Ka-Boom!

[acstech]

Has anyone seen this video? Can you identify that exploding power supply?

http://www.corsair.com/cinema/movie.aspx?id=622747

[Newbie2]

Re: Ka-Boom!

I'm guessing it's a Powmax power supply, judging by the dual-fan design (Powmax just slaps an 80mm case fan right on the back of their dual-fan power supplies) and how it sparks when it fails, along with how empty the power supply is. It could also be a cheap Codegen power supply.

[Topcat]

Re: Ka-Boom!

I've seen so many powmax's go boom. I had one personally. I was one of the lucky ones, it didn't take my motherboard with it!

[Newbie2]

Re: Ka-Boom!

Well Topcat... I remember when you said this back in 2003:

I frequently recommend and use Powmax supplies!!

If you don't remember, it's on this old thread: https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=21

[Topcat]

Re: Ka-Boom!

^
Live and learn.......... If I were recommending them, it was obviously before I had any major problems with them.

My PSU of choice today is Zippy (if you can afford them), and Antec actually makes a decent supply now, since they've stopped using the fukkyou (or however they're spelled) caps.

[i4004]

Re: Ka-Boom!

> http://www.corsair.com/cinema/movie.aspx?id=622747

all 3 cases were main switchers blowing...
as if the control circuit doesn't really know how much can it push them...
or they're just using too weak switchers...

[Newbie2]

Re: Ka-Boom!

^
Live and learn.......... If I were recommending them, it was obviously before I had any major problems with them.

Back then Powmax made decent (not bad) power supplies, but now they're the worst power supplies on the market.

You have to admit your statement sounds funny now due to the current shoddy quality of Powmax power supplies.

[riotpack]

Re: Ka-Boom!

maybe taking the lid off hindered air flow over the heatsinks? I've never seen PSUs do this under 75% load.

[acstech]

Re: Ka-Boom!

So, after some dust builds up and it's loaded to 75%? Or if it's run in the hot environment of a computer?

Remind me not to buy Powmax.

[dood]

Re: Ka-Boom!

We had a group of powmax supplies go poof during an electrical fault one day. Voltage in the lab dropped due to a wiring issue or a faulty breaker. The supplies attempted to stay running at the ultimate cost. As the voltage dropped, they drew more and more amperage, until they, and the wiring, started smoking. They didn't stop until someone threw the main breaker at the subpanel and killed it.

Cracked one or 2 of them open (no pics unfortunately). Varying degrees of damage. Some of them toasted the FETs, some blew the main caps (messy!), some were just charred beyond recognition. Lost a few motherboards from this, as well (I'm guessing from the end when things started arcing around).

I still come across some of them in service... I just shudder and replace with a new supply

[Newbie2]

Re: Ka-Boom!

Powmax is no doubt the worst power supply manufacturer in history.

Their quality is worse than even DEER (this also applies to their L&C and Allied brands), which are good power supplies actually for older Pentium III and Celeron (up to Pentium III design) computers, after a good recap and fan replacement is done (the original fan is like 0 CFM).

Any Powmax power supply seen running should be immediately replaced before they kill computer components due to their garbage design.

Also, the 75% load number that Corsair used is based off the rated wattage on the power supply label. The rating of generic or cheap power supplies cannot be trusted at all, since for example DEER manufactures a batch of identical power supplies and simply puts 300W, 350W, 400W, 450W and whatever power supplies labels they have. Put them in cheap generic cases, and there you have people who don't know what a quality power supply is use those cheap power supplies powering budget computer builds or system builders who don't want to waste time and/or money buying a good power supply or wanting to reduce the cost of the computer system, thinking that their "450W" power supply will still have some power to spare for future upgrades.

[370forlife]

Re: Ka-Boom!

In case anyone is still wondering, this is a sunpro, more specifically, a raidmax 450W psu. I have this exact same one. I would not expect it to put out 335W.

[momaka]

Re: Ka-Boom!

A Sun Pro would've been my second guess. I know Powmax loves that dual-fan design. But then again, my theory is that Sun Pro probably is Powmax.

[weirdlookinguy]

Re: Ka-Boom!

http://www.hypermicro.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=PSAB001

[acstech]

Re: Ka-Boom!

I see they've updated the description of the AcBel.

[370forlife]

Re: Ka-Boom!

A Sun Pro would've been my second guess. I know Powmax loves that dual-fan design. But then again, my theory is that Sun Pro probably is Powmax.

This is true. I sent a email to sunpro pretending to start a power supply company that would use their power supplies as a OEM. I got a price sheet, they sell the same "safety series" power supplies powmax does.

Their low end power supplies do not even have a mag amp for the 3.3v. Their high end power supplies come standard with "doual fan".

They have other options, like something they call green giant, which gives the power supply 3 fans. Or to thicken the case steel to .8mm, sata connectors, they even have passive and active pfc options, and temp controlled fans.

The most expensive option is the 500W w/ 3.3v magnify, 24pin, doual fan for $24.50 a unit.

(see attached price sheet)

[ratdude747]

Re: Ka-Boom!

clearly, they are scums. safety shouldnt cost extra. it should be default. they obviously dont value human life.

[japlytic]

Re: Ka-Boom!

There is no mention for how long the power supply has been operating for. A thermal video would have been better too.

[370forlife]

Re: Ka-Boom!

They said that each one blew up within about 2 minutes.

[c_hegge]

Re: Ka-Boom!

...It could also be a cheap Codegen power supply.

I've used a few Codegens in the past. They're not as good as the well respected brands (thermaltake, coolermaster, PC P & C, etc) but I've never seen that happen to them! The only problem I had with them was the conecters weren't very tight and it didn't take much to pull them out.