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Thread ID: 38062	2003-09-26 01:31:00	Power (on/off)switch on Computer not working.	Smurf (506)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
177993	2003-09-26 01:31:00	My son removed a fuse from the house meter board before doing some minor electrical work. He had not realised that this was to the same circuit as the computer was on. At the time, the computer was switched off, but still plugged in. Althouth there was a surge protector attached to the computer, when he replaced the fuse and the circuit became live, he heard a "pop" and then the power switch on the puter would not turn on(ie activate the puter to boot up. There is power to the monitor and the scanner but that's as far as it goes. No lights come on when the power switch is pressed. What is likely to be the problem? Fix?	Smurf (506)
177994	2003-09-26 01:41:00	First of all describe how the monitor and scanner are linked to the PC, do they use the PSU (power supply unit) of the computer, e.g. Scanner on USB and Monitor plugs into PSU? Are they plugged in to the powerboard not the PC? How well is your son at electrical work as it seems he'll need to replace the fuse inside the PSU of the computer or the whole unit if it's burnt the circuitry, also check that the PSU was not set on 110V , also check the surge protector as it doesn't seem suitable to be used with PC's if the fuse blew.	Kame (312)
177995	2003-09-26 01:48:00	Another note, when doing electrical work around the house, everything connected should be unplugged/switched off at the wall, as once the power comes back, a big surge will follow, you may have problems with the monitor and scanner later on due to the surge. I think the surge protector needs to be replaced with a more thorough working one. Even though your computer is off, and I'm assuming it's soft-power type, it's still on, never work on soft-power type computers with the switch at the wall turned on, I know they say leave the power cord in for grounding but always switch it off at the wall as soft-power is never off, as new features of modern computers is the ability to turn on when a signal is received, e.g. Wake on LAN/Ring, RTC time, etc. If you ever have a power out and those type of computers, unplug them as by default in the BIOS for those types of failures it's set to stay-off but it will still receive power once the power comes back so it's still a risk to getting a surge.	Kame (312)
177996	2003-09-26 01:59:00	Surge protectors will not give the level of protection that Kame indicates. They are designed to protect against short duration spikes on the supply. Re-livening the supply by replacing a fuse should not give a problem, but it does depend on what else is fed from the same fuse, and how cleanly it was re-inserted. If the fuse has blown inside the PSU, it might be just that the PSU decided then was a good time to become faulty. How long has it been since it was last disconnected? Its possible that inrush current could have blown the fuse, and it would be worthwhile trying the simple fix first. If the PSU was set on 110v, then it would have packed up a long time ago. They usually only last seconds before they quit. As an aside, look at the size of the surge diverter. Now imagine the horsepower of 30 or 40 car engines at full power. Could that little device survive absorbing all that energy, even if only for a fraction of a second?	godfather (25)
177997	2003-09-26 02:02:00	Thank you Kame for your reply. I am afraid I can't answer your questions re the monitor and scanner connections as I am not currently at his house. However, I take the point about the surge protector and the need to either replace the fuse in the PSU or the whole unit. It will be a lesson well learnt.I hope:) I think he will have to take it to be professionally repaired. You don't live in Dunedin do you? :)	Smurf (506)
177998	2003-09-26 02:04:00	Thank you Godfather, points noted and well taken.	Smurf (506)
177999	2003-09-26 02:38:00	The words professionally repaired brings up the cost issue, I am sure your son is well capable of fixing the PSU if he does understand electronics a bit, it's not a big job, and not worth those professionals minimal $45 (Auckland average rate) charge (sometimes just to look at it) as you could replace the whole unit for approximately $60 or near abouts. The fuse would not cost more than $3 at DSE. I have always been wanting to extend my services out further, and Dunedin would be nice but I've got more than enough on my plate by continuing my customer relationship with my clients around me, and I don't want to get too carried away. I believe I'm the only Computer Technician 'Rep', who calls on his clients regularly, even if they don't have computer problems, sometimes just for cake :P, I have contacts within other industries that are useful for my clients too so they sometimes order not just computer parts off me but other things I could source for them, so it's quite an interesting job, and the best thing about it is I like what I do.	Kame (312)
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