AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

[KenOlson]

In previous post PCBONEZ "For testing I prefer a server based PSU. They are more robust and you are less likely to smoke it connecting to an AFU mobo.
Also tend to have really long wires."

Have an old Gateway NS-7000 server and checked the PSU. It is an AOpen FSP300-60BT.

Then checked the forum and seems it is a Fortron FSP300-60BT PSU.

One of the replies for the AOpen FSP300-60BT post mentions "This could be a great psu, but fuhjyyu and jamicon capacitors ruin it all."
https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showth...en+FSP300-60BT

Have not opened the PSU but am wondering if All the AOpen FSP300-60BT PSUs contain fuhjyyu and jamicon capacitors or if it is only a few years that have these "Bad Caps"?

Since this is a very old PC hope that it has "Good Caps"

Any comments or suggestions welcome!

Thanks

Ken

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

It's likely to have fuhjyyu anyway. Jamicon aren't "bad", but they are general purpose caps AFAIK and simply unsuited for such an application. So they'll need to be changed anyway.

[mockingbird]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

FSP likes to use Teapo and OST. If the PSU was used a lot, I would change the Teapos. IF it just sat dormant, then you can get some use out of it, otherwise you should replace the caps.

[c_hegge]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

I would replace the el-cheapo teapos regardless of how much use it has had as a preventative measure. I see them fail so often in 2 and 3 year old PSUs that I don't consider them to be that much better than fuhjyyu.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

I haven't seen significant issues with Teapo in PSUs other than cheap gutless wonders that use insufficient caps to start with,, and any brand would blow.
In a decently built PSU Teapo are usually fine.
I have some old AT PSU's full of Teapo [as original] that are pushing 15 years old an still run just ducky.

OST might last a while if they have some air flow [cooling] otherwise just change them, they are gonna 'go'.
[And OST don't always bloat when they croak.]

If you see Fuhjyuu just plug in the iron.
.

[KenOlson]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

Hi Everyone,

From the discussion sounds like I should take the PSU apart and check all the Caps.

Any tips on symptoms when the "Bad Caps" start to take effect?

Am thinking of taking photos of the caps.

Any comments concerning the best way to post photos on the forum?

Ken

[momaka]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

Any tips on symptoms when the "Bad Caps" start to take effect?

Depends on the computer the PSU was in and how hot it was in there.
For example, a hot case, seized PSU fan, or motherboards with bad capacitors may cause the capacitors in the PSU to go bad.

Any comments concerning the best way to post photos on the forum?

Yes, use the forum's "Manage Attachements" button under your post (you need to be in Advanced Mode) to upload your photos to the forum.

[KenOlson]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

Hi momaka,

"Depends on the computer the PSU was in and how hot it was in there." Everything was working on Gateway NS-7000.

Took the PSU apart and looked at all the caps and parts. No sign of bulging or leaking caps.

Am wondering if I can get the date of AOpen FSP300-60BT mfr from the ident # on the PSU?

It is P/N:56.04300.A01 S/N:11001877KS R0

Thanks

Ken

[PCBONEZ]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

Aopen doesn't actually build PSUs, they outsource and rebrand them as their own.

The actual builder of that model is Fortron or Sparkle. [Hence the 'FSP' model number.]
Fortron and Sparkle are affiliated and sometimes build models for each other.
Sparkle targets the Industrial & Server markets while Fortron is more mainstream.
Sparkles tend to be the higher end models [usually w/better caps] and will have an SPI where FSP is in the model number.
Some models will have both SPI and FSP on them with one as the brand name and the other in the model number.
.

[KenOlson]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

Hi PCBONEZ,

Thanks for the Fortron & Sparkle info. "Sparkle targets the Industrial & Server markets while Fortron is more mainstream.Sparkles tend to be the higher end models [usually w/better caps] and will have an SPI where FSP is in the model number."

Seems Gateway NS-7000 uses the less expensive Fortron model.

Opened the PSU and took some photos. Tried to make them similar to the ones I found on the forum.

Heavily compressed the JPGs so would not be over size limit. If anyone would like will try to upload less compressed photos.

Ken

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

The pics are alright. The caps however aren't... I saw "Vent" on one of the secondary capacitors in the Fuhjyyu-specific font. So, you have the dreaded F-caps. A full recap of the secondary is mandatory.

