Using a multimeter to test for faulty PSU

[Oops_my_bad]

Hi,

 

How can I use a multimeter to check to see if a power supply is working? Obviously I could try a different PSU but dont have any spares of this type.

 

Power supply is a 120v micro-ATX type with a 20 pin mobo connector

 

Cheers

[unixman]

see page 29 of http://www.formfactors.org/developer%5Cspecs%5CATX12V_1_3dg.pdf

[Geoff]

Here's a howto.

 

http://www.ochardware.com/articles/psuvolt/psuvolt.html

[Oops_my_bad]

Great thanks!

[ChrisH]

You can get a little device for this as well. Its nice and quick and easy they cost about £5. Learning to use the multimeter is also a valuable skill though.

[TechMonkey]

Hi,

 

How can I use a multimeter to check to see if a power supply is working? Obviously I could try a different PSU but dont have any spares of this type.

 

Power supply is a 120v micro-ATX type with a 20 pin mobo connector

 

Cheers

 

If you just want to test if it turns on or not then there is a little bodge you can do. I'm sure I will get thourghly spanked for saying this but using this pic you can get a healthy PSU to turn on. If it is duff then you get nothing.

 

EDIT: Just looked at the Overclockers site and they give the same picture, so that makes me a feel a bit better. Always assumed I was doing something not best recommended for some unknown reason!

[Oops_my_bad]

Here's a howto.

 

http://www.ochardware.com/articles/psuvolt/psuvolt.html

 

OK, so i followed this with putting the little wire in. I plug it in and the fan spins momentarily. I then test 3.3v, 5v and these dont register anything. I then test 12v and this os measuring .300 but falls 1 at a second

 

Is this telling me the PSU is goosed? :?

[Oops_my_bad]

I cant remember if these PSU's are thermostatic hence the momentary fan - but I guess from that it's fair to say it is goosed

 

Still.. it was nice to get down and dirty with the volt-o-meter

[ICT_GUY]

Those PSUs are poop. Try getting a new one or rebuild it in a new case (cheapest way)