EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

[PeteS in CA]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

Ouch! That's a TO-92 package, and it is ubiquitous! NPN and PNP transistors, JFETs, MOSFETs, TL430s and TL431s, low-power 78XX and 79XX 3-terminal regulators ... all kinds of 3 lead devices come in that package. If it's an NPN or PNP transistor, your ohm meter diode checker should pick that up, and you could try a PN2222A (NPN) or a PN2907A (PNP). Complicating that, though is that some very common 2SAXXXX signal transistors incorporate bias resistors, and I'm not sure how that would affect your diode checker's readings.

[Philly Cheese Steak]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

While you've got the caps out, you can probably see better if there's any brown glue over component legs. If so, remove it.

ITs not too old of a unit the glue I do see in there has a good white color doesn't seem to be oozing at all. I had one cap under the heat sink I had to pry on it to get the spec's off of it, while doing that I broke this little tinny transistor(one of the legs broke off the body of it) here is a photo. I'm not sure what the spec's are on the transistor? There were no markings on the transistor, there is another one just like it near it. Mine is tinny here's a photo of one, can you advise Hegge?

Thank you for everything!!!!

[c_hegge]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

While you've got the caps out, you can probably see better if there's any brown glue over component legs. If so, remove it.

[Philly Cheese Steak]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

haha, I thought exactly the same, and I didn't know PCE-TUR now uses Y shaped vents! The way the shrink wrap is on them, they look similar to Fuhjyyus actually!

Cheese Steak, I think you should start out by replacing those PCE-TUR capacitors.

Also like momaka said, try using a larger load for testing the power supply.
Low-voltage (i.e. 12v) halogen lamps are good for loading down the outputs.

-Ben

Will do, give me a day or two to get one.

[ben7]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

and I thought you had Chemi-con capacitors (That's what they look like from on top)

haha, I thought exactly the same, and I didn't know PCE-TUR now uses Y shaped vents! The way the shrink wrap is on them, they look similar to Fuhjyyus actually!

Cheese Steak, I think you should start out by replacing those PCE-TUR capacitors.

Also like momaka said, try using a larger load for testing the power supply.
Low-voltage (i.e. 12v) halogen lamps are good for loading down the outputs.

-Ben

[Philly Cheese Steak]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

I doubt it. Big transformers like these never go bad (or at least not before the schottky rectifiers and the switching transistors on the primary blow up).

One thing that caught my attention in post #1 is that this PSU was tested with only a hard drive and a fan. For a 1 KW PSU, that's a very very light load, so it is possible that it just needs a bigger load.

@ Philly Cheese Steak: If you have a spare Pentium 4 computer (or something equivalent - i.e. a motherboard with a 4-pin CPU connector), use that to test the PSU. If the 5V rail is still bad, all I can think of is this:

1) In the past, Enermax used to use a tan glue to hold down components on the PSU board during manufacturing. As this glue ages, though, it turns brown and becomes conductive, thus making it possible for short circuits to appear inside the PSU. I can already see there is some of this glue used in your PSU.

2) If #1 doesn't apply above, then perhaps those PCE-TUR/TUL caps are starting to go bad and thus causing the regulation of the PSU to go amok.

But again, I think you should test the PSU first with a much heavier load - possibly something that pulls more power from the 12V rail than from the 5V rail since this is a modern PSU.

Hello Mom AKA!
I had been using it to bench with, so far I've lost three cpu's to it. I can pick up an $5 pentium of flee bay to test with? You see that is my real issue as the PSU is sporadic some time's it works fine, other time's its like I'm not getting enough voltage from the wall. I don't wanna lose any more hardware to it but a $5 cpu I don't mind..........

I can't test the caps in the board, thinking of replacing the secondary side caps. The only other caps are the huge one's on the other side of the PSU an pretty sure those are the least likely to go plus the most expensive too.

Thank you All for your input!
Keep the ideas coming!

[c_hegge]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

I doubt it. Big transformers like these never go bad (or at least not before the schottky rectifiers and the switching transistors on the primary blow up).

Yes they do. It's not common, but I've known it to happen before (although it made the voltage on the 12V jump to something like 25V). The PSU was OK with a new transformer and new caps.

I forgot about the conductive glue issue. That's probably a more likely scenario.

[momaka]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

That means that the problem could be with the transformer (perhaps a partially shorted winding). If so, you'll have to either re-wind or replace the transformer.

I doubt it. Big transformers like these never go bad (or at least not before the schottky rectifiers and the switching transistors on the primary blow up).

One thing that caught my attention in post #1 is that this PSU was tested with only a hard drive and a fan. For a 1 KW PSU, that's a very very light load, so it is possible that it just needs a bigger load.

