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PSU shooting sparks

Y

yoink

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 2, 2002
Messages
158
Last night i added a small fan for exhaust to my case. Turned it back on and a spark shot out from my antec true 430. I turned the computer back on and went into the bios, all the voltages seemed ok, but i am hesitant to use it normally for fear of losing some more hardware. Is there anything that could have caused that and not damaged my power supply, or should i RMA it? THanks
 
Hmmmm a spark shot out of ur PSU?!?!
i dont think that is at all safe...
maybe u should get a new one?
 
Basically, whenever you can say:

..."then sparks shot out my <insert whatever here>"... it would be a good idea to either replace or repair your <insert whatever here>.
 
First thing you need to do is to check to see if you cross-wired the fan you added.....sounds like your wiring job may be suspect.
 
Another, mildly remote possiblity, is that something in the psu temporarily shorted and then lost contact. In rare cases, dust might cause this.

I would, however, do as the honorable MajorDomo suggested and make sure you didn't do anything stupid with your wiring before continuing to use the machine.


Also, if it does seem to be working, I would take it out of the machine and test all the voltages on it to make sure it's putting out properly.
 
Another, mildly remote possiblity, is that something in the psu temporarily shorted and then lost contact. In rare cases, dust might cause this.
Click to expand...
r u saying that dust conducts electricity?
 
did you happen to take off the molex connectors previously and this is the first time using that particular connection? what im getting at is, maybe the wires are crossed?

the exhaust you put in, did you cut the hole for it? metal shavings may have jumped into your PSU. if you didnt cut the hole, maybe a tool, clip or screw fell into your PSU?

dont risk using the PSU with your equipment connected. take it out, clean it up. turn it on without anything connected if you feel comfortable testing it. if you are nervous around electricity or not experienced enough, take it to someone that can check it for you or just buy a new one.

My suggestion: be safe and get a new PSU. dont risk zapping your mobo/cpu/drives/video card/ etc...
 
[
Ever grabbed a AA battery? Did you get shocked?
Ever grabbed a downed power line?
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yes, i ve grabbed a AA battery...no, i dont recall ever getting shocked... i kno wut u mean tho, that it has unlimited current but it never happened so i doubt it will since its such a small power
no, never grabbed a downed power line, assuming ur talking house voltage... i m not that dumb
wut does these examples hav to do with dust conducting electricity?

and if dust does conduct electricity, wudnt older tvs not work and dusty electronics be shorted?
 
LOL humans heal (or die) hardware is dead for ever :)
 
put a 9v battery's contacts on your tongue and youll feel a tingle. The more conductive that path of electricity, the stronger the current, thats why on a dry hand you might not feel it as opposed to your tounge.
 
Where are the pics? We all want to see the spark :D
BTW, welcome everyone, this is my first post.
 
Originally posted by FreeBSDop
Where are the pics? We all want to see the spark :D
BTW, welcome everyone, this is my first post.
Click to expand...

Whoa! Calm that sig down - 10 lines max man :D

And I concur - do it again, we need pics to better. . . diagnose the problem*.






* by diagnose I mean laugh my butt off
 
I wouldnt use that PSU if I saw goddamn sparks flying out of it. Antec has a 3 year warranty on their PSU's, give them a call.
 
nd if dust does conduct electricity, wudnt older tvs not work and dusty electronics be shorted?
Click to expand...

Its the dust and impurities in water that makes it conduct electricity. A lot of dust is just old skin and stuff but some can be minerals so yes its possible. It sounds like something touched a component. I had a piece of metal touch my exposed epia powersupply last week and it sparked and lit on fire....so feel lucky.
 
Originally posted by wayne
r u saying that dust conducts electricity?
Click to expand...

dust holds moisture and does conduct electricity. ive heard of computers that are dusty as hell not working in the summer when it is really humid
 
Just to be on the safe side, I would see if you can send the power supply back to antec, sparks flying out of power supplies = not a good thing.
 
Originally posted by phasmatis_nox
Ever grabbed a AA battery? Did you get shocked?
Ever grabbed a downed power line?
Click to expand...

1.5 amps vs. several hundered amps.

Bad analogy.

Dust is an insulator not a conductor.
 
