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Thread ID: 125372 2012-06-23 04:32:00 PSU voltage Nick G (16709) Press F1
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1283520 2012-06-23 04:32:00 I have a psu which I want to try on a desktop computer. I don't know how to read the voltage switch though. I need 230 volts. If I flick the switch one way, I can see 230, if I flick it th other, I can see 115. If I can see 230 does it mean it will be set t0230,or will it be set to 115.

Thanks/
Nick G (16709)
1283521 2012-06-23 04:44:00 If you can see 230V, it's 230V. You have to set it to 230V if you are in NZ. bk T (215)
1283522 2012-06-23 04:52:00 Thanks. I thought so but didn't want to take the risk of plugging it in at the wrong voltage. Nick G (16709)
1283523 2012-06-23 08:53:00 You gotta be really carefull. I have a friend who switched the voltage switch on a school computer's PC (old pentium 4 compaqs) and the machine just blew. Smoke just poured out.
What I can't beleive is the teacher didn't notice till the next day or two.....and the class smelt of smoke.
So it pays to be quite carefull.
ChazTheGeek (16619)
1283524 2012-06-23 22:34:00 I know that, but our psu is dead anyway. Was having a look to make sure nobody had adjusted the voltage,but it was still set correctly. So, a dead psu but not due to a voltage change. Its not cennected to any surge protector so I'm thinking that might have been it. Nick G (16709)
1283525 2012-06-24 16:12:00 Its not cennected to any surge protector so I'm thinking that might have been it.
Most supply failures are due to manufacturing defects. Best surge protection is routinely found in power supplies. A power strip protector may have simply bypassed superior protection inside the supply.

Many want to blame something according to what advertising says. In reality, most supply failures are manufacturing defects. Failures that typically are not identified by observation or smell.
westom (16792)
1283526 2012-06-24 20:41:00 I know that, but our psu is dead anyway. So, a dead psu but not due to a voltage change. Its not cennected to any surge protector so I'm thinking that might have been it.

Cheap nasty PSUs die frequently.
Power fluctuations can kill them, cheap components can kill them. Surge protectors shouldn't be needed and probably had nothing to do with it.

If you're really curious open the PSU up, you may or may not see the cause.
pctek (84)
1283527 2012-06-24 22:19:00 Cheap nasty PSUs die frequently .
Power fluctuations can kill them, cheap components can kill them . Surge protectors shouldn't be needed and probably had nothing to do with it .

If you're really curious open the PSU up, you may or may not see the cause .
Might do that . Its my father's pc and he's not really keen on someone other than a 'specialist' having a look, just because he has no clue what to do in there . But still, will try .

And yep, its a cheap nasty psu that came with the pc when first bought . Once again, my father's not to keen on upgrading . If he allowed it I'd have doubled the ram a long time ago . Will try again though .
Nick G (16709)
1283528 2012-06-24 23:54:00 Can someone put me on to a place where I can buy disk enclosures? Nick G (16709)
1283529 2012-06-25 01:32:00 A power strip protector may have simply bypassed superior protection inside the supply.

No, that would be very unlikely indeed, the power strip would only have a spike protector and maybe an overload cutout. That unit stands alone so cannot bypass any protection the computer power supply may have. The worst that could happen might be the strip protector literally self destructing, in which case major supply disturbances could possibly disrupt the drive waveforms to the switching device that generates the supply outputs, and that could cause that component to fail. It probably just died a natural death.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
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