected by fuse firstmost because a hot
and burned wire creates a threat to human life. We are not
first worried about the wire. We first worry about the
human. A primary function of fusing is protecting humans from
failure. Fuse may perform other secondary functions. But its
primary purpose as even defined by codes is human protection.
Fuses typically blow after hardware has failed. Fuses
typically do not just protect hardware.

Why would that fuse inside his power supply blow? Hardware
damage has already occurred. Did the fuse protect the power
supply from damage. Not likely. The fuse blew after damage
existed.

Next you will tell us how some UPS provides protection that
its own manufacturer does not even claim to provide.

Leythos wrote:
As a designer that's worked in the industrial sector for almost 2
decades, I also spec fuses/breakers for the protection of the wiring and
device depending on the application. I don't recall ever fusing for
protection of personnel.

All the breakers in my SD panel in my home are sized based on the wire
gauge and not the devices connected to wiring. All of the fuses in the
non-switching PSU's I've used and or build were sized to protect the PSU
itself (components).

Wonder what else he's going to try and tell us this time.

Right. You protect the DEVICE, which in turn may save someone's life - or
not!

I have NEVER seen a fuse protected device prevent someone from getting
electrocuted if he stuck his hand in the control panel and grabbed a 220v
terminal, have you?

Therefore, a fuse does not protect human life directly. The human protection
is ancillary to protecting the DEVICE!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!


"w_tom" wrote in message
...
Why do codes call for protection of that wire? A wire
destroyed by too much current causes fire. Fires threaten
humans. The wire is protected by fuse firstmost because a hot
and burned wire creates a threat to human life. We are not
first worried about the wire. We first worry about the
human. A primary function of fusing is protecting humans from
failure. Fuse may perform other secondary functions. But its
primary purpose as even defined by codes is human protection.
Fuses typically blow after hardware has failed. Fuses
typically do not just protect hardware.

Why would that fuse inside his power supply blow? Hardware
damage has already occurred. Did the fuse protect the power
supply from damage. Not likely. The fuse blew after damage
existed.

Next you will tell us how some UPS provides protection that
its own manufacturer does not even claim to provide.

Leythos wrote:
As a designer that's worked in the industrial sector for almost 2
decades, I also spec fuses/breakers for the protection of the wiring and
device depending on the application. I don't recall ever fusing for
protection of personnel.

All the breakers in my SD panel in my home are sized based on the wire
gauge and not the devices connected to wiring. All of the fuses in the
non-switching PSU's I've used and or build were sized to protect the PSU
itself (components).

Wonder what else he's going to try and tell us this time.