@ Philly Cheese Steak: If you have a spare Pentium 4 computer (or something equivalent - i.e. a motherboard with a 4-pin CPU connector), use that to test the PSU. If the 5V rail is still bad, all I can think of is this:

1) In the past, Enermax used to use a tan glue to hold down components on the PSU board during manufacturing. As this glue ages, though, it turns brown and becomes conductive, thus making it possible for short circuits to appear inside the PSU. I can already see there is some of this glue used in your PSU.

2) If #1 doesn't apply above, then perhaps those PCE-TUR/TUL caps are starting to go bad and thus causing the regulation of the PSU to go amok.

But again, I think you should test the PSU first with a much heavier load - possibly something that pulls more power from the 12V rail than from the 5V rail since this is a modern PSU.

[shovenose]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

We call those caps Pce-Turd for a reason!

[budm]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

Are there three transformers on the PCB, I can see two large one but on the right side of the middle transformer it looks like a small transformer for the 5V standby?

[c_hegge]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

OK. Unlike tom66 said, this PSU doesn't use DC-DC conversion, so there is no DC-DC converter to speak of. That means that the problem could be with the transformer (perhaps a partially shorted winding). If so, you'll have to either re-wind or replace the transformer.

[Philly Cheese Steak]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

and I thought you had Chemi-con capacitors (That's what they look like from on top)

I think you can leave the primary side alone. The problem is almost definately with the secondary side. Can you get a good, clear picture of the solder side of the PCB?

I doubt that the damage to the wire is responsible. It's on the 12V. You can put some tape around it if you care to.

I'm not sure why but been having a hard time with good picture's up close, but I can use a magnifying lens. I'll post back,

Thank you!

Update: see if these will work, that one cap says "CE TUL" on it then the next big one over to the right is mark "VENT" and the back side secondary side.

[c_hegge]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

and I thought you had Chemi-con capacitors (That's what they look like from on top)

I think you can leave the primary side alone. The problem is almost definately with the secondary side. Can you get a good, clear picture of the solder side of the PCB?

I doubt that the damage to the wire is responsible. It's on the 12V. You can put some tape around it if you care to.

[Philly Cheese Steak]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

^
Nope, yours doesn't seem to have separate DC-DC converters. Either the parts are bolted to the secondary heatsink or are on the reverse-side of the PCB. A DC-DC board usually looks like this:


Your PSU seems to have them as part of the main PCB.

Cool Hegge Thank you!
I took some of the CAPS on the secondary side there not RubyCons, the two big black caps are Rubycon's but the rest are these. None looks leaky, I got a couple of them big round things like you posted Hegge. But there covered in rubber shrink wrap stuff, I assume just cut it off? Also noticed a couple of heavy gauge wires on the end of the PSU looking like they were touching the heat sink, there sheathing is torn(circled in red).
Thanks guys!

[c_hegge]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

^
Nope, yours doesn't seem to have separate DC-DC converters. Either the parts are bolted to the secondary heatsink or are on the reverse-side of the PCB. A DC-DC board usually looks like this:



Your PSU seems to have them as part of the main PCB.

[Philly Cheese Steak]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

okokok,

Well start out taking pics of the secondary (low voltage) side caps, and don't forget to take some shots of the DC-DC converters too.

-Ben

The DC-DC converter is the big round thing in the middle of the PSU? Will post up soon,

Again Thank you!

[ben7]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

Hi Ben,
Can you help me, PLEASE! Secondary caps you mean? I assume primary would be the power side, secondary being the out side to computer(correct)? So if I post some photo's of them you can tell me what I'm looking for................
Thank you!

okokok,

Well start out taking pics of the secondary (low voltage) side caps, and don't forget to take some shots of the DC-DC converters too.

-Ben

[Philly Cheese Steak]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

Hmm, looks like the secondaries have Y shaped vents, so must not be rubycon. I bet some of them are bad.

-Ben

Hi Ben,
Can you help me, PLEASE! Secondary caps you mean? I assume primary would be the power side, secondary being the out side to computer(correct)? So if I post some photo's of them you can tell me what I'm looking for................
Thank you!

[ben7]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

Hmm, looks like the secondaries have Y shaped vents, so must not be rubycon. I bet some of them are bad.

-Ben

[Philly Cheese Steak]

Re: EnerMax Galaxy 1000Watt DxX

If you're about to toss it - give me a PM and I'll buy it off you. Would be a shame to see a nice PSU like that to go to waste.

I didn't post the thread cause I wanted to sell it, I need help fixing it.

Thanks Tom66!

It would therefore seem that the 5V DC-DC converter is faulty.

Can you point me to the DC-DC converter so I could trouble shoot it and make a decision. Also What to test(the version for dummies) as I can use a meter but usually the big words elude me....................
Thank you!