Power Supply Porblems

Kitsune · Post by **Kitsune** » 2004-01-11 06:21pm

I have asked this on another forum but want to check for other opinions

I have been having a problem with Power Supplies blowing on my computer over the last 3 or 4 months. One was lost while it was on standby (:eft it on over night), two were lost when the computer was on, and one appears to have blown when it was off. It is an atx power supply so it is not completely off unless I shut it off from the back.

I replaced the motherboard because most people seemed to consider that to be the most likely cause. After that, I have had two power supplies blow so it it doubtful that the motherboard did it. I have had four people (My Brother / Brother In Law / 2 People who sell computers) suggest that the most likely cause is spikes in the household current and have check the voltage and voltage in the house seems to be a bit high (up to 123.5 v.) Another person suggested the idea that it is most likely my CD Roms, Floppy drives, and/or hard drives. My Brother in Law told me that the power supply has overcurrent protection which will prevent that.

Opinions? Anyone have seen a similar situations?

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2004-01-11 08:17pm

Your problem is either a wiring fault in the house or you get power spikes. I'm betting on the latter. See, during the summer and winter times are when power companies jack up the juice to keep up with the idiots that run heaters/AC constantly to prevent power outages in some areas. However, that in turn jacks up the power for those that live closer to the sub-stations, resulting in your higher-than-usual voltage out of the socket. Granted, yours isn't THAT high (mine usually tops at 126V during the summer/winter), but power supplies with poor tolerance won't like that and will literally blow out on you. What you need is an un-interruptable power supply with a filter! It'll set you back close to $100, but it'll be the best $100 you'll ever spend. Trust me. My little APC Back-UPS Office 500VA has saved my ass countless times. Ontop of that, they usually have a warranty on them. My APC has a lifetime warranty upto $20,000 on anything connected to it.

Avoid Cyberpower at all costs though. You couldn't PAY me to take those pieces of shit.

Kitsune · Post by **Kitsune** » 2004-01-11 08:42pm

Actually, it is even better than that. I am only about a mile from the powerplant itself. I was looking at a Cyberpower as being close to what I wanted yet affordable. I will have to see what officemax and bestbuys has..maybe even see what Walmart has. from other discussions, it sounds like I at least need one with voltage regualtion if possible

Also, my (Cheap) surge suppressor has a check for grounds and am not getting any grounds

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-01-11 09:35pm

Kitsune wrote:Also, my (Cheap) surge suppressor has a check for grounds and am not getting any grounds

Those little warning lights are almost always useless, your surge strip could have burned out long ago and you'd never even know it. The MOVs inside a power strip destroy themselves when a spike occurs.

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2004-01-12 05:16pm

Kitsune wrote:Actually, it is even better than that. I am only about a mile from the powerplant itself. I was looking at a Cyberpower as being close to what I wanted yet affordable. I will have to see what officemax and bestbuys has..maybe even see what Walmart has. from other discussions, it sounds like I at least need one with voltage regualtion if possible

Also, my (Cheap) surge suppressor has a check for grounds and am not getting any grounds

You won't find any decent ones at Wal-Mart. Sams Club maybe, but they only carry APC and Cyberpower (why they bother carrying Cyberpower, I have no idea...you'd think the faulty workmanship in the damn things would tip them off that they're a shitty product). Best Buy and Office Depot would be your best shot.

Also, your cheap surge supressor won't protect you from anything with a good charge. Especially from lightning strikes.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-01-12 06:27pm

Vertigo1 wrote:You won't find any decent ones at Wal-Mart. Sams Club maybe, but they only carry APC and Cyberpower (why they bother carrying Cyberpower, I have no idea...you'd think the faulty workmanship in the damn things would tip them off that they're a shitty product). Best Buy and Office Depot would be your best shot.

Actually, Cyperpower is a relabelled APC. Their more expensive stuff is reliable, I hear.

Also, your cheap surge supressor won't protect you from anything with a good charge. Especially from lightning strikes.

Even expensive ones won't do that (most of the time). You generally need a whole-house surge supressor to clamp down at the point of entry.

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2004-01-12 07:16pm

phongn wrote:Actually, Cyperpower is a relabelled APC. Their more expensive stuff is reliable, I hear.

Tell that to my father, who's on his third replacement.... I told him to bite the bullet and go APC (who actually has a decent warranty, along with a no questions asked policy if you ever have a problem with it)....but he won't listen. My little APC has been running strong *knocks on wood* for nearly 5 years now without a single hiccup.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-01-12 07:24pm

Vertigo1 wrote:Tell that to my father, who's on his third replacement.... I told him to bite the bullet and go APC (who actually has a decent warranty, along with a no questions asked policy if you ever have a problem with it)....but he won't listen. My little APC has been running strong *knocks on wood* for nearly 5 years now without a single hiccup.

I hear their "protection warranty" isn't as well-administered; Tripp-Lite's is much easier to work with.