HP Proliant PSU

[clearchris]

Ok, been having a server reboot intermittently. I suspect the psu. I removed the psu, and have it running on a seperate psu.

Input is 120v (240v optional) output is 12v, -12v and 5v.

I'm considering a partial recap, though I'm concerned about how tight the space is.

Any advice for a psu noob?

Pics to follow.

[stj]

Re: HP Proliant PSU

foto's
inc the mother board would be good.

[shovenose]

Re: HP Proliant PSU

If it's a mission critical system please order a new, genuine power supply - if it's not mission critical, pop it open and check the caps. Post pictures if possible.

[c_hegge]

Re: HP Proliant PSU

^
If it's got bad caps, I disagree. If it's mission-critical, Recap it. A new genuine replacement will come with the same caps and suffer the same fate in a few years.

[clearchris]

Re: HP Proliant PSU

I finally got to a computer to upload this.

Its not mission critical, and I have spares. Spares that I expect to fail in a similiar way. The office in which they are kept runs hot, and has a tendency to kill caps. Long term I need to provide for better ventilation.

In the meantime, I consider repair. Difficulty here is the PSU is tight on space. Tight like I havent seen before.

[ben7]

Re: HP Proliant PSU

I finally got to a computer to upload this.

Its not mission critical, and I have spares. Spares that I expect to fail in a similiar way. The office in which they are kept runs hot, and has a tendency to kill caps. Long term I need to provide for better ventilation.

In the meantime, I consider repair. Difficulty here is the PSU is tight on space. Tight like I havent seen before.

That's a great looking PSU with good caps, at least the ones I can see.
If this is a capacitor issue, it might likely be one or more of the little ones on that daughter board. Otherwise, check for cracked solder joints too.

[clearchris]

Re: HP Proliant PSU

None of the caps appear bad under visual inspection. no bulges, no leaks. I just checked, new psu has been up for 2 days with no issues. History points to capacitors as its an intermIttent issue and, well I have had to replace the caps in almost everything else in the rack.

I'll check for solder joints and take a better look at the small caps tomorrow, thanks!

Overall, I really like these hp proliant servers. Its an old one, but its built like a tank. Only downside is they run hot and loud.

[Agent24]

Re: HP Proliant PSU

That little green one right next to the heatsink on the main board in the first picture looks suspect to me. Maybe it's just the angle or the dust, but it doesn't look flat on top.

Check there aren't any shitcaps hiding in there. In an ML310 Proliant's Delta PSU I found a bloated and dead CapXon on the 12v rail. A CapXon, in a 'server-grade' PSU. FFS!

[momaka]

Re: HP Proliant PSU

That little green one right next to the heatsink on the main board in the first picture looks suspect to me. Maybe it's just the angle or the dust, but it doesn't look flat on top.

I noticed that too and was wondering the same thing. If it's a Taicon, change it. If it's a Samxon GF, definitely change it.

Caps don't have to look bad to be bad. My most recent example was just yesterday. I had a wireless router go down. Reason: bad Hermei caps that looked "just fine". What's even more maddening is that I could have saved this router if I trusted my instinct and changed those caps. Now it's dead with the RAM and/or main chip shorted. The router uses a buck DC-DC step-down regulator, and when the input cap went bad, its output went as high as 5.5V (it should have been 3.3V!) I think the wireless chip went bad too, because it shows about 2 Ohms between its Vcc and ground.
The router was making a horrible hissing noises and I thought it might be bad caps. I de-powered it and powered it on again, and that's all she wrote. If I trusted my instinct and changed those caps "blindly", I would have saved it.

So all I'm trying to say with this: don't ignore caps just because they look good - especially when they are from a crap brand.
Now, I don't consider Taicon all too bad, but if in doubt, change them. As for Samxon GF, change them regardless.

[Neuromodulator]

Re: HP Proliant PSU

Were you able to repair it? I got 3 of these that are not working at all. I got the schematics as well (took me a lot of work to get them). But still can't figure out whats wrong. Apparently the PFC subsystem isn't working as it should since its not outputting 380V.

[stj]

Re: HP Proliant PSU

pfc may need the 5v standby to drive it.
can you upload the schems?

[Neuromodulator]

Re: HP Proliant PSU

Dunno if its possible to upload to the server, but i uploaded it to some random site:
http://www.filedropper.com/ps-3381-1c2

the 380V line is actually at 317V (pretty much the peak voltage of mains).
Which looks as if the boost converter is not switching at all.

[stj]

Re: HP Proliant PSU

nice

ok do you have 5v standby?
if not then 3rd schematic has it - it's using a topswitch.
those things have a small startup cap.
usually 10-22uf - that probably is gone even if it's not the cause.

[Neuromodulator]

Re: HP Proliant PSU

You mean the C600 10uF? I'm gonna check it.