PSU fried! Worth repair????

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Ibonibo

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Already paying my Isp 4 Access
So yesterday playing a game.
Pc restarts without warning and didn't come back (power was on, led on, no usb connection no visuals)

So manual restart..

Pop the fuse gone.

Eliminated the problem no to the PSU.

It's a thermaltake 1200W. Already ordered a new one but is it worth repairing the old one (hassle to find someone to repair it, how good is it after repair,...)??
 
If its just one leaking capacitor it might be worth fixing, I would open it up and see what's busted inside the PSU.
 
I recall reading that there are things inside a PSU that can kill you a few hours after it has been switched off. I don't know how true that is but I wouldn't touch it.
 
I already opened it to see if there is a fuse inside that could be changed. there isn't.

The capacitors did not bust open or cracked, but I suppose it's them (it's usually them).
That is what you are referring to daan and they can even hold the charge for weeks.

But I wouldn't change them myself, have an electric man who can take a look ;)
 
As long as you press the PC's power button with the computer unplugged it should discharge the PSU fine. Plus if you wear rubber gloves and don't go near the big capacitors its not really dangerous at all. However changing components in there can be really fiddly.
 
The voltage regulators may be the issue.

But this is a guess.

And I doubt basic rubber gloves will help when it comes to the stored electricity the big capacitors can hold, I think they will hold about 500 volts.
 
^Thanks

I will bring it over to a friend tonight, so he can take a look. Also shot an email to thermaltake, waiting for their answer. But even on extended guarantee, I opened it, so that's gone :D

However changing components in there can be really fiddly.

yeah, I am not really good in soldering tiny fiddly small parts. Just a lack of patience...
 
I havn't read all the posts, but responding as soon as I saw daan's post.

If it's something simple, sure, crack it open and repair it. I've done it with a few power supplies, actually, and (unfortunately for some), I'm still kickin'. I think around 3 or 4 so far, one was only 2 years old (500W). So I'd go for it. Just be sure to do it in a clean, well ventilated area (not like me, in my dungeon of a bedroom, all locked up with the aircon going), and wash your hands thoroughly before and after with anti-bacterial wash, you should be right. And don't rub your eyes/nose/ear/skin/anything while you're doing it.

You know what I mean.

EDIT: When you opened it, did you remove the sticker before? Or did you rip it in two. I was gonna say, if you had taken it off carefully and kept it, just stick it back on. They won't know bugger all...
 
Cut it in 2. But it has 5 years so warrenty is not an issue. I brought it over to a friend. Will get news if he can repair it when "he gets the time" lol

Now i hope that my new one gets ship today so that i have it tomorrow.
Eventhough i have a second pc it s a pain when the main gaming pc dies

Well now is a good time to take the pc apart, clean it new thermal paste.
 
Never take any chances with any capacitors, I always discharge caps, even if they're clearly dead and have been sitting unpowered for weeks. All it takes is a suitably insulated piece of metal touched across the pins so it's not worth not doing, you know? Rubber gloves won't help at higher voltages, the only safe thing to do is discharge them directly before you touch them so you know they're definitely discharged. That is after leaving them unpowered for a while and doing any other discharging procedures to further minimise risk. In fact when you get to really high voltage caps you don't even need to touch them for them to discharge through you, so be careful.

If I were the OP, I'd be buying a multimeter already. Far cheaper than a new PSU but you'd be lucky to spot the problem without one, since it sounds like the warranty is done for...

Edit: never mind.
 
Don't take a chance. My CISCO instructor from HS four years ago told me that sadly one of his students died from Cardiac arrest when that student opened a power supply and got shocked. Just drive to your closest recycle center and give it to them instead of throwing it out if thermaltake does not require you to send the bad one back.
 
It's something a regular user SHOULD NOT touch. Even if they repaired it they might not have the correct replacement parts and end up blowing it up. It's too serious of a repair where it will kill someone who does not have the proper knowledge of electronic components and the proper theory of electronics.
 
I wouldn't touch them period. Idk what caps they use in it, but I'm sure it's not one you would throw at someone as a prank. Too risky.

It's funny when little paper ones blow. They smoke for a bit, then explode into shreds of confetti. I was replacing some door speakers for someone and it looked like someone shot a spit ball inside the door lol
 
I'm going to echo daan, Nick and HE1RO in saying DO NOT TOUCH IT. It's possible for even a techie to get it wrong. I don't like messing with PSU's unless I really have to.

PSU's can be VERY dangerous.
 
DQuaN
I'm going to echo daan, Nick and HE1RO in saying DO NOT TOUCH IT. It's possible for even a techie to get it wrong. I don't like messing with PSU's unless I really have to.

PSU's can be VERY dangerous.

Yup I agree, I am sure someone else has won a Darwin award trying to save less money than this, but you still dont want to join that club.
 
Send it back. I have rarely found a manufacturer repairs the unit - they just send you a new one. I wouldn't risk tampering with something that holds electricity like people have said. And then trusting if you sucessfully fix it that it won't cause a fire hazard in the future because it hasn't been fixed properly. Pay for a replacement.
 
Yup I agree, I am sure someone else has won a Darwin award trying to save less money than this, but you still dont want to join that club.

Lol. Quote of the year???

I could kick myself. Asked thermaltake and it has 7 years of warrenty so I could have it fixed for free.
But as I opened it, warrenty gone.

But my new one arrived. So all good.

Thanks guys
 
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