Very strange smell, no performance probs - bad caps?

[lostprophet]

First post here, I was wondering if someone could help. The office I work in recently decided to start hosting our websites in house and it fell to me to build a server. After selecting some components I settled on this power supply, but having put everything together and had it running all day, there is a strange smell in the office, very potent kinda like a permanant marker.

After lots of browsing the internet I came across this site and hoped someone could help me discover the source. It is definatly coming from the PSU, it is strong enough to fill a medium sized office that has the windows open, I intially thought it could be a laquer sometimes left on components but having had it running for over 8 hours straight and the smell still hasn't lifted, I am beginign to think it could be a bad capacitor.

If it is a bad cap:
a) Is the scent it gives off dangerous? It is very potent in the office.
b) Would bad caps be able to give off a smell that strong?
c) Would the computer be able to run unaffected for a long period of time if it was a bad cap?

hope someone can offer some solace, the smell is driving everyone mad!

[willawake]

Re: Very strange smell, no performance probs - bad caps?

i have had a few chinese psus to smell bad even before plugged in. doubt its the caps.

dunno about that brand. its a pretty damn expensive psu. personally i would have gone with Zippy as a known good brand.

[Agent24]

Re: Very strange smell, no performance probs - bad caps?

Sounds to me like a "brand new part" smell... because if the capacitors were in such a state that you could smell them that badly... you would be having serious issues somewhere - because you can only smell them once they are actually leaking everywhere

The only way to find that out of course is to take a look inside, but would probably void any warranty...

But it's not impossible for a brand new PSU to be bad... I friend of mine bought a Raidmax PSU and it went OK for about a week until one of the primary capacitors vented with smoke everywhere ... but in his case you could look in through the fan grille and see where the top was split

if they're worrying you, take it back and get a different one, maybe a Zippy

[Wizard]

Re: Very strange smell, no performance probs - bad caps?

The stink is the new stuff but this is not very nice either. Get it out and get a good PSU like others have suggested.

I once had PSU and a monitor smell strongly for weeks and mom thought something was burning! :o

Cheers, Wizard

[gustie]

Re: Very strange smell, no performance probs - bad caps?

sorry to crash this thread -

are ZIPPY good for normal desktop PCs or just servers?

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Very strange smell, no performance probs - bad caps?

UL Number says it's a re-branded I-Star PSU.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Very strange smell, no performance probs - bad caps?

gustie, Mr. Zippy doesn't know what you stuffed it into.

[gustie]

Re: Very strange smell, no performance probs - bad caps?

gustie, Mr. Zippy doesn't know what you stuffed it into.

ok

ill stick with PC power and cooling then lol

[gustie]

Re: Very strange smell, no performance probs - bad caps?

why is my sig not aways showing?

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Very strange smell, no performance probs - bad caps?

why is my sig not aways showing?

I dunno.
My sig has a mind of it's own too.

I meant the Zippy will work fine.
A power supply doesn't know what kind of a box you put it in.

.