In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt "Angry_American"
wrote:

"Inglo" ioo@??.¿¿¿ wrote in message
.net...
Skybuck wrote:
Hello,

Some have suggested to buy a voltmeter and then test the power supply.

Since computers have special plugs and such, how would one go about
testing the power supply ?

Are there special plugs necessary ?

(Not that I would ever try it, way to dangerous !)

Do you have a link to a website with some pictures ?

Bye,
Skybuck.


How about buying a power supply tester, they sell them pretty cheap.



They are basically useless.

I wouldn't say that.
I've replaced about a half-dozen power supplies by different makers over
the past three to four years; and *every single one* failed to properly
power-on the cheap $20 tester I have. Only GOOD PSUs brought it to
life.

The only way to fully test a PSU is under load.

That is true ... but only "to fully test".
A Power-Supply-Tester is a handy way to check a failed supply and
confirm it has failed. Only if it says the supply is *good* and yet the
system shows signs of power-supply failure do you need more extensive
tests. When the Power-Supply-Tester fails to power-on when hooked to a
PSU, taking voltage measurements afterwards is overkill.

Just toss the thing.

And MOST bad supplies won't power up even a cheap tester.
It's quick and dirty; but definitely NOT useless.

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.

But if it fails the PSU tester, then why go to the bother of all the
other ****? And, in most cases of a failed supply, it WILL fail.

A HELL of a lot quicker too, than probing around with a voltmeter.
Just don't trust it to find marginal cases; or especially don't expect
it to find power supplies that were underpowered when bought; unless, of
course, the being underpowered is what caused the PSU to fail.

That's why you keep BOTH in your toolbox.

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