How to Start a PSU (on it's own)

Judas

My friend might have screwed his PSU or Mobo... not sure..

doesn't have another spare computer

But wants to test the PSU first

It's a Antec True 380 watt (Part Number 761345-20381-4 )

He got it off Ncix (website) (some kind of special model) can't find a exact model number


What wires does he have to hook together to make it start up? (and he doesn't want to cut the wires.. just simple quickly see if it'll start)

and what would the best thing to do this with?

Optimummind

Take a look at the 20-pin ATX power supply cable. It's shaped in a rectangular fashion and it's long on one side and short on the other. There are 10 "holes" on one row and "10" holes on the bottom row.

You should see on one side of the 20-pin ATX power cable, a plastic clip that attaches to its matching receptacle on the mobo. Let's call the side that has this plastic clip as the top side. Count from left to right. Now, get a paper clip and connect "hole #4" and "hole #6" together. Once the paper clip in inside both of those holes, connect your PSU to the wall outlet and turn on the power. BTW, push the paper clip inside those holes so that it doesn't fall off and try not to touch it. I don't know what will happen to you.

If the PSU is functional, it will start up and you'll see the fan begin to rotate.

Here is a simple picture:



My 2nd power supply that I keep outside of my computer is powered up this way. I just secured the paper clip firmly in those holes and all I have to do to turn the PSU on is by clicking on the power switch.

Vampyromaniac

Will you get electrocuted if you touch the paper clip?

scobywhru

Actually it works if you connect the Green power on cable to ANY of the grounds, and there isn't enough voltage running through it to hurt you so don't worry, So the Green wire to a Black wire should start it up

Mazuko

I wouldn't touch it either way, anything dealing with electricity is NOT an exacting science despite what many people think

Judas

voltage wise true... but... amps?

BWX

I've run a dual PSU setup for the past 6 months or so- Yes, all that is needed is the green wire (or marked 14 on the ATX connector)

BUT- be careful and check- sometimes it is NOT THE GREEN WIRE- On a PSU I have the remote wire is actually black, but it was still marked with a little "14" on the ATX connector. Actually- most PSU's will list which is the remote turn on wire right on the PSU sticker somewhere....


See? My very own ghetto-mod....

JavaFox

No, unless you're grounded or something. Just connect the green and any of the black (even while it's plugged it; there's nothing to worry about) and you'll be fine.

The_Neon_Cowboy

lol

there are two ways like i showed in my power supply artical or like this

http://www.ochardware.com/articles/p.../psuvolt2.html

if you wanting to run this permantly like that just paint it with some liquid electrical tape afterwords

you can wire it in to on/off both psu's with the cases on switch too... if you wanted to run two...
there is alkso a way to take two psu's wire them togeather and have them share the loads but this inst begginer stuff thought...

Judas

good stuff guys..... i'm passing this thread on.....

Matth

There is often a minimum load, normally on the 5v - if you have an old full height brick of a hard disk, that would probably be a start, otherwise, make up a resistor pack, or buy a PSU tester - or make one.

Running without an adequate minimum load, it may shut down, become unstable, or even suffer damage.

BWX

Yeah, I knew about that, but when I was hooking up my dual PSU I didn't even do anything about it and nothing happened. On the main PSU (in the machine)- it is connected to the mobo, and a hard drive, so I imagine all the minimum loads are being taken care of.

However on the second PSU, I'm just running a whole bunch of 12v fans and a 12v cold cathode- all the other rails are just not hooked up to anything, accept the remote line and the ground are connected to the remote line and one ground of the main PSU- but I did connect a CDWR drive and I think a floppy to the second PSU too- but I'm not sure how often those devices are putting an actual load, if at all, on the -5v, +5v, -3v, and +3v rails. (well, I don't think they put a load at all on the 3v rails, but I think they do on the 5v rails, just not sure if it's all the time..

So maybe I should do something about the other rail and put a load on them to make sure the minimum load requirements are being met..... It seems like just choosing the correct capacitor and hooking it up to the +5v, +3v, -5v, -3v would preserve the life of the second PSU.. Or maybe those 2 drives is doing the trick?