Power supply

[Jessica]

How difficult is it to test the power supply for my
computer myself? I have little a volt meter that has range
to 500 DCV and ACV, will that work?
Thank You.

[Richard G. Harper]

Get a power supply tester. It plugs into the motherboard adapter on the
power supply and simulates a load for testing purposes. Much easier and
more accurate than a voltmeter.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Jessica" > wrote in message
...
> How difficult is it to test the power supply for my
> computer myself? I have little a volt meter that has range
> to 500 DCV and ACV, will that work?
> Thank You.

[Jessica]

Where do I get a power supply tester? Radio Shack maybe?
Thank you,
Jessica
>-----Original Message-----
>Get a power supply tester. It plugs into the motherboard
adapter on the
>power supply and simulates a load for testing purposes.
Much easier and
>more accurate than a voltmeter.
>
>--
>Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]
>* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
>* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not
replied to.
>* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>
>
>"Jessica" > wrote in
message
...
>> How difficult is it to test the power supply for my
>> computer myself? I have little a volt meter that has
range
>> to 500 DCV and ACV, will that work?
>> Thank You.
>
>
>.
>

[Ron Badour]

http://www.fonerbooks.com/power.htm troubleshooting atx power supply

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ATX-PT $10

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10321709&sp=1&loc=101 $181

Do google.com searches and find the info for yourself.

--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"Jessica" > wrote in message
...
> Where do I get a power supply tester? Radio Shack maybe?
> Thank you,
> Jessica
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Get a power supply tester. It plugs into the motherboard
> adapter on the
> >power supply and simulates a load for testing purposes.
> Much easier and
> >more accurate than a voltmeter.
> >
> >--
> >Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]
> >* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
> >* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not
> replied to.
> >* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> >
> >
> >"Jessica" > wrote in
> message
> ...
> >> How difficult is it to test the power supply for my
> >> computer myself? I have little a volt meter that has
> range
> >> to 500 DCV and ACV, will that work?
> >> Thank You.
> >
> >
> >.
> >

[Richard G. Harper]

What Ron said. ;-)

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Jessica" > wrote in message
...
> Where do I get a power supply tester? Radio Shack maybe?
> Thank you,
> Jessica
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Get a power supply tester. It plugs into the motherboard
> adapter on the
> >power supply and simulates a load for testing purposes.
> Much easier and
> >more accurate than a voltmeter.
> >
> >--
> >Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]
> >* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
> >* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not
> replied to.
> >* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> >
> >
> >"Jessica" > wrote in
> message
> ...
> >> How difficult is it to test the power supply for my
> >> computer myself? I have little a volt meter that has
> range
> >> to 500 DCV and ACV, will that work?
> >> Thank You.
> >
> >
> >.
> >

[BobR]

>-----Original Message-----
>How difficult is it to test the power supply for my
>computer myself? I have little a volt meter that has
range
>to 500 DCV and ACV, will that work?
>Thank You.
>.

Yes, you can easily test a power supply with the volt
meter you described.

The supply should be connected normally so that there is a
load on the outputs. That is, don't take the supply out,
or disconnect the connectors.

Set the meter to an appropriate range. For this test, it
should be set to the DC voltage range just higher than 12
volts.

Depending on the meter you have, this may be a 30 volt
range, a 50 volt range, or something similar. You don't
want to set it to a range that's lower than the voltage
you expect to test, in this case 12 volts.

If the meter has an "Auto" range setting, use that.

Be sure it's set to DC voltage, not AC.

Connect the BLACK lead (which should be plugged into the
meter's GROUND socket) to a safely out of the way metal
part of the case. If the test lead does not have
an "alligator clip" which will hold itself onto the metal,
but instead is just a pointed metal probe, have someone
else hold it tightly against the metal. This will free
you to concentrate on the other connection.

Locate the connector on the motherboard where the large
group of colored wires from the power supply plugs into
the motherboard.

If this connector is inaccessible, you can use one of the
connectors that runs from the power supply to a hard drive
or CD ROM drive. If there is a "spare" connector not
plugged into anything, use that.

Turn on the computer.

Now locate a RED wire in the connector you plan to use for
the test. Red is always the +5 volt supply.

Carefully push the metal probe on the RED test lead from
the meter down alongside the red wire so the probe makes
contact with the metal clip the red wire is connected to
inside the connector. Watch the meter, or have your
assistant tell you when the meter changes from zero. When
you see the meter change from zero to some higher value,
you've made contact with the clip and wire inside the
connector.

If you're using a spare connector from the power supply,
you can insert the meter test probe into the front of the
opening that the red wire from the power supply runs
into. This is usually easier than using the motherboard
connector.

In either case, the voltage should read right around 4.97
volts or so. It should not be over 5.25 and no less than
4.75 (That's a range of plus or minus 5%).

Now remove the test probe from the red power supply wire
and connect it to a YELLOW wire. This will be the +12
volt supply.

Again, the reading should be between 12.6 volts and 11.4
volts.

A little lower than these low figures probably won't hurt
anything, but not much lower.

There are other voltages supplied by the power supply, but
these are the two main supplies, and if these are correct,
odds are the power supply is fine.

Be careful when testing that you don't "short" the metal
tip of the test probe to any metal in the case while it's
connected to the power supply cables. You only want to
have it connected to the wire you're testing.