Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

[stj]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

i actually think it's the startup-cap for the main supply in the psu.

[UserXP]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

Another thing I have tested a few minutes ago. When ErP is enabled, PC powers on normally. There is no power to the USB ports. However, I then disabled the ErP and shut down the PC. I took an older Kingston flash drive which has an activity LED on in. So, while the PC is off, when I plug this flash drive into the front USB 3.0 port, notnig; when I plug it into the adjacent 2.0 port, the drive's LED starts to flash rapidly as if it was doing something in overspeed; when I plug it into the second front 2.0 port (right next to the "flashing one"), nothing happens, the drive is calm. This does not happen when the PC is turned on and all three of the front ports behave normally then.

I do not have any USB devices connected to my PC with the current setup. Even my mouse and keyboard are PS/2 because they have served me quite reliably.
If the 5V rail in the PSU is somehow unstable due to the failing caps, could this be another sign of it? I could not test the back USB ports because they are a bit inapproachable for me to see the LED of the drive. I shall try and find a USB extension cord which I think I have somewhere laying around.

I also like this ErP mode because it turns off everything, so the mouse doesn't flash red all day (and night). It looks like this PSU model is capable of doing it, even though it is not stated anywhere on its package, casing, website, or answered by SeaSonic for that matter (which was the original source of my uncertainty). Is that 5V line in the PSU also "inactive" during the "ErP-enabled off state"?

[UserXP]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

@Stefan

Thank you all for those suggestions. I have a few Rubycons 6.3V/3300uF MBZ from when I was recapping my old GA-8IPE1000-G motherboard. But the cap date is something from 2006 I think. Anyway, I do have that one laying around should i manage to disassemble the PSU.
Other caps would have to be ordered. Any sugestions on those, or is KZH mandatory (I think the original ones were the same)?

This PSU has an auto fan switch. I cannot select whether it will use the fan or not, it starts the fan if the PSU reaches certain temperature (probably has some sort of a sensor). But most of the time this PSU was not stressed and therefore worked in non-fan mode. I do not use the PC for heavy gaming. Plus, the motherboard is 2 years old, again, not being stressed.

@Momaka

I have only one SS-400ET PSU laying around, but I am uncertain that its 400W power wil be enough for powering all the components. I will do some testing.
The two small caps under that big one are both Rubycons. I could not read the ratings due to this white residue over them, but I could see on one that they were YXG series.

[momaka]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

ErP is just another fancy (stupid) name for disabling power to the USB, PS/2 ports (if any), and a bunch of other stuff (WOL/Wake On Lan, WOR, etc.) On older motherboards, this was just a standalone option in the CMOS without that name. And on even older motherboards, you could set that with a jumper on the board.

Either way, enabling ErP to save power should NOT be a problem with the PSU. If anything, you will be putting less of a load on the PSU's 5VSB rail, so that should be even better for it.

Thus, I am thinking you may have a motherboard issue. The only way to know for sure is to try another power supply and see what happens then. Also, must have repeatable results. So if you try a new PSU, then try booting the PC at least 10 times with ErP enabled and 10 times with ErP disabled. Of course, let the PC cool down between each power cycle and also monitor the temperature in your room to see if there is any correlation to that.

[Stefan Payne]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

I don't know how to even begin to remove the PCB as there are a few of them inside.

You don't.
No, really. You don't remove the PCB.
You remove the casing, that gives you access to the PCB.

First: Remove the two small screws on the bottom, near the Exhaustgril.
Then remove the two screws left and right in front (by the modular PCB).
Then you remove the single Screw in front of the modular PCB.
For this Screws youneed a PH1 screwdriver.

Now its a bit dumb.
Because there is one PH2 Screw in about the middle of the fan grill, that also needs to be removed.

Then the Casing should be removable. And you can get access to the PCB. No real need to disassemble further.

BUT:
I disagree with the others.
I'd look around the +12V Switching area first.

What makes me suspicios is the high quality 3900uF/16V capacitor that you find in many newer Seasonic units in the +5V Standby area, right next to the +5VSB Transformer. Nobody else does that. And I've never ever seen such thing anyywhere else.

So I'd just replace the two small caps right under the 3900uF/16V Nippon Chemicon (Should be something like KZH or so really good quality, for whatever reason)...
After that the 3300uF/6,3V.

