Powe supply question

[Seegee]

I was in the process of buildin my first computer. I had everything hooked up right or so I thought. I botted it for the first time and smoke started coming from it. so i quickly turned it off. I found that my floppy drive power cable had burned all the coatinf off the wire. I unplugged it from the drive and found that one of the pins(the third from the left had gotten bent and wasn't in the pin hole right.

My questions is: if I cut the cable off that got burned up, and tape them up with electrical tape can i still use the power supply? Only 1 wire is bare.

The power suppply is new and I don't want to buy another one to replace it if I can still use it. I have a extension cable with a floppy power cable on it, that I could use to operate my new floppy drive.

 

[Jakespeare]

Well, speaking as a professional, and builder of 100's of comuters:
1) I would NEVER sell a computer with a power supply like that one (very possibly damaged).

2) I would never TEST a P/S like that on a new computer. Why waste a $100 mainboard, or processor, for a $30 P/S ?

3rd) I would ask somebody, who asked me about this, do you feel confident you can afford to buy a mainboard, or other parts if this P/S is damaged ?
> Are you willing to have your P/S prematurely fail ? (or just pay for the new one now ?)

> Congratulations on building your computer, but also note, you really have to pay attention to detail. TRIPLE check everything,,,,,,,,,,, and READ THE MANUAL that came with the mainboard.

GL

 

[Guest_imported]

I guess you COULD use that PSU again, bearing in mind what Jakespeare has written. However, I'd advise against using electrical tape unless you want something similar to happen again... Either cut or unsolder the wires inside the PSU*, or seal them up properly with, say, heatshrink tubing and tie them well out of the way. Electrical tape will often "unwind" in the presence of a flow of hot air.

* N.B. If you do open up the PSU, bear in mind that the high voltage capacitors on the mains input side can hold a charge after power has been removed - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Good luck!


ROGER - GØAOZ

 

[Seegee]

thanks for the info, I'm not messing with the inside of the PSU,it's not worth my life...lol.

Next time I'm taking Jakespear's advice, I'll check it to make sure, it'd be nice if the power connector was like HD power connectors, then that couldn't happen, I wouldn't think it could happen anyway.

thanks,
Seegee

 

[dkediger]

If you're talking about the mini power connectors for your floppy drive, they are also "keyed" to indicate the direction they plug in. The bottom side of the connector will have little ridges along the side that mate up with a corresponding tab on the floppy drive. If you by chance had this upside down, it could very well have caused the bent pin and may have created a dead short from a voltage carrying line to ground

 

[Seegee]

well, when I plugged it in there, i didn't have to force it, it just slid right in there, that's why I didn't think nothing else about it. When I took the cable off the floppy one of the pins was bent up and was fused to the cable it had benn completely removed from the drive itself.

Next time I'm gonna put the cable on it, then attach it to the case. That way, I'll no for sure. This has been a lesson to me. it'll will change the way I work on computers. Maybe it will help some other people as well.

Seegee

 

[ceh4702]

I've never seen this happen. You could have damaged the motherboard and the floppy drive in the process. If the power supply you buy has a switch on the back make sure everything is off and then plug it into a surge protector which should be off at the time. Then turn on the surge protector and wait and see what happens. Then flip the switch on the back of the power supply to see what happens.
Better luck next time.

If your board has a jumperless option use it to test the setup. Newer boards can look at the cpu and memory and choose the best setting. If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[hchman]

Just a quick question for GOAOZ. How long have you been working on computers. Why would you even suggest to a person just starting out to mess with the inside of a power supply???? Rules one and two. Never try to repair power supplies and never try to repair monitors (unless you are certified to do so). B-(

 

[Seegee]

I talked to this instructor at my college who is A+ certified, and I showed him my PSU , and he said that it wouldn't hurt anything to clip off the wires and tape them off. So I pulled the wires out of the molex connector, cut off the bad part, reinserted the wires and hooked it back up to my computer, I'm gonna try it out in a couple minutes. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Seegee

 

[Seegee]

OK, I turned it on and I have had no problems, other than I don't have a floppy drive, but I got winXP, so doesn't matter. all my devices are working, no erros,more inportantly...no smoke. Thanks to everyone, for your input.

Seegee

 

[Guest_imported]

My pc shutdown unexpectedly some time .I just need this information that is it may be a problem of power supply?

I have a used power supply can i change power supply and check the system?

All the power supplies are same ? i meant there is nothing to do for adjusment of power supply with the mother board?

I am sure prolbem is not from the windows because i formatted and installed a new windows98 sec but problem is same .......... pc restart when i start it ......some time it start properly and i use it for hours but after that restart unexpectedly .......realy dont know what i have to do ...

help me plzzzzzzzz

 

[Seegee]

for the most part PSU's are the same, the watts they are rated in are different, depending on your processor and devices you have. The standard PSU is 300 Watts and higher on fastar CPU's, I think anything from a 600Mhz CPU and higher.

You should be able to change out the power supply. Make sure the power connector to the motherboard is corect, if it is an ATX PSU, then it is keyed, and you will not have to worry about it. if it is AT then the 2 power connectors should be attached with both black wires in the middle. oh, make sure the floppy connector is right.

The only adjustment I can think of would be the 110/220 switch on the back of ATX PSU's. this would change depending on where you live.

Hope this helps.

Seegee

 

[Guest_imported]

seegee ......thanks for your quick response ....

 

[Guest_imported]

In response to hchman, I have been working on computers (building, repairing, upgrading, custom mods) for about 16 years, and into electronics for many more years than that. This forum is about helping people, whether they are trying to solve a problem in the commercial field, or if they're sorting out their home or hobby PC.

As long as a person understands the principles of electricity and heeds any warnings given, then I see no reason why power supply units or monitors should not be opened up to modify or repair it if that is their wish. Many folk have absolutely no interest whatsoever regarding the innards of such devices, but there are those who may wish to learn more about how these units work, etc. In the past, I have repaired them, and designed and fitted thermistor devices to PSUs.

I specifically gave a warning about the dangers lurking within the typical PSU - I hope it is not being suggested that this forum is only open to those in the commercial environment, and not for the hobbyist and experimenter.


ROGER - GØAOZ.

 

[hchman]

GOAOZ. No offense meant in my comments but you are right when you said this forum is for everyone and a warning may not cut it for someone who does not know that opening a power supply could cost you your life. I may be overreacting but I have seen someone get hurt doing what you suggested even though he read the warning on the PSU. Anyway you do seem to know what you are talking about and I would not hesitate to listen to your advise (on most things).

 

[Guest_imported]

No offence taken... You are right about warnings - one can never say them enough times... I guess this is why we see the likes of "Do not eat" printed on the side of a battery pack for example!! However, I am of the firm opinion that if you can pass on information you yourself have gleaned or learned about a subject, it might help somebody else, and get them interested in a different aspect of this wonderful life. I have long had an interest in electronics, computers, and radio particularly, hence my ham radio callsign GØAOZ.

Good luck!


ROGER - GØAOZ.

 

[Guest_imported]

I replaced p/s with new one but it is same

I boy told me that problem is in the motherboard i have to change motherboard

i have Amd K6 3d 450 cpu.

can any one tell me what motherboard i need ?

please tell me as soon as posible ...


bye