FAQFAQ   Ban ListBan List   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 
 NewsNews   DownloadsDownloads   Wiki & TutorialsWiki & Tutorials   IRC ChatIRC Chat 

My PC is going though powerpacks rather too quickly..

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    ThinkingWithPortals.com Forum Index -> Off Topic
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
reepblue
Test Supervisor


Joined: 16 Mar 2008
Posts: 195


PostPosted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 7:41 pm    Post subject: My PC is going though powerpacks rather too quickly.. Reply with quote

After taking a week vacation, I had to move my PC out of my room..

But the power pack blew out again. This is the third one. The one that came with it did not last an hour, second lasted 5 months and on my third one that was from my old computer.

Is there a reason? This is my last spare, can anyone help or see what the problem is? I have a felling that this will give up as soon as I leave.

_________________
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
WackoMcGoose
Superior Participant


Joined: 22 Jul 2008
Posts: 70


PostPosted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Check the power toggle switch on the back of your computer. If you don't have too many excess components in your computer, then switch it to the lower transformer setting. Having way more power available than what the device actually uses is the number one cause of power-pack asplosion.
Also, make sure you have all the electrical connections polarized correctly. For example, if certain types of capacitors (usually the ones that look like a soda can and one wire is longer than the other) are plugged in the wrong way, they can (and depending on voltage applied, WILL) explode.
If everything looks like it should be working, all I can say is call Geek Squad.

_________________
The Vital Apparatus Vent will deliver a Weighted Companion Cake in Three. Two. One.
*fifty cakes fall out*
Time out for a second. That wasn't supposed to happen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
PortalFan77
GET IT, PORTAL FAN
GET IT, PORTAL FAN


Joined: 06 Apr 2008
Posts: 308


PostPosted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Strange, maybe you arent hooking it up right?
_________________
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Hober

That's Sir Pompous Asshole


Joined: 13 Oct 2007
Posts: 850
Location: Raleigh, NC

PostPosted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

WackoMcGoose wrote:
Check the power toggle switch on the back of your computer. If you don't have too many excess components in your computer, then switch it to the lower transformer setting. Having way more power available than what the device actually uses is the number one cause of power-pack asplosion.


Say what? My experience with such things have yielded no such findings. Power supplies are meant to supply the voltage that's required of them. If a power supply breaks because you're not pushing it to the limit, it's because it's crappy.

WackoMcGoose wrote:
Also, make sure you have all the electrical connections polarized correctly. For example, if certain types of capacitors (usually the ones that look like a soda can and one wire is longer than the other)


I have no idea what you're talking about and I've seen most types of power connectors in modern computers.

As for the OP: your problem sounds like, in the first one, a classic case of infant mortality. It just happens some times. Hopefully, it was under warranty.

The second one only lasting 5 months does sound kind of odd. Did it fail while you were on this vacation? If so, there might have been some kind of storm that you weren't around for that gave you a power surge and blew out the power supply instead of taking out the whole computer.

That is one of the jobs of the power supply: to fail safely.

_________________
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
reepblue
Test Supervisor


Joined: 16 Mar 2008
Posts: 195


PostPosted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

WackoMcGoose wrote:
Check the power toggle switch on the back of your computer. If you don't have too many excess components in your computer, then switch it to the lower transformer setting. Having way more power available than what the device actually uses is the number one cause of power-pack asplosion.
Also, make sure you have all the electrical connections polarized correctly. For example, if certain types of capacitors (usually the ones that look like a soda can and one wire is longer than the other) are plugged in the wrong way, they can (and depending on voltage applied, WILL) explode.
If everything looks like it should be working, all I can say is call Geek Squad.


All my switches were set to 115V then 220V.

Pretty sure everything was placed right. Yep, i call Geek Sqaid. They will be happy to come up my mountain for that.

Quote:

The second one only lasting 5 months does sound kind of odd. Did it fail while you were on this vacation? If so, there might have been some kind of storm that you weren't around for that gave you a power surge and blew out the power supply instead of taking out the whole computer.


It was unplugged. And the power pack is years old. it been in my PC for 5 months.

_________________
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    ThinkingWithPortals.com Forum Index -> Off Topic All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group