PSU Sparked, now no longer functioning.

[smur89]

So, tonight my PSU sparked and tripped the circuit breaker. Its not working anymore.

Im wondering if its possible to fix the PSU, and what i might need to fix on it. It's only about 2 weeks old, but I cant return it as I've taken it out of its original enclosure and put it into a G5 casing. Dont really want to spend the money on a new one if it can be avoided at all... It was a corsair 650W.

Also what may have caused it? I was putting the side panel back on the G5 when it blew. was thinking the panel closed some circuit and caused it to trip/blow...?

Any advice welcomed and appreciated.

 

[beelzebozo]

So, tonight my PSU sparked and tripped the circuit breaker. Its not working anymore.

Im wondering if its possible to fix the PSU, and what i might need to fix on it. It's only about 2 weeks old, but I cant return it as I've taken it out of its original enclosure and put it into a G5 casing. Dont really want to spend the money on a new one if it can be avoided at all... It was a corsair 650W.

Also what may have caused it? I was putting the side panel back on the G5 when it blew. was thinking the panel closed some circuit and caused it to trip/blow...?

Any advice welcomed and appreciated.

I wouldn't mess with it if I were you as you may end up harming yourself since you don't really seem to know what you're doing. But if you wanna to be a hero, you might wanna check to see the capacitors are blown which if they are you could probably replace yourself.

I would just buy a new PSU though.

 

[eelhead]

I too would buy a new one and not mess with the old one.
I also would look to see where it shorted out in the case you put it in, that sounds like what has happened

 

[kiwisincebirth]

So, tonight my PSU sparked and tripped the circuit breaker. Its not working anymore.

Im wondering if its possible to fix the PSU, and what i might need to fix on it. It's only about 2 weeks old, but I cant return it as I've taken it out of its original enclosure and put it into a G5 casing. Dont really want to spend the money on a new one if it can be avoided at all... It was a corsair 650W.

Also what may have caused it? I was putting the side panel back on the G5 when it blew. was thinking the panel closed some circuit and caused it to trip/blow...?

Any advice welcomed and appreciated.

Sorry for the loss, and you may have stumbled on the reason why most people seem to prefer not to mess with this sort of thing. When it goes wrong it goes wrong in a big way

It is always possible to fix any electronic component, although not always practical, hence why you may end up having to buy a new one.

Your first course of action is to identify what has failed, and why. If there was lot of smoke or noise, then in all likelihood there will be some evidence (remains or black marks) of the failed component. Pictures would help.

Also any details about how you modded the PSU (including cooling) would also may help identify where you went wrong. Some basic history of the mod, was this first time you had the computer turned on (may indicate a build fault) vs it being used for months (may indicate a failure).

Putting the side panel doesn't close any electrical circuit, so it may just be a co-incidence.

Here is a POST of my successful PSU mod
#8

 

[hardgrove]

How exactly did you install the new psu into the G5? Did you use a different plug than the one provided with the Cosrair psu when you installed into the G5 case? Did you ground the green wire to the psu case? If any part of the powersupply (i.e heatsink) touched the metal enclosure it will cause it to ground out and "spark". Do as kiwi said, look for black marks in the case but be careful checking it. Obviously, unplug the psu before doing anything!

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PSU!!! There are all sorts of things you can do to possibly kill yourself messing with something you know nothing about, electricity is nothing to play around with! Not trying to be a dick-face, but it's not worth risking it when a replacement psu is cheap... plus you may learn what to do differntly this time around! It is very possible that the compasitors can hold charge long after its unpluged, one wrong move ZAPPPP! Also, if it did spark you are possibly looking at multiple damaged parts, easier to throw a new psu in!

Best of luck to you!

 

[kayak4water]

I'm somewhat new to the forum. Seeing this thread, though about 3 weeks old, I wondered, if the PSU was two weeks old, is that within the warranty period? If you can't return to the seller, perhaps you can contact the manufacturer.

You probably replaced your PSU, but if the manufacturer replaces the unit, I suppose you can sell it on eBay or save it for your next build.

Maybe I'm being stupid obvious. I just didn't see any replies regarding the warranty.

 

[eelhead]

I'm somewhat new to the forum. Seeing this thread, though about 3 weeks old, I wondered, if the PSU was two weeks old, is that within the warranty period? If you can't return to the seller, perhaps you can contact the manufacturer.

You probably replaced your PSU, but if the manufacturer replaces the unit, I suppose you can sell it on eBay or save it for your next build.

Maybe I'm being stupid obvious. I just didn't see any replies regarding the warranty.

Not an option, see OP's post

but I cant return it as I've taken it out of its original enclosure and put it into a G5 casing

You take apart anything like that and you instantly void the warranty.

 

[nikstar]

The first thing you are checking in a broken PSU is the fuse, but probably at your case it should be ok cause it is sparking.
The PSUs are almost the only electronic devices that can be repaired at these days, but if the words, capacitors, resistors, transistors, mosfets, looks Greek to you, do NOT try it. You cannot harm yourself (the power from the capacitors, if any, will only scare you) but you may damage any other device that is connected to PSU.
You said if you can do anything to fix it. That makes me believe that you would have some tools (soldering iron at least) and some basic skills of using these tools.
If I was trying to fix it, I will check at the transistors - mosfets first.

If you have a technician friend, he may able to help you.
You can always send it for repair to specialist but it doesn't worth it cause it will be almost cheaper to buy a new one.