"Ole blue" power supply

[larrymoencurly]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

Antec (CWT) used Koshin caps in some of their True and Smartpower units. Only in the low voltage non stressed sections though.

They're probably not as bad as Fujiyuu but not much better either.

Just yesterday, my third Antec Smartpower in a row failed because of its 2200uF Koshin (the Teapo next to it bulged but didn't prevent operation, but I changed it anyway). And as with the other Antecs, the Fuhjyyus all looked OK and tested OK for capacitance and ESR.

[mockingbird]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

Haha! I thought I was the only one with one of those units with the resleeved yellow caps.

Why the heck did the manufacturer go to the length of having their Capxon and Su'scon caps produced with yellow sleeves?

Also one single Elna 12.5 x 30mm "Long Life" RSH cap on mine. It's a "400W" unit made by "Ace Power". The only thing I can determine about it is that the OEM is called "Pucka". PCB Model ATX-66b, manufacturing date "2007/11/11".

Thing looks like it might do 400W after a recap, but I wouldn't put anything more than 300-350W on it.

If you want I can post pics. I removed the caps on mine and it's do for a recap when I get enough funds to make the order at Mouser.

[370forlife]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

Always interested in seeing the designs of the small obscure chinese factories.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

Like the Antec SmartPowers I have then. Fans seized, and they're slimline things that are hard to replace.

The SmartPowers have a problem with the fan controller, IIRC.

[ratdude747]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

I bought a pair of new fans for it. They're delta .12A fans (forgot the 12V RPM, maybe like 2400 or so?). I have pics at home for later.

However, I found out the fan controller is goofy... It runs 12-17V, not 9-12V (they powered it off of the -5v and +12v rails). Probably to make the crappy stock fan move enough air. (and as a result the new fans are LOUD). Explains why Ultra held on to the -5v rail for so long.

I was going to add a zener diode to each fan, but Instead I'm thinking of moving the -5v wire to Gnd (since the OCP on the same daughterboard is electrically isolated).

Sound like a plan?

[mockingbird]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

Haha! I thought I was the only one with one of those units with the resleeved yellow caps.

Why the heck did the manufacturer go to the length of having their Capxon and Su'scon caps produced with yellow sleeves?

Also one single Elna 12.5 x 30mm "Long Life" RSH cap on mine. It's a "400W" unit made by "Ace Power". The only thing I can determine about it is that the OEM is called "Pucka". PCB Model ATX-66b, manufacturing date "2007/11/11".

Thing looks like it might do 400W after a recap, but I wouldn't put anything more than 300-350W on it.

If you want I can post pics. I removed the caps on mine and it's do for a recap when I get enough funds to make the order at Mouser.

I just want to bring this back up, because I've had this PSU re-capped and sitting around for a while, because it never started up again after I changed the caps...

I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the ESR of some of the replacement caps causing the voltage comparator to initiate the OCP. Does anyone know which caps are most likely the ones that need to match the original ESR of the stock caps? Luckily I have a list of all the caps, and I should even have a bag of the caps sitting around here somewhere. Your help is greatly appreciated.

[everell]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

When you apply power does the 5vsb work....what voltage does it measure?

[everell]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

Here is younger brother to "ole blue" which I have affectionately dubbed "new blue". It is a 500 watt Ultra half bridge power supply and features plug in cables. One capacitor is visually bloated......more of the same ole problems. Sure is a purdy case!

[ratdude747]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

When you apply power does the 5vsb work....what voltage does it measure?

Yup, 5vsb was good.

Haven't gotten to working on it further... been way too busy with other stuff. The rig it's from has other issues on top of that so it's been on the back burner.

PS- Good score on the 500... it's modular!

[everell]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

Actually, the question...does the 5vsb work, what voltage does it measure was for the bird what does mock. He said he recapped a psu and now it does not work. First step, does the 5vsb do anything?

Working on power supplies for a hobby does tend to cause many power supplies to come my way. Now that I am spending a LOT of time as a caretaker, seems like I don't have much time any more to work on power supplies. As a college student I am sure you have many challenges budgeting your time. Time is one thing we can't manufacture for ourselves, and it sure does go by quickly!

