PSU Question

DarkFoss · Jan 19, 2003, 01:25 AM

Ok I've posted before about my Antec problems. My current 350 smartpowers running way too hot according to Sandra 82c as I type. I bought a 550 for the new rig I'm building so I took a look at it and compared it to my 350 ..The problem is the morons at the factory put the fan on the bottom in BACKWARDS.. I can see the Antec lable instead of the copper coiling. So the thing has both fans trying to pull the air out instead of through. Here's my question is it safe to pull the casing off and switch the bottom fan or am I most likely to fry myself? I've read that they stay charged even when unplugged.

Chaos · Jan 19, 2003, 01:36 AM

switching the fan should be just a matter of removing the cover and un-mounting the fan ans turning it over

DarkFoss · Jan 19, 2003, 01:44 AM

Thanks that's what I thought ..I've never opened one up and was a bit apprehensive about getting zapped. I wanted to make sure that just removing the cover was safe.

ToshiroOC · Jan 19, 2003, 02:05 AM

Er, its pretty dangerous man if you aren't careful - do NOT touch any of the capacitors inside the PSU, do NOT touch any of the coils inside the PSU, UNPLUG the PSU beforehand, and GROUND the PSU by shorting all of it's leads together with a piece of metal (in the back where the plug goes)... if you follow all of this, it should be somewhat safe, but you will get zapped if you touch the coil-thingies in there (transformers) or the capacitors (power-storing thingies that are big cylinders... but only on the metal leads coming out of the bottom for these), mainly because caps store power for AC->DC conversion and might have some residual power, and the caps might be connected electically to the transformers (the coil-thingies), in which case you still might get shocked... though you would probably be safest if you simply used insulating gloves...

DarkFoss · Jan 19, 2003, 02:21 AM

Hmm Thanks Toshiro, you make alot of sense!
I'm thinkin now since I kinda value my life that I'm just going to wait unit my new rigs finished and reinstall the 303 into this one and fire a nice letter off to antec since it's past Best Buys return policy and see if they will honor their warrenty and fix it.

ToshiroOC · Jan 19, 2003, 02:34 AM

probably a good idea - PSU's are dangerous in general, though taking off the cover to look probably wouldn't do anything

DriveEuro · Jan 19, 2003, 08:20 AM

Um, this will most likely void your warranty too. Most PSUs have a sticker on the side that has to be cut or ripped in order to open the PSU. Maybe you don't care. But I thought that it was good to mention it *MIGHT* void your warranty.

krang · Jan 19, 2003, 06:46 PM

Return it to BB. They won't give you any problem. Explain what's wrong.

DriveEuro · Jan 19, 2003, 07:34 PM

What is BB? he never mentioned where he bought the PSU.

Vampyromaniac · Jan 19, 2003, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DarkFoss
. . . and fire a nice letter off to antec since it's past Best Buys return policy and see if they will honor their warrenty and fix it.

Quote:

Originally posted by DriveEuro
What is BB? he never mentioned where he bought the PSU

DriveEuro · Jan 19, 2003, 11:25 PM

Right over my head.

iCe4LiFE · May 1, 2003, 12:51 AM

You should RMA it back to wherever you bought it from. I wouldn't risk opening it if I were you.

Hornizuka · May 1, 2003, 09:29 AM

I would just RMA it. It's just too risking to play around with PSU. If you open it, it's warranty will be void and....there might be a chance that you will get smoked. =)

Jan 19, 2003, 01:25 AM	#1
DarkFoss HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Downers Grove IL Posts: 688 Rep Power: 0	PSU Question Ok I've posted before about my Antec problems. My current 350 smartpowers running way too hot according to Sandra 82c as I type. I bought a 550 for the new rig I'm building so I took a look at it and compared it to my 350 ..The problem is the morons at the factory put the fan on the bottom in BACKWARDS.. I can see the Antec lable instead of the copper coiling. So the thing has both fans trying to pull the air out instead of through. Here's my question is it safe to pull the casing off and switch the bottom fan or am I most likely to fry myself? I've read that they stay charged even when unplugged.

