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**Toasty** · 03-11-2010, 01:39 PM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

Sounds like a small cap ahead of the 5vsb circuit. Usually 100uF or less ~50v.

Only 1 cap on 5vsb out? I thought they used 2 across a pi filter. Also oddly high value. Somewhere around 1000uF-2200uF is more likely. hmmmm....?

Not under warranty? How old is unit? Pics of area are helpful.

Toast

EDIT: If that's full of Fuhjyyu or OST caps or other crap caps, do a full recap on it.

**seanc** · 03-11-2010, 02:59 PM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

Do a full recap.

I'm on my second now.

1st was like yours, all OST caps, PC would not power on. I replaced every cap except the primary, it works fine.

2nd was emitting a hissing/whine. It has OST and a few Teapo, in the midst of a recap.

**Toasty** · 03-11-2010, 03:03 PM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

Knew you'd chime in from reading your other posts...

**everell** · 03-11-2010, 06:45 PM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

First you need to determine if the problem is in the motherboard or the power supply.

Unplug AC cord from the wall. Then unplug the 24 pin power supply connector from the motherboard. Then plug AC cord back in the wall. Turn I/O switch to I. Now measure the 5vsb voltage between purple wire and any black wire on the power supply 24 pin plug.

If measured voltage is 5 volts, the problem is in your motherboard. If the voltage is still low as before, your problem is in the power supply.

Need to determine if problem is motherboard or power supply before we can be of much help.

**Leopard** · 03-11-2010, 07:03 PM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

Originally posted by everell

First you need to determine if the problem is in the motherboard or the power supply.

Unplug AC cord from the wall. Then unplug the 24 pin power supply connector from the motherboard. Then plug AC cord back in the wall. Turn I/O switch to I. Now measure the 5vsb voltage between purple wire and any black wire on the power supply 24 pin plug.

If measured voltage is 5 volts, the problem is in your motherboard. If the voltage is still low as before, your problem is in the power supply.

Need to determine if problem is motherboard or power supply before we can be of much help.

Yeah I tried to run the supply without a motherboard. (Wont turn on via jumpering green wire + ground, purple wire to ground is 1.2-1.8V mentioned earlier)

The PC this supply was in has already got a replacement supply (A Corsair unit) and it is working fine.

I'll return with pics later.

**stj** · 03-11-2010, 10:05 PM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

i wouldnt mind some foto's from this model - it's supposed to be better than true/smart power range.

**stj** · 03-11-2010, 10:11 PM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

i dont know why, but everytime i read the first post i find myself thinking about optoisolators!

**seanc** · 03-12-2010, 07:37 AM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

I can get you photos of them after re-capping. Just imagine the Panasonic are OST or Teapo.

**Leopard** · 03-13-2010, 06:02 AM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

Took some overall pictures - I can get better pics if needed.

Yeah I know the Nichicon is a bit old, but it tested good with an ESR meter.

**seanc** · 03-13-2010, 06:28 AM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

Mine looks exactly the same, but dated 2007.

Down the side of the cables are 4 caps, are they all 1000uf 10v (like the first one I re-capped), or 2 x 1000uf 10v and 2 1000uf 16v (like the second)?

**Leopard** · 03-13-2010, 07:04 AM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

Originally posted by seanc

Mine looks exactly the same, but dated 2007.

Down the side of the cables are 4 caps, are they all 1000uf 10v (like the first one I re-capped), or 2 x 1000uf 10v and 2 1000uf 16v (like the second)?

The latter, 2 x 1000uF 16V and 2 x 1000uF 10V.

**Khron** · 03-13-2010, 07:10 AM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

I think this DOES have a pi-filter on the 5VSB. First cap is that huge (now) Nichicon, then there's that heatshrink-wrapped thingie in between the cap and the secondary heatsink (photo 2), that should be the inductor. And i've got a hunch that small black-with-gold-markings OST is the 2nd 5VSB cap, right between the secondary heatsink and the 5VSB wire (photo 1).

Wonder if and how healthy that little bugger is. Might not have fared too well, right next to that heatsink...

**everell** · 03-13-2010, 07:26 AM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

I have an Earthwatts 430 watt psu .... similar to yours. A couple of quick observations: this psu has active power factor correction (APFC), and has the Infineon ICE2A0565 pwm chip in the 5vsb circuit. This is an older design of Infineon pwm chip, and the frequency of the pwm oscillator varies with loading (20 khz to 100 khz). So this circuit may become unstable, especially over time. Download a data sheet on the Infineon ICE2A0565 and read up on this feature.

Working with 5vsb pwm chips, I did have one power supply that oscillated in a similar manner, and found that the output filter capacitor was too large. I replaced it with a capacitor with lower capacitance and it worked fine afterwards. You say that this psu has an output cap of 3300 uF. Sounds high for a 5vsb circuit. You might try changing to 2200 uF and see if that clears the problem. If not, put the 3300 uF back. I don't recommend changing values of any of the other components or the chip might explode.

I also recommend that all troubleshooting for this 5vsb problem be done with motherboard NOT attached to the power supply. You don't need to short green wire to black wire to simulate turning computer on. When you plug power cord to wall socket and turn power supply I/O switch to I, 5vsb should come on.

Be extra careful, and wear safety glasses when troubleshooting with power on. Safety glasses are not that expensive and protect your eyesight. VERY IMPORTANT.

**Toasty** · 03-13-2010, 12:19 PM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

Check small cap next to smaller transformer in 2nd picture.
At the end of the clear plastic shield.
One I mentioned in my first post.

Replace all OST's.
Actually, any cap with a vent stamp on top, except main cap.

**seanc** · 03-13-2010, 03:17 PM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

If memory serves correctly, the small cap Toasty mentions is a 47uf 50v cap, further down there is a 22uf 50v cap.

I would replace every cap (except the mains cap) just so I can be sure they won't cause a problem further down the line.

With regards to the 1000uf 16v, there were 3 in my unit and they were Teapo.

**jacobmj** · 08-18-2010, 10:56 PM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

Leopard, were you able to resolve this problem? I seem to have the same fluctuating, low 5VSB from time to time. It happens that every time I take it out and hook up the oscilloscope, it begins working fine...

**stj** · 08-18-2010, 11:57 PM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

check the soldering first - i learned that from recent Antec stuff!

**Toasty** · 08-19-2010, 02:22 AM

Re: Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

OP dropped subject and posted others since but never finalized this one so outcome is unknown.
.

@ jacobmj - If your PSU is the same as this model, then follow the advice given everywhere in this forum about Antec PSU's - replace ~ALL~ the crap caps.

If you have a different model, then start up a new thread and post up some pics so we can help you resolve this.

Cheers & Welcome!
Toast

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Antec Earthwatts 380W +5VSB failure, wont turn on

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