How to I test the power supply?

[Zezima]

Today, I had to replace a broken PC with a spare. So I took out the spare and saw that the last technician left a sticker on the side which says "TURNS OFF INSTANTLY". I vaguely remember that this PC use to turn itself off without any warning.

 

I have no idea why we still have this PC and why it use to switch off by its self. But now I don't know what do with this PC. We are fairly short on spares so realyl want to have this PC usable.

 

anyone know how i can test the power supply? i figure I may as well test power supply just to make sure its not the issue.

 

hold on... is it actually possible for a power supply to be slightly faulty? Or are they either DEAD or ALIVE?

 

thanks

[Arreks]

To test the PSU, I usually bridge the 24pin connector with a paperclip and then hook it up to a fan or something you know works usually

[LeMarchand]

You can get PSU testers from Amazon/eBay etc. Never used one, so can't recommend a brand. If you can wait, you can get a cheapo one from the East. I also assume that a multimeter would do the trick if you know what results you should be getting.

 

Or just swap it with one from a known good machine.

[unixman_again]

Grab a mulitmeter and test following a pinout diagram. Here's the first one that I googled 24 pin Motherboard Power Connector Pinout

[john]

I've used I think it was an Antec PSU tester before was bout £30 or so and you plugged it in and it checked all the voltages and tested everything was a nifty bit of kit perfect for use by anyone in IT from the Apprentice to me to save the paperclip and multi-meter trick.

[difinity]

I've used a multimeter and measured manually in the past but now have a cheap tester that illuminates LEDs.

Yes power supplies can be slightly faulty, usually down to cheap nasty capacitors that are drying out. That's when they are at their most dangerous as they can quite easily take out motherboards and hard drives with their unsmoothed and out or range voltages.

[southhamster]

+1 for the proper tester. Now I connect it up with the PSU in situ and test it. Saves taking the damn thing out of the PC if it's not faulty and getting covered in dirt.