Forum Home
Press F1
Thread ID: 90301	2008-05-29 23:15:00	HP Desktops constantly blowing PSUs	bardin (1950)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
673723	2008-05-29 23:15:00	I support a company with about 50 desktops, mostly HP mini towers, various mdoels. The three PCs in our stores in Pakuranga are CONSTANTLY blowing PSUs. I have replaced about 10 in the last 6 months. Each time we replace them with standard ATX 350W PSUs (Hyena). They blow within a few days or weeks. I have put all 3 PSUs on a good UPS, the company has had an electrician in to check the power supply (looks good), and I have sealed the PCs because the environment they are in has some carbon firbre dust (very little in this room however). The cases were sealed with insulation tape, with 'breather' put over the vents and fans to allow air in and out but prevent any other particles. This material is designed specifically for the job. The only other thing I can think of is that HP machines are not happy with non-HP PSUs. The cost for replacing a PSU at HP is about $300, this is untenable. I will get in touch with HP shortly. Next step is to swap the PCs out with other ones that have not had the PSU replaced, see if they blow in a different environment. Any other ideas?! I've never seen anything like this before, including Fletcher Steel factory PCs that were drowning in steel dust. Cheers, Brendan	bardin (1950)
673724	2008-05-29 23:21:00	Each time we replace them with standard ATX 350W PSUs (Hyena) . That's probably the main problem right there . Try a better brand like Enermax . Also have you noticed if the PCs get hot with all the insulation tape?	CYaBro (73)
673725	2008-05-29 23:22:00	Dont use Hyena's. Theyre the crappiest PSU's around.	Speedy Gonzales (78)
673726	2008-05-29 23:43:00	I doubt its the henya power Supplies . While they may not exactly be top range, I have had them in many customers machines that didn't want to upgrade and they have worked fine for over 5 years . I have only ever had two blow, 1 from a massive power surge (cant blame the PSU there) and 1 actually fail . I have here in the workshop 2 PC's that have Henya's as thats what came with the cases, and they never have given any problems 1 is 4 years old the other is 3 . With 10 PSU's blowing in 6 months, highly unlikely the PSU brand is the problem . I would suspect its something to do with the PC's being sealed,even though you say they have breathers . What I would do is remove one of the suspect PC's to a cleaner place, and remove all the sealants and try again - find out if its the location or the PC . No point in installing a more expensive PSU only to have it do the same thing a week later . PS: I have had henya's in HP's and never give a problem .	wainuitech (129)
673727	2008-05-30 01:39:00	I agree with W/tech, 10 PSU in 6 mths is not a bad batch of PSU's...LOL. What is the environment the PC's are in?, not conductive dust or anything like that is it..... I would say most PSU's either fail due to excessive load or heat and I doubt its load!	SolMiester (139)
673728	2008-05-30 02:17:00	Yep, Hyena is the sh*ttiest brand around, but even they aren't that bad! :lol: I'd get a different brand next time anyway, see if it makes a difference. Thermaltake's 400w and 420w are a good entry level PSU - if one of those blows straight away something is far wrong... :confused: Is there any covering over the vent of the PSU? If there is, take it off, as the air is being blown out of the case not sucked in so dust won't be a problem. Move one of them somewhere else for a while like WT said...	wratterus (105)
673729	2008-05-30 02:37:00	Another thought, you don't have any equipment in the building that draws a massive amount of power when it's switched on? Have seen some equipment that will cause all the lights in the building to dim when they are being turned on. PSUs aren't fond of power fluctuations.	wratterus (105)
673730	2008-05-30 02:40:00	+1 for Hyena being rubbish, use to sell them a few years back for a while, failure rate is massive maybe 30%. To be fair they may have improved since, but doesn't sound like it.	Battleneter2 (9361)
673731	2008-05-30 03:53:00	The three PCs in our stores in Pakuranga are CONSTANTLY blowing PSUs . Each time we replace them with standard ATX 350W PSUs (Hyena) . I have sealed the PCs The cases were sealed with insulation tape, with 'breather' put over the vents and fans to allow air in and out but prevent any other particles . Unseal them . Stop using Hyena . They are absolute **** .	pctek (84)
673732	2008-05-30 05:02:00	I disagree that it could be the PSUs. That rate of failure is unbelievable, I have experience wtih Hyena, agreed they aren't the best (I have a Thermaltake Toughpower 750 modular at home) but this rate of failures simply doesn't make sense. 100% failure rate within a few weeks or months. I don't think so. Secondly, a dodgy power supply to the building doesn't explain the problem either...all 3 PCs are on a UPS, I have pulled the pwr cable to the UPS and all was good, they continued to get power from the battery. Thirdly, the cases were only sealed last week, so can't be that either. They aren't running hot, I checked, they are just standard P4 1 GB no add-on video cards, so not performance components and plenty of room in the case. Never seen anything like this before. My suspicion is a compatibility problem with the non-HP PSUs. I will test by replacing my PCs PSU with a Hyena. Thanks for your comments, Brendan	bardin (1950)
1 2