Burning Power Supplies

racknrail · 03-25-2007, 05:58 PM

Hey folks!

I have another strange problem. I have my friends computer. He said the power supply was sparking and smoking. I decided to replace the PS with a used one I had kicking around, but that started smoking and sparking too. I hate that smell!!! Anyway, I am wondering where to begin. What would cause power supplies to burn up, if not the the power supply is at fault. I don't want to waste another one of my power supply units. I am guessing that the motherboard itself may have a short, but I sure hope not. Has anyone experienced anything like this?

AngelArs · 03-25-2007, 06:03 PM

A bad ground could cause this but the best thing to do is to buy a power supply tester for 20.00.

I think I saw some at compusa.

racknrail · 03-25-2007, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelArs

A bad ground could cause this but the best thing to do is to buy a power supply tester for 20.00.

I think I saw some at compusa.

I used a good power supply. It didn't need to be tested as it came out of a computer that worked. I tested it in the defective computer and blew that one too. So it's not the ground, unless it's the ground (plug) on the motherboard itself.

racknrail · 03-25-2007, 06:48 PM

I tried another power supply and this time it fires up, but it won't start any graphics. I can hear it running. The keyboard lights up on the start, but the optical mouse does not. I did try a standard mouse, but even if that worked, I have no graphics. I tried another graphics card to no avail and since I can't even get into the bios, I have to think the motherboard is hooped. Any guesses or suggestions?

AngelArs · 03-25-2007, 08:42 PM

I used to use this chart in my PC days. See if it helps you trace it down

OulZac · 03-25-2007, 08:51 PM

If your getting a post (its booting) but you are not getting video, shut the PC down, take out the memory, look at the memory contacts, if they are dirty, clean them with a dry paper towel. Then reset them back into the slots they were in, using a firm push to make sure they make full contact.

This is the number one cause of no video after a new PSU.

racknrail · 03-25-2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OulZac

If your getting a post (its booting) but you are not getting video, shut the PC down, take out the memory, look at the memory contacts, if they are dirty, clean them with a dry paper towel. Then reset them back into the slots they were in, using a firm push to make sure they make full contact.

This is the number one cause of no video after a new PSU.

Thank you to both you and AngelArs for your help. I will try this and let you know.

AngelArs · 03-26-2007, 11:40 AM

The best thing to use on the gold contacts (any) is a regular pencil eraser. It will clean them up and make them look like new. Gently blow any residue off and reinsert them

racknrail · 03-26-2007, 06:51 PM

Okay, well I have tried a few different things, which all failed. I cleaned all the ram, as suggested. I tried one stick in various slots. I tried different sticks of ram from other PC's, all PC-100, of course, which was what was in it. I tried various graphics cards, both PCI and AGP.

The only result I got was one single beep when I used one of my own sticks of ram in the center slot on the MB, but still no graphics. I can hear the hard drives working. It sounds like it's running. I just can't get a boot screen of any kind.

Any other suggestions?

racknrail · 03-30-2007, 01:05 PM

Still no luck here. I think I will try another MB and chip. It won't be as fast, but hopefully it will work again.