[mockingbird]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

The power supply should just be plugged in the mains and switched on (But not actually on - like by shorting the green pin to ground) for this test, correct?

I am reading 0 volts on the 5vsb. The primary caps do charge up.

[everell]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

Great start. The main caps do charge up to about 320 volts and the fuse doesn't blow. The 5vsb reads 0 volts.....that is your starting point. Without the 5vsb nothing else is going to work!

Next step - is this a two transistor circuit or does it use a pwm chip? It could be that you installed a bad cap in the 5vsb circuit. There are not that many capacitors in the 5vsb circuit, and the problem is probably on the primary side of the 5vsb transformer.

[ratdude747]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

Actually, the question...does the 5vsb work, what voltage does it measure was for the bird what does mock. He said he recapped a psu and now it does not work. First step, does the 5vsb do anything?

Working on power supplies for a hobby does tend to cause many power supplies to come my way. Now that I am spending a LOT of time as a caretaker, seems like I don't have much time any more to work on power supplies. As a college student I am sure you have many challenges budgeting your time. Time is one thing we can't manufacture for ourselves, and it sure does go by quickly!

I see. Reason I thought it was for me was some info I thought I posted and didn't; that the fan mod was a fail, as the PSU won't power on with the fan controller moved to different voltage rails.

Sometimes I make mistakes...

[everell]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

Sometimes I make mistakes...

That wasn't a "mistake"...........that was a memory fart. You notice it a lot more as you get older. Don't apologize, just smile and move on.

[mockingbird]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

Great start. The main caps do charge up to about 320 volts and the fuse doesn't blow. The 5vsb reads 0 volts.....that is your starting point. Without the 5vsb nothing else is going to work!

Next step - is this a two transistor circuit or does it use a pwm chip? It could be that you installed a bad cap in the 5vsb circuit. There are not that many capacitors in the 5vsb circuit, and the problem is probably on the primary side of the 5vsb transformer.

Thanks Everell...

I am getting 82 and 83 volts on the primaries (That's because of PFC, yes?)...

I want to say that there is no PWM controller for the 5VSB, however there's a Fairchild KA7500C in the secondary of the PSU along with a Weltrend WT-7510.

The KA7500C is a voltage comparator, that's why I am pretty sure this has to do with the ESR of a certain cap... Is the KA7500C also acting as a standy circuit for the 5VSB?

[Behemot]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

Not at all, it is more or less renamed TL494. It should be somewhat driving the whole primary only, but this is usually separated from +5 V SB (they share mostly only PFC and input caps). The +5 V SB usually is either two-transistor forward (or something similar), or single 8pin PWM with integrated power MOSFET.

[c_hegge]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

Thanks Everell...

I am getting 82 and 83 volts on the primaries (That's because of PFC, yes?)...

There's your problem. You should be seeing >160V on both of them.

[mockingbird]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

Not at all, it is more or less renamed TL494. It should be somewhat driving the whole primary only, but this is usually separated from +5 V SB (they share mostly only PFC and input caps). The +5 V SB usually is either two-transistor forward (or something similar), or single 8pin PWM with integrated power MOSFET.

Ok thanks, that explains why it's located on the secondary side, where it should be.

There's your problem. You should be seeing >160V on both of them.

Assuming I was mistaken (And that the PSU didn't work before the re-cap either - though I can distinctly remember using it once before), and that this has nothing to do with the new caps, would replacing the primaries help? Should they *both* read 83v if one of them is faulty?

Should I try putting in the old startup caps? What would cause them to not charge up all the way?

[momaka]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

Check your voltage selection switch. If you live in a country where the line voltage is 110V and you have the switch set for 220V, this will effectively divide the rectified line voltage (about 160V) across the two caps, giving you about 80V across each.

[mockingbird]

Re: "Ole blue" power supply

I am getting no voltage on the primary caps on the 230v setting, but it is always consistently the 80+ volts on the 110V setting. Do you think I crossed the voltage selection wires?