Because they are all in the 'hot area'...

PS: Have you used this PSU in semi Fanless mode or in active fan mode?

[UserXP]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

Although the PC won't power on normally after cold nights, mouse LED and USB ports still receive power. So the PSU sends stand-by power. Maybe something trips some sort of protection...

[jarvis7]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

try warming it through the grill with a hairdryer - then pushing the button.

hello sir ,

i have heard similar stories regarding motherboard also , for eg like this

https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthrea...h-a-hair-dryer

is this because of capacitors ( even solid ? ) or because of humidity ?

thanks

[Quaddro]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

Given that this was the first time this PSU was ever opened, I was surprised at it not being very dusty inside, even after 5 years of almost every day use.
Thanks for that suggestion, Quaddro, but I am afraid that disassembling this PSU would be much to complicated for me. I am going to leave it the way it is with this "ErP workaround" until I get a replacement. Maybe it's... I don't know... It's SeaSonic after all...

That single failure is means that your psu is not normal..

And if it's not running in normal condition, then it will be the threat for life of your machine..

It'll spread like a cancer, kill it slowly...until there's no breath left anymore..

Yes, nobody perfect..
But you'll not marry a woman if she only will bring misery on your life, right?

[UserXP]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

Given that this was the first time this PSU was ever opened, I was surprised at it not being very dusty inside, even after 5 years of almost every day use.
Thanks for that suggestion, Quaddro, but I am afraid that disassembling this PSU would be much to complicated for me. I am going to leave it the way it is with this "ErP workaround" until I get a replacement. Maybe it's... I don't know... It's SeaSonic after all...

[Quaddro]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

The caps in red circle for example, or wherever you find it small caps like that in your psu, especially in daughterboard, replace it.

[UserXP]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

OK, so I managed to open the PSU. Its interior is very compact and nothing like my previous cheaper PSUs. I don't know how to even begin to remove the PCB as there are a few of them inside. As you can see, it has a bunch of Rubycons and NCCs inside. They all look fine, no bulging. Output caps are all on the daughter PCB with plugs.
Anyways, here are the pictures. You are probably more likely to spot something that I could have failed to notice.

[stj]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

small caps are what they are - even the best brands dont have much liquid in them - so they dry out relativly fast.

[UserXP]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

Thanks for the suggestion. Not wanting to worry about failing caps and build quality was exactly why I went with SeaSonic back then...

[Quaddro]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

Well, as stj said, this is the symptom of capacitor failing.

The easy way, recaps all of small electrolytic caps first.
And if the problem persist, all of the capacitor, small and big.

The hard way is using esr meter, to measure each of capacitor internal resistance and capacity.
But this effective.

[UserXP]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

As suggested by Quaddro, I used a regular hairdryer (for drying hair) for 2 minutes on its lowest setting. The back grill got really warm to the touch. And then, the moment of truth: I pressed the Power button and the computer powered on instantly, like eveyrthing is OK.
What does that mean now? Is it possible that during the nights room temperature drops to a level at which the PSU won't power on instantly as it should, and why it does with ErP enabled? Is there a specific component inside that could cause such a behaviour? Especially since once powerd on it works beautifully. Sorry for all these questions... I'm stumped.

[PeteS in CA]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

I don't know about hairdryers, but I've seen industrial heat guns run on their high setting melt solder. So go with the low heat setting.

[UserXP]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

It is a relatively simple hairdryer with two speed settings, whereby each speed comes with a predetermined heat. I will try with the first setting, the air is hot but does not cause the burning sensation on the fingers when pointed into them. I think the second setting might be too strong.

[Quaddro]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

You'll not try to burn your components, right?

Btw, you've already out of warranty.
Just open the case, but beware of the electricity.

Take the lower heat, then blow it for at least 5-10 minutes to all of the capacitors.

[UserXP]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

Great! I shall do that tommorow. I have already set the ErP option to disabled in BIOS earlier this day, so the PC has already been several hours off, plus the additional hours it'll be off during the upcoming night. Tomorrow I will do as you suggested.

I have a hairdryer with two speed (and therefore heat) settings. For how much time should I point the hairdryer towards the grill to achieve the warm-up?

[stj]

Re: Is Seasonic SS-660KM PSU ErP Ready

not that unusual.
it's a way to see if electrolytic capacitors are failing - they perform better when warm than cold!!