Jan 19, 2003, 01:36 AM	#2
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,268 Rep Power: 167 System Specs	switching the fan should be just a matter of removing the cover and un-mounting the fan ans turning it over __________________

Jan 19, 2003, 02:05 AM	#4
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	Er, its pretty dangerous man if you aren't careful - do NOT touch any of the capacitors inside the PSU, do NOT touch any of the coils inside the PSU, UNPLUG the PSU beforehand, and GROUND the PSU by shorting all of it's leads together with a piece of metal (in the back where the plug goes)... if you follow all of this, it should be somewhat safe, but you will get zapped if you touch the coil-thingies in there (transformers) or the capacitors (power-storing thingies that are big cylinders... but only on the metal leads coming out of the bottom for these), mainly because caps store power for AC->DC conversion and might have some residual power, and the caps might be connected electically to the transformers (the coil-thingies), in which case you still might get shocked... though you would probably be safest if you simply used insulating gloves... __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Jan 19, 2003, 02:34 AM	#6
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	probably a good idea - PSU's are dangerous in general, though taking off the cover to look probably wouldn't do anything __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Jan 19, 2003, 08:20 AM	#7
DriveEuro HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gurnee Illinois Posts: 4,677 Rep Power: 0	Um, this will most likely void your warranty too. Most PSUs have a sticker on the side that has to be cut or ripped in order to open the PSU. Maybe you don't care. But I thought that it was good to mention it MIGHT void your warranty. __________________ [color=orange]ASUS P4P800 Deluxe [color=black]-[/color] 2.4C --> 3300mhz [color=black]-[/color] Mushkin PC3200 at 220 5-2-2-2 (cpu limited) [color=black]-[/color] BBAti 9800Pro at 430/375 [/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]01[/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]03[/color] 16001200 12801024

Jan 19, 2003, 01:44 AM	Thread Starter #3
DarkFoss HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Downers Grove IL Posts: 688 Rep Power: 0	Thanks that's what I thought ..I've never opened one up and was a bit apprehensive about getting zapped. I wanted to make sure that just removing the cover was safe.

Jan 19, 2003, 02:21 AM	Thread Starter #5
DarkFoss HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Downers Grove IL Posts: 688 Rep Power: 0	Hmm Thanks Toshiro, you make alot of sense! I'm thinkin now since I kinda value my life that I'm just going to wait unit my new rigs finished and reinstall the 303 into this one and fire a nice letter off to antec since it's past Best Buys return policy and see if they will honor their warrenty and fix it.

Jan 19, 2003, 06:46 PM	#8
krang DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 139 Rep Power: 0	return it Return it to BB. They won't give you any problem. Explain what's wrong. __________________ Asus A7v8x/Amd2200+ 1024 ddr pc2700 ram Radeon 9700pro Sk7 heatsink/YSTech 80mm fan Liteon 48x24x48 cdrw Liteon dvd 4 Maxtor 80g hd's MAudio Revolution 7.1 soundcard WinXP sp2

Jan 19, 2003, 07:34 PM	#9
DriveEuro HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gurnee Illinois Posts: 4,677 Rep Power: 0	What is BB? he never mentioned where he bought the PSU. __________________ [color=orange]ASUS P4P800 Deluxe [color=black]-[/color] 2.4C --> 3300mhz [color=black]-[/color] Mushkin PC3200 at 220 5-2-2-2 (cpu limited) [color=black]-[/color] BBAti 9800Pro at 430/375 [/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]01[/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]03[/color] 16001200 12801024

Jan 19, 2003, 11:25 PM	#11
DriveEuro HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gurnee Illinois Posts: 4,677 Rep Power: 0	Right over my head. __________________ [color=orange]ASUS P4P800 Deluxe [color=black]-[/color] 2.4C --> 3300mhz [color=black]-[/color] Mushkin PC3200 at 220 5-2-2-2 (cpu limited) [color=black]-[/color] BBAti 9800Pro at 430/375 [/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]01[/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]03[/color] 16001200 12801024

May 1, 2003, 12:51 AM	#12
iCe4LiFE DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 11 Rep Power: 0	You should RMA it back to wherever you bought it from. I wouldn't risk opening it if I were you.

May 1, 2003, 09:29 AM	#13
Hornizuka DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: May 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 13 Rep Power: 0	I would just RMA it. It's just too risking to play around with PSU. If you open it, it's warranty will be void and....there might be a chance that you will get smoked. =)