Originally posted by shade91
1.5 amps vs. several hundered amps.

Bad analogy.

Dust is an insulator not a conductor.
Click to expand...

Volts, not amps. Also, in most cases, AA batteries can source very little current.

Anything can be a conductor(a poor one) given enough amperage and voltage. Air can.
I saw an advertisment for a company that made insultory gloves for power line workers. Why not just wear latex gloves? Under 'normal' conditions, latex isn't conductive- but grab a power line wearing one and it'll be like nothing. It'll all a question of how much energy there is.
 
Originally posted by phasmatis_nox
Volts, not amps. Also, in most cases, AA batteries can source very little current.

Anything can be a conductor(a poor one) given enough amperage and voltage. Air can.
I saw an advertisment for a company that made insultory gloves for power line workers. Why not just wear latex gloves? Under 'normal' conditions, latex isn't conductive- but grab a power line wearing one and it'll be like nothing. It'll all a question of how much energy there is.
Click to expand...
The heat that goes alone with that amount of current will melt them.... also if a lose wire where to puncture the glove (easily done) ..... bad things.... many bad things..:(
 
Originally posted by Kendrak
The heat that goes alone with that amount of current will melt them.... also if a lose wire where to puncture the glove (easily done) ..... bad things.... many bad things..:(
Click to expand...

Ok, that too. My point was that with enough joules, almost anything can be conductive.
 
I didn't wire anything at all, just plugged the fan into the fan only connector on the psu. It wasn't too dusty. The hole was already there. I'm not sure what happened but it's on it's way to newegg. I am sorry i didn't take any pictures, but i couldn't see anything visibly wrong with it. My daughters fortron 300w is doing really good as a temp. Thanks for your help.
 
Originally posted by ~¥~ßLÅÇK~ÇîrǵT~¥~
Power it on a Potato!!! :D
Click to expand...

1/10th of all your posts on [H]ardOCP consist of "Power it on a potato"? Its not even a funny thing to say.
 
Thats bad, that happened to me from a cheap chinese PSU. I now stick with Antec, but your antec when out, that sucks. My antec's fan is starting to make wierd sounds and Antec will not answer my emails.
 
Sparky...... nice name for a comp:D
I would suggest you check that fan and all other disturbed wiring for bad insulation! Lest ye rma:eek:

on a side note: how does NewEgg and the like stay in business?
We screw up and they replace:confused:
 
After you double check your wiring, maybe you should spray out your case with compressed air, maybe some metal shavings gor in there (who knows what from). I would just send ti back to Antec, They will test it, and if its busted they will send u a new one, and if its not I'm sure they will send it back in good order.

I only recommend antec cases and power supplies now because of thier great warrenty and customer service!
 
on a side note: how does NewEgg and the like stay in business?
Click to expand...

They stay in business because the manufacturer usually takes the hit, not them. They are only responsible for it if they have some type of extended warranty.
 
Power it on a Potato!!!
Click to expand...
how exactly do u do that?... i kno it works cus i ve seen experiments done like that but i never bothered to find out how cus that was like elementary school and i wasnt interested in electricity

cud sumone post a link to this experiment...i m researching on producing cheap electricity
and while ur at it, try to find me a place that sells lotsa cheap potatoes for cheap...lol:D
THANKS
 
I think we should stop wondering how to make his stop shooting out sparks and how to make ours do it. Now that would be a sweet mod.
 
Originally posted by rally9x
I think we should stop wondering how to make his stop shooting out sparks and how to make ours do it. Now that would be a sweet mod.
Click to expand...

you go first ;)
 
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by rally9x
I think we should stop wondering how to make his stop shooting out sparks and how to make ours do it. Now that would be a sweet mod.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



you go first;)
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yah, his next posts gonna be..:eek: OMG I BLEW MY MAIN RIG....HOLY CRAP, HOLY CRAP....Y DID I LISTEN TO THE STUPID PEOPLE IN THE FORUMS....

lol, dont try it:rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by BigECB
Basically, whenever you can say:

..."then sparks shot out my <insert whatever here>"... it would be a good idea to either replace or repair your <insert whatever here>.
Click to expand...


So then, sparks shot out of my magic wand, and Voldemort went up in spoke, har.
 
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