Blown PSU - Can It Affect The System?

Memo · 03-13-2003, 12:33 AM

So the other day my mom's computer started beeping and then made a "pffft" noise. My mom turned it off an then tried to turn it back on again later and there was a loud bang and smoke came out. NOT GOOD. I opened up the computer and found no burn marks on any PCB or peripherals. I went ahead and opened up the Power Supply (that obviously smelled like smoke) and found that one of the capacitors had blown up and saw some scorch marks on the little PCB in there.

My questions is: can this have affected the rest of the system? It's important I fix this computer and was just going to go ahead and order a new PSU but would a blown PSU somehow affect the rest of the computer?

sbp · 03-13-2003, 12:48 AM

Yes, a blown power supply can affect the rest of the system. Mess it up in fact.

Speedfreak · 03-13-2003, 02:29 AM

Not to mention the smell. It takes forever for it to get off the components, especially if paper was burnt (i.e. a warrenty sticker on the bottom of my cpu when I burnt it).

delmore · 03-13-2003, 09:54 AM

After my PSU blew, the system was fine with a new PSU. When it blew it sounded like a shot from .22 rifle.

Kevster · 03-13-2003, 11:55 AM

There's nothing like the sound of a capaitor letting go to wake you up in the morning (let alone several big ones!). It can definitely affect your system - it could send a voltage spike over the supply cables connected to your components. Hopefully it was just the front-end of your PSU (the AC-DC conversion section) and not the back (the DC-DC conversion section). If so, you should be ok except for the smell.

I have had a couple PSUs die in recent years mainly by becoming unstable (no shots ringing out).

Good luck on that one, man - I don't envy that cleanup one bit.

Windsor · 03-18-2003, 07:11 PM

The computer I'm using right now just suffered a broken PSU, its not mine so I don't know what it sounded like or what, but with a new PSU in it looks like everything is ok.

Jcranmer · 03-19-2003, 06:55 AM

Your best bet, before you even purchase a new PS for the system, is to pull one out of another working system and use it to try and boot the system up. If the system comes up and is stable, then you more then likely are only going to need a new PS.

This will at least let you know if you are going to need to order more then just a PS.

Good luck, a blown PS can be tricky, I would say you have about a 50/50 chance that it didn't damage the rest of the system.

03-13-2003, 12:33 AM	#1
Memo Admiral Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: East Village Posts: 5,659	Blown PSU - Can It Affect The System? So the other day my mom's computer started beeping and then made a "pffft" noise. My mom turned it off an then tried to turn it back on again later and there was a loud bang and smoke came out. NOT GOOD. I opened up the computer and found no burn marks on any PCB or peripherals. I went ahead and opened up the Power Supply (that obviously smelled like smoke) and found that one of the capacitors had blown up and saw some scorch marks on the little PCB in there. My questions is: can this have affected the rest of the system? It's important I fix this computer and was just going to go ahead and order a new PSU but would a blown PSU somehow affect the rest of the computer?

03-13-2003, 02:29 AM	#3
Speedfreak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: I am here, so there I am. Posts: 8,027	Not to mention the smell. It takes forever for it to get off the components, especially if paper was burnt (i.e. a warrenty sticker on the bottom of my cpu when I burnt it). __________________ Call me Fleet Admiral §pêêÐƒrêák™! Go get me some coffee. CoolSpeed

03-13-2003, 11:55 AM	#5
Kevster Admiral Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NorCal Posts: 6,124	There's nothing like the sound of a capaitor letting go to wake you up in the morning (let alone several big ones!). It can *definitely* affect your system - it could send a voltage spike over the supply cables connected to your components. Hopefully it was just the front-end of your PSU (the AC-DC conversion section) and not the back (the DC-DC conversion section). If so, you should be ok except for the smell. I have had a couple PSUs die in recent years mainly by becoming unstable (no shots ringing out). Good luck on that one, man - I don't envy that cleanup one bit. __________________ I think over again My small adventures, my fears. The small ones that seemed so big, For all the vital things I had to get and to reach. And yet there is only one great thing, the only thing: To live to see the great day that dawns, And the light that fills the world. -old Inuit song

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03-13-2003, 12:48 AM	#2
sbp Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 11,037	Yes, a blown power supply can affect the rest of the system. Mess it up in fact.

03-13-2003, 09:54 AM	#4
delmore Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 89	After my PSU blew, the system was fine with a new PSU. When it blew it sounded like a shot from .22 rifle.

03-18-2003, 07:11 PM	#6
Windsor Commander Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,063	The computer I'm using right now just suffered a broken PSU, its not mine so I don't know what it sounded like or what, but with a new PSU in it looks like everything is ok.

03-19-2003, 06:55 AM	#7
Jcranmer Commander Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Pekin, IN Posts: 1,377	Your best bet, before you even purchase a new PS for the system, is to pull one out of another working system and use it to try and boot the system up. If the system comes up and is stable, then you more then likely are only going to need a new PS. This will at least let you know if you are going to need to order more then just a PS. Good luck, a blown PS can be tricky, I would say you have about a 50/50 chance that it didn't damage the rest of the system.

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