: : : They are basically useless. The only way to fully test a PSU is under load. : If has to be plugged in and the computer needs to be running. A voltmeter is : the only way to go. Just because a PSU works when its not under load ie : using a PSU tester does not mean it wont fail under load, once its gotten : good and warm. :
I don't disagree but I do wish I'd had the cheapo $10-$15 ps test thingie around before I hooked up a RAID array to a brand new Ultra power supply that shipped from the factory with its +5 swapped with
+12. I didn't bother testing it with a voltmeter ahead of time as I'd never seen one of these switchers come on without some sort of even minimal load.
In the motherboard box or at the PC store, there are little splitter cables that split a supply line into two lines. You cut one end off one of the splits and plug it in to have four wires available. That is only two of the supply rails, however. The ATX connector (also needed) is a product you would buy on digi-key or the like from AMP, but you'll also have to buy wire and pins and a crimper.
Again, if you do not already know these SIMPLE, BASIC things, you have no business delving into them.
Since you obviously don't even know how to attach test devices to a PC supply, you certainly would not have the first clue about testing one under loaded conditions, whether they (the loads) be fixed or variable, and that is what is needed to test the supply, not just some lame, simple voltmeter test. PC supplies also have a nasty habit of shutting down when loading changes on certain rails, so you also have to have a good deal of familiarity with the ATX PS Design specification as well, which I am certain you do not.
You were way over you head when you started messing with your PC, and you are certainly way over your head on testing the supply for it. You likely would not even have a clue how to properly load it, much less what you need to look at or for when it is loaded.
Data logging, yes... meter updates - never seen it, and it would certainly invalidate any calibration done on the meter. Very unlikely to be a field service item at the user level in any case.
SMPS's should come on with no load, and should survive too (it's in the specifications)....
But as for as your +5/+12v line swap, what happen'd, did the psu company buy you all new kit?... That would REALLY piss me off and I would be sending them flammable dogshit through the post lol.
On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:53:35 GMT, mr deo wrote: : : >
: > I don't disagree but I do wish I'd had the cheapo $10-$15 ps test : > thingie around before I hooked up a RAID array to a brand new Ultra : > power supply that shipped from the factory with its +5 swapped with : > +12. I didn't bother testing it with a voltmeter ahead of time as I'd : > never seen one of these switchers come on without some sort of even : > minimal load. : : SMPS's should come on with no load, and should survive too (it's in the : specifications)....
I wasn't aware of that. Is this part of the ATX spec? As you know the old XT supplies wouldn't come on without some sort of load and I'd never bothered to see if anything since then would...
: : : But as for as your +5/+12v line swap, what happen'd, did the psu company buy : you all new kit?... That would REALLY piss me off and I would be sending : them flammable dogshit through the post lol.
I was - am - very unahppy. The power supply is one of these newer ones that have male molex fittings on the case for drive power cables. (From an Ultra Defenderxxxxx Destroyer case+PS) Some knucklehead at the factory soldered one of the five molex fittings backwards. The drive array was plugged into the one that was backwards so *poof* went all the drives in the array, magic smoke let out and all.
Getting things put right is extremely frustrating. The manufacturer (Ultra) initially refused to do anything because they stated that during the first 30 days the warranty was serviced by the vendor. The vendor (Amazon) after telling me it was my fault I should have checked for compatibility before ordering (!), that they were very sorry but warranty fulfilment was up to the manufacturer.
It's been well over 30 days and Ultra is simply not returning my phone calls. Although I can reach a tech dude by phone the dude calims he can only send a new supply. The supervisor just won't return the calls and is never there.
I am not sure how big some of these companys are, it's not your fault and the power supply company "should" be responsible for this. An open letter to the complaints department might help as most staff and managers will refuse to touch an issue until there's a formal complaint (it doesnt exist until a formal complaint is made)..
Reversed supply rails are NOT part of ANY spec! That is 100% manufacturer defect, and Amazon should remit! and REPLACE the supply and anything it fried.
I'd contact the BBB (about Amazon) with a very diplomatically worded letter of how they shirked their responsibility. Amazon IS a BBB member, and they will bend to the proper, Politically correctly put pressure.
They want to get out cheap. Don't fall for it. This ain't damaged shipping. I would fully document the supply before sending it back both by video and by a tech that is willing to provide an affidavit of the supplies non-conformant condition. If they blew gear, the supply AND the gear should be replaced. Amazon isn't really responsible since it is a true MFGR blunder, and a "catastrophic error" at that. Ultra is culpable, just don't let them buy their way out with a mere supply replacement, and don't back down. Reversed rails are 100% law suit material, and they know it.
Have an attorney send him an e-mail, and CC the BBB. It's a damned shame that these guys make so damned much money, yet they can't fix what is obviously one of their f*ck-ups.
On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 19:27:41 GMT, mr deo wrote: : > It's been well over 30 days and Ultra is simply not returning my phone : > calls. Although I can reach a tech dude by phone the dude calims he : > can only send a new supply. The supervisor just won't return the : > calls and is never there. : >
: : I am not sure how big some of these companys are, it's not your fault and : the power supply company "should" be responsible for this. An open letter : to the complaints department might help as most staff and managers will : refuse to touch an issue until there's a formal complaint (it doesnt exist : until a formal complaint is made)..
Well I'm starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. With a problem like this I'm faced with a problem of being just one guy and having no leverage with the warrantors. Initially amazon was amazingly resistent to doing anything, but I've finally managed to reach a very cordial lady in their executive offices who walked this through their buyer and helped me make contact with Ultra's salesperson.
I *think* I may be a couple of weeks away from being made whole again. The fallback is to just do the small claims court thing and the have large amounts of fun trying to execute on the judgment I'll undoubtedly get.
Appreciate your, JackShephard, and GMAN's responses. I'll follow up with an update in a week or so to hopefully report that Ultra stood behind their product.
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