How to troubleshoot a dead psu?

[shovenose]

If i can get a free 600w ocz psu that is completely 100% dead (not even 5vsb), would it be worth trying to fix? What could go wrong?

[kc8adu]

Re: How to troubleshoot a dead psu?

free is good!
might still be in warrenty too.
if not its a way to learn.
ocz has been very good to deal with on bad ram.

[G McAtasney]

Re: How to troubleshoot a dead psu?

You could start with the fuse,usually the first casualty,and chase it down the line after that----diodes,electrolytics,etc.,If you've got the time you'll get the experience.An AVOmeter is the basic requirement and if all else fails you'll have a supply of spares:

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: How to troubleshoot a dead psu?

Whenever i see 5vsb missing i usually just scavenge it for parts. But for this one, it might actually be worth trying to fix it.

[everell]

Re: How to troubleshoot a dead psu?

If 5vsb is missing, it is an easy fix

If 5vsb circuit has pwm chip, the circuit is easy to fix.

If 5vsb circuit has 2 transistor circuit, it is easy to replace!

[shovenose]

Re: How to troubleshoot a dead psu?

Its a ocz stealthxstream i think. It looks like the one in the oicture at neweg. But its been discountinued. I can see why. Most of the reviews: it died within a month

[370forlife]

Re: How to troubleshoot a dead psu?

FSP quality!

[shovenose]

Re: How to troubleshoot a dead psu?

yah people love to say "oh fsp is really high quality" but besides their 300w models (which they unfortunateyl made like 20 diff versions of, i think theyre shoddy. jonnyguru has a couple that came doa because the fan wires were soldered to the wrong point on the mobo. the 2nd one did too!
so the ocz power supplies are made by fsp. that explains a lot. when i get it home (probably friday) i will post pics and model info and test it more thoroughly...does anybody know what goes wrong with these power supplies? i thought ocz was at least decent?

[momaka]

Re: How to troubleshoot a dead psu?

If 5vsb is missing, it is an easy fix
If 5vsb circuit has pwm chip, the circuit is easy to fix.

+1
Just fixed a 250W HiPro PSU last week with a TOP switch design for 5vsb. It had a shorted diode that supplied auxiliary power to the PWM controller. It actually took me longer to look through my bags of scrap parts and decide on a suitable replacement than to diagnose the problem.
....
@ Shovenose: for starters, measure 5vsb voltage with your multimeter. Is it completely dead (0v) or is there some small residual voltage present?
Either way, open up the PSU and get some pictures. Or else be prepared to see the "this thread is worthless without pictures" smileys .

[shovenose]

Re: How to troubleshoot a dead psu?

i did say it might take a few days!

[shovenose]

Re: How to troubleshoot a dead psu?

review:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/451

[BigTroll]

Re: How to troubleshoot a dead psu?

i have a 600watt stealth extreme, runs nice and cool, it doesn't get used much though, and yes the newegg reviews scared me. anyways i would go and try and RMA it

[370forlife]

Re: How to troubleshoot a dead psu?

At least that one has pretty good regulation and well controlled ripple.