"Universal" desktop power supply

[Haole Boy]

Aloha. I have a desktop PC on my bench that appears to have a bad power supply. But my spare power supply that has the correct cables and connectors can't be used because the cables are too short to reach the plugs on the mother board on this machine.

Has anyone found a power supply with the common connectors and really long cables so that it can be installed on pretty much any PC. Note: this is just to test the PC to verify that the existing power supply is bad (and that it's worth replacing if everything else is working). A proper replacement will be ordered / installed if the customer decides to spend the money.

Mahalo!

Harry Z.

 

[phaZed]

Many of the mid range to higher end PSU's (500W and up), usually marketed to gamers, will have the longer cables to work with Full tower ATX and large Mid tower gaming cases.

 

[katz]

Since this is a test PSU you could simply cut the wires & splice lengths in to make them longer. I've done that many times in a tower system when cables were too short.

 

[Markverhyden]

Since this is a test PSU you could simply cut the wires & splice lengths in to make them longer. I've done that many times in a tower system when cables were too short.

I also have extenders for the various Molex connectors. Collected them over the years but you can buy them as well. Check Monoprice.

 

[katz]

I also have extenders for the various Molex connectors. Collected them over the years but you can buy them as well. Check Monoprice.

Yep, that too.

Problem is, I usually don't have them on hand & I need it right away. Wire/heatshrink tube is cheap & I can solder good.

 

[brandonkick]

Their are plenty of ATX extension cables and the other various molex extensions.

Invest the $30 and get yourself a set of extension cables. If all your using this for is
testing then go the route of extension cables. If your looking to stock a PSU with
longer cables, then do some reviews and find a good model with adequately long
factory wiring.

 

[oldtech]

Or.... you could pony up 25 bucks for a PSU tester. maybe something similar to this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...re=power_supply_tester-_-99-705-003-_-Product

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

Or.... you could pony up 25 bucks for a PSU tester. maybe something similar to this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...re=power_supply_tester-_-99-705-003-_-Product

If only that was a sure fire way to cross out psu issues.

 

[mr m]

I also have various length power cable extensions (and data) for troubleshooting but in a pinch for testing purposes you can leave the spare PS out of the PC. It's grounded internally so it doesn't need to be screwed to the case.

I use a DVM to test PS's under a load as opposed to a tester but I've seen them output the correct voltages and still not work. Always swap in a known good supply.

 

[rsarceno]

Why not pull the motherboard out of the case and connect to the power supply?

You might want to invest on a power supply tester. It's cheap
https://jet.com/product/detail/c2ac...615af09918a9&gclid=CKWGmajgtcgCFU9gfgodiRQNCA

 

[4ycr]

In the past I have put the computer on it side and had a PSU sitting on the frame next to the DVD drive so the cables would fit. It's not someting you walk away from but for a quick power on test it did work

 

[altrenda]

Are these digital testers any better than the older ones with just resistors and lights?
Do they put a significant load on them and measure current capability?

 

[katz]

In the past I have put the computer on it side and had a PSU sitting on the frame next to the DVD drive so the cables would fit. It's not someting you walk away from but for a quick power on test it did work

Yeah, that's mostly what I do when I need to test a system. Quick, easy and relatively safe if you don't bump it. I might use a couple of strips of elect. tape to secure the test PSU to the pc frame.

 

[oldtech]

If only that was a sure fire way to cross out psu issues.

Pretty sure way to determine bad PSU. It will not however tell you if you have a load issue which can be either the PSU or the mobo.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

Pretty sure way to determine bad PSU. It will not however tell you if you have a load issue which can be either the PSU or the mobo.

I guess I don't really see the point if your not testing under load. What are some situations that you feel the PSU tester assisted you in determining the PSU was at fault vs just using an additional PSU that you know is functioning?

 

[oldtech]

Perhaps I've just been around long enough to have experienced it but I have seen many more missing voltages on PSU's than I have load problems that weren't due to a problem on the mobo.

 

[HFultzjr]

I picked one of the up a while back, as my "test" power supply.
Long Wires
Lots of connectors

Add a few connectors/adapters and should be able to test most.

I would not recommend for long term use (replacement power supply), but great for testing.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817338009

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

Perhaps I've just been around long enough to have experienced it but I have seen many more missing voltages on PSU's than I have load problems that weren't due to a problem on the mobo.

Yeah but whats some situations where your psu tester paid off vs using another PSU. For example was there a situation where you didn't think the PSU had anything to do with the issue and just as part of your routine you tested the PSU with the PSU tester and suddenly diagnosed an issue you would have never guessed was PSU related?

 

[oldtech]

Yeah but whats some situations where your psu tester paid off vs using another PSU. For example was there a situation where you didn't think the PSU had anything to do with the issue and just as part of your routine you tested the PSU with the PSU tester and suddenly diagnosed an issue you would have never guessed was PSU related?

I am now very far removed from hands on work but when I was doing such I would always test the PSU when it appeared to be a power issue - 99.9% of the time it would not pass the voltage checks and saved the additional time of cobbling another supply into the case and then testing operationally. I'm not sure that answers your question but in my organization's case, less time spent on diagnostics and repair equal more profit. On the hardware support side reducing that time is the single most important focus in trying to improve our profitability. Established standard test procedures based on symptoms presented and using validated test equipment is core to our business.

In answer to your second question I cannot readily think of an instance that swapping a power supply out without testing it first made sense and/or solved a unrelated problem. The approach you described is referred to as the shotgun approach around here i.e. not diagnosing the fault properly but throwing hardware at it in an attempt to find a fix.
.

 

[Haole Boy]

Mahalo for the reply.

Their are plenty of ATX extension cables and the other various molex extensions.

Invest the $30 and get yourself a set of extension cables. If all your using this for is
testing then go the route of extension cables. If your looking to stock a PSU with
longer cables, then do some reviews and find a good model with adequately long
factory wiring.

I also have extenders for the various Molex connectors. Collected them over the years but you can buy them as well. Check Monoprice.

I guess the idea of purchasing extension cables was too simple. Never occured to me to even look for them! Mahalo for the replies