New PSU flips circuitbreaker?!?!

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wvphysics

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Jan 10, 2006
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I recently upgraded my computer to an athlon 64 3200+. While i was at it i upgraded my maindboard to an EPOX EP-9NPA+ultra to get pci-express so i also had to upgrade my video card to an EVGA 6800GS. I didn't yet upgrade the PSU. The old one is an Enermax EG365P-VE(FCA), a 350W psu with a 20 pin main socket and the 4 pin cpu power so I figured id try it. I hooked everything up and it worked except the video card wasnt getting enough power and geared down. I found out that the pci-e power adapter was missing so i decided i might as well get a little more juice and buy a new psu. After reading reviews and comparing similar builds I went with an enermax liberty 400W. Since my 350W seemed to work, I figured the 400W should cover any extra the vid card needed, especially since its made to handle SLI and dual processor boards.
I got the new PSU this morning and installed it. The main plug on this is a 20/24, meaning it can separate into a 20 pin and a 4 pin, or hook together for one 24 pin. I hooked it together for one four pin and plugged it into the 24 pin MB connector. Then I took one of the 4 pin 12V connectors and plugged it into the MB 4 pin connector. I plugged in my harddrive and the videocard. I turned on the system and everything turned off in the room. The circuit breaker had flipped for that room. I tried again this time without the vid card or HD plugged in, still flipped the breaker. So I tested with the old PSU and the system posted so I dont think anything else got fried.

My big question: Is this PSU dead (like a short thats drawing too much power), or have I connected something wrong here. Anyone else out there have a similar situation or setup?
Again thats an Enermax Liberty 400W, A64 3200+, and EVGA 6800GS 256MB.
 
You may have connected something wrong, but your description is hard to decypher. Maybe try one thing at a time?
 
If you turn the lights off and what not in the room, and only turn the computer on, does it still trip? It sounds like your overloading the circuit and the psu causes it to hit the trip point.
 
You have about 1800 watts on a typical 15 amp, 120 V household circuit, how much other stuff is running on the same circuit? Have you tried plugging the machine in on a different outlet on a seperate circuit to see if it trips that too?

Of course it could well be a bad PSU, if the hot wire is shorting to the chassis (ground) it will trip the breaker quickly.
 
Only stuff plugged in is the computer stuff. I'm at work so I'm going on memory. I believe the printers were off, speakers were on, monitor was on standby, even the lights were off. With the same setup just on my 350W psu I cant how the extra 50W would go over the breaker limit, especially since I didnt have anything else running in the computer to use that 50W. I know I'm not using 1800W in that room or even close to it, my electric bill would be about twice what it is now if that were the case. I'm also a bit nervous in trying anything else as I'm a bit afraid of frying the other computer components. Keep bringing in the suggestions, I appreciate it.
 
Got an update, the new psu will work in one of my older computers that has just the 20-pin connector, but still will not work on the newer board with the 24 pin connector and 4 pin connector. Ive tried connecting as a 24 pin connector with and without the 4 pin, and as a 20 pin with the extra 4 pin. In all cases it doesnt work. I'm wondering if it is something with the newer 12V leads, as my old boards do not have these extra 4 pin connectors. And I don't think its the MB cause my old psu works, I just dont think itll supply enough amps to the vid card.
 
There is no switch, its supposed automatically detect it. Also sine the power supply works in my older system it should be detecting correctly.
 
Disconnect the PSU from everything & then plug it in & turn it on, when the breaker pops, return your DOA PSU. :eek:
 
Last update, I tried an Antec 430W psu and it works fine now with everything plugged in. I'm guessin theres a short in the 12V lines somewhere since the psu works on MB's that doesnt have a 4 pin 12V line. Time to send it back.
 
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