Testing PSU Before Installing

[GJSNeptune]

Is there a way to test one's PSU before installing? I'm about to get an Antece True Blue 480 and some people have said it has fried right off the bat. Can you test it before installing just to make sure it won't fail and possibly fry hardware?

 

[Ice Czar]

well you can turn it on with a paperclip from the GRN to any of the BLKs on the main connecter, but place an old Optical or HDD on it as a load

then you can test the various rails with a multimeter
yellow +12V
red +5V
orange +3.3V

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/faqpowersupply.html

 

[GJSNeptune]

Link doesn't work.

 

[Ice Czar]

actually I check my links nine times out of ten
and it does work

 

[gee]

Most power supplies need a load on them to properly turn on, so the paper clip trick might give you off readings.

Get an old celeron 366 and motherboard for $5, and use that as your power supply test jig.

 

[Ice Czar]

^ good advice (as always)
would the difference between old +5V based mobos and new +12V based mobos enter into that?

since GJSNeptune hasnt posted back I'll qoute that link (but there is a diagram as well)

digital multitester, scaled at 20 V continous voltage (V DC). Also, you must use a 10 ohms x 10 watts resistor at the power supply's output to be tested. This must be done because some power supplies show correct tensions when they are without any charge on it, but as you place charge (a motherboard, for instance) the tensions decline. Besides this test, the ideal is to use an osciloscope to verify if there is any ripple (flutuation) and the power supply's output. The outputs must be completely continous, without any ripple. If you detect any ripple with the scope, the power supply is bad, and you must replace it.

with
+5V..........Red............4.75V to 5.25V
+12V........Yellow........11.4V to 12.6V
+3.3V.......Orange........3.135V to 3.465V

Id omit the -5V and -12V

 

[Vertigo Acid]

... oh, so the 75w resistor I use is overkill