[KenOlson]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

Forgot to give the AOpen FSP300-60BT photos by yanz I found on the forum.

https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showth...en+FSP300-60BT

Also here is Yanz's Conclusion 09-26-2006.

"Was it important to recap this otherwise a still good-working psu?

It is very subjective (to me). This recapping was done when i was learning the PSU recapping in my beginning time. I blindly recapped all the caps to the smallest ones.

But this is my conclusion now:

* the big primary caps (teapo lxk 680uF 200V) don't need to be replaced. the only reason they should be replaced will be for upgrading the capacitance. (i forgot to use my 820uF chemicon KMH though, the 680uf ones is used instead.)
* no caps were bulging, but there's nothing wrong with recapping the Jamicon TM and Teapo SEK caps (output filter), if it's not japanesse caps i can't be sure it will last long. 2-3 years are probably okay with taiwan/chinese caps but not 5 years.
* original fan was replaced with Adda brand (brushless). should be using the ball bearing ones (i forgot )
* all tinny caps was replaced. i want to be sure that the lytics wont be the first to fail in this psu. can't be 100% sure though.
* it don't even cost me $8 for replacement parts. it's a mere hobby project, desired to gain some skills and knowledge in recapping. thank good this psu wasn't filled with fuhjyyu caps like the others fortron 300W.
* powering an prescott 2.8ghz system (been 4-5 month) is okay (only 11A on 12v? ). don't underestimate a good 300W psu!"

Am wondering if he is still using this PSU today?

Ken

[KenOlson]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

Hi Th3_uN1Qu3,

"The pics are alright. The caps however aren't... I saw "Vent" on one of the secondary capacitors in the Fuhjyyu-specific font. So, you have the dreaded F-caps. A full recap of the secondary is mandatory."

Thanks for noticing "Vent"?

As a beginner do not know what it is.

I was looking for discoloration as in photo with "Has one bad cap - Jamicon TK series 3300uF 10V (all the other caps - almost all Teapos - look OK) and a burnt resistor (caused by the bad cap?)."

Ken

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

Discoloration is heat damage. It can be there with, or without bad caps.

"Vent" means that capacitor has a vent, which opens in the event of failure, so that the capacitor can release the gas that it produces internally without explosion. That particular font on your caps is used by Fuhjyyu which is notorious for making caps that fail when exposed to heat. Indeed, you can also see the Fuhjyyu logo in the middle pic, on the small capacitors on the daughterboard, so it's likely for one or more of the big ones to be made by Fuhjyyu as well, this is not visible in the pics you have posted.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

Actually there has been more than one case of Fuhjyyu showing up bloated and leaking in new PSUs that have never even been plugged in.
.

[momaka]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

Indeed, you can also see the Fuhjyyu logo in the middle pic, on the small capacitors on the daughterboard, so it's likely for one or more of the big ones to be made by Fuhjyyu as well, this is not visible in the pics you have posted.

+1
I see one small Fuhjyyu on the primary side by the 5svb and feedback transformers as well (in the first picture). The other one next to it I'm not sure if it's Fuhjyyu or not. There should be 3 total between the primary heatsink and the transformers. This is a half-bridge design so it's advisable that you replace all of the small caps on the primary side of the PSU.

Also, I see 2 big resistors on the secondary (second picture) which I think might be load resistors. One is 15 Ohms and is right by the red wires, the other is 20 Ohms and is by that purple wire. If those are indeed loading resistors, I'd say replace them with resistors of higher resistance. Less heat in the PSU and also better efficiency at low loads.
But let's leave that for later if you decide to recap the PSU. Then you can check what they are connected to.

[c_hegge]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

Every FSP PSU I've worked on refused to start with different load resistors.

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

Yes but you run them on a motherboard anyway. The motherboard and HDD represent the minimum load, because they are on even when the rest of the system is idle.

[c_hegge]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

I mean even with some load on it. Every time I mess with the load resistors on FSPs, they won't start, period.

[KenOlson]

Re: AOpen FSP300-60BT PSU for Benchtesting Motherboards?

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all your comments.

Since I am new to repairing PSU and testing unknown motherboards, have been searching the Internet but have not found answers to these 2 questions.

1. If the Server PSU has been in storage for 3+ years should a "burn in" be done for PSU. If yes what is correct procedure?

2. If connect a "Good Server PSU" and Floppy Drive to an unknown condition Motherboard, is it also necessary to have either a HDD or CD drive connected? If yes does it matter which one use?

Thanks

Ken