PSU nearly starts fire

[c_hegge]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11...vs_reg_reader/

All the more reason to avoid cheapies.

[ratdude747]

Re: PSU nearly starts fire

Look at the HS in the 1st pic. Ah, the the "T" HS of doom.

That must have been really flimsy metal to burn through like that. Must have had some zinc added (zinc burns... some compounds of it will burn at room temp even).

This is why I hate noobery...

I just hope the guy learns his lesson... although I think he'll buy another cheapie with a different brand name (read: overpriced ripoff) slapped on it. Lemming.

[Pentium4]

Re: PSU nearly starts fire

Look at the HS in the 1st pic. Ah, the the "T" HS of doom.

That must have been really flimsy metal to burn through like that. Must have had some zinc added (zinc burns... some compounds of it will burn at room temp even).

This is why I hate noobery...

I just hope the guy learns his lesson... although I think he'll buy another cheapie with a different brand name (read: overpriced ripoff) slapped on it. Lemming.

Unfortunately, probably....Can't tell you how many reviews I've seen on Newegg such as "This is the 63rd Logisys in a row that's burned up, this brand sucks! I'm buying Diablotek from now on!!!!1!!1!11!1!"

[c_hegge]

Re: PSU nearly starts fire

I recently load tested a PSU (made by CoodMax ) with those heat sinks. Once I was done killing it, I broke the heat sink into a few pieces with nothing but my bare hands.

I do find it a bit unusual that it actually caught on fire, though. I've seen lots of cheapies blow up, but I'm yet to see one actually start a fire. My pet theory is that there was some dust in there which caught fire as one of the switchers blew.

[stevo1210]

Re: PSU nearly starts fire

...and that look I get from people when I use old Hipro/Delta units from Dell computers... they must think i'm insane cause i'm using old parts in my new PC instead of the newest made-in-china PSU that only costs $15!!! WHAT A BARGAIN! NOT.

[PeteS in CA]

Re: PSU nearly starts fire

Once I was done killing it, I broke the heat sink into a few pieces with nothing but my bare hands.

Interesting! Was it multiple sections of extrusion that were interlocked or riveted together? Or maybe powdered metal pressed into shape like particle board? The former would have terrible heat transfer from one extruded section to another. The latter would be relatively light and probably lack the physical mass/integrity to be an effective heatsink.

[ratdude747]

Re: PSU nearly starts fire

Interesting! Was it multiple sections of extrusion that were interlocked or riveted together? Or maybe powdered metal pressed into shape like particle board? The former would have terrible heat transfer from one extruded section to another. The latter would be relatively light and probably lack the physical mass/integrity to be an effective heatsink.

They are stamped extrusions like any other heatsink... they just happen to be insanely thin. Some are two "L" pieces, bolted together at the top. Otherds are all one extrusion.

[PeteS in CA]

Re: PSU nearly starts fire

They are stamped extrusions like any other heatsink...

Stamp-and-bend and extrusion are two quite different processes. In the former, the heatsink is stamped from sheet aluminum and then the bending of fins and such is a second operation. In extrusion, molten aluminum is extruded under pressure though a die (like frosting by a pastry chef) that gives it its profile. The raw extrusion can be several feet long, and needs to be cut to the desired length. Stamp-and-bend is cheaper than extrusion, but the thickness and complexity (= surface area) are limited. The cheesy thing that can be done to extrusion is that two simple shapes can be bolted or riveted together to make what looks like a complex, beefy shape, but the heat conduction from one section to the other will be much poorer than a solid complex shape. A large, thick stamp-and-bend heatsink with lots of splayed fins may possibly be better than two really thin sections of extrusion poorly bolted together.

[larrymoencurly]

Re: PSU nearly starts fire

Were those computer parts were built to less stringent flammabililty standards? Because several years ago, someone involved in circuit board production in the Far East said they used different fiberglass resins for boards, depending on where the products would be sold, and products for the US market had to be the most fire resistant. Also a German website bought identical brand TVs around the world and burned them, and the ones for the US were the hardest to burn.

[japlytic]

Re: PSU nearly starts fire

Another reminder about cheap power supplies, the old saying is: you get what you pay for.

Were those computer parts were built to less stringent flammabililty standards? Because several years ago, someone involved in circuit board production in the Far East said they used different fiberglass resins for boards, depending on where the products would be sold, and products for the US market had to be the most fire resistant. Also a German website bought identical brand TVs around the world and burned them, and the ones for the US were the hardest to burn.

I don't understand why Far East manufacturers use different fiberglass resins for boards dependent on market.

[larrymoencurly]

Re: PSU nearly starts fire

several years ago, someone involved in circuit board production in the Far East said they used different fiberglass resins for boards, depending on where the products would be sold, and products for the US market had to be the most fire resistant..

I don't understand why Far East manufacturers use different fiberglass resins for boards dependent on market.

I'm guessing fire resistant resin costs more than regular resin. I think he mentioned using at least 3 different grades, for different flammability levels.

[Hemingray]

Re: PSU nearly starts fire

Looking at the pics, looks like one of the primary caps let loose and did this?