500w generic PSU

[makhoder]

Hi all, this is a normal build for non gaming purposes. The spec configuration is E4500, 2gb DDR2, 1 HD SATA2 and CD-rom SATA drive, GT 240.
The computer was working normally, I shut it down to change the HDD, when I turned on I heard an explosive sound from the PSU. I checked everything, and all the parts were fine, then I tested again the PSU with another old MB I had. The PSU worked fine for 30 minutes.
I know it is not safe to use it again but how did it work again normally?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Replace it anyways , nest time it may take out components.

 

[makhoder]

Replace it anyways , nest time it may take out components.

But how can it work again, this thing I cant understand 😛

 

[hunter315]

If you heard an explosive sound then it was likely a capacitor dying catastrophically. On the output there are a dozen or so filter capacitors, you can lose a few of them and still have power clean enough to boot off of, it'll be hurting the components and it's other capacitors while they try to filter out the extra noise, but they could run briefly and under minimal load.

 

[makhoder]

If you heard an explosive sound then it was likely a capacitor dying catastrophically. On the output there are a dozen or so filter capacitors, you can lose a few of them and still have power clean enough to boot off of, it'll be hurting the components and it's other capacitors while they try to filter out the extra noise, but they could run briefly and under minimal load.

It was an explosive sound with that weird smell, but no smoke or anything of the type. As I said, the computer is not for gaming and probably would not stay on load for much time. I calculated and problably my computer would not use more than 210w.
Also I dissasembled the PSU today, and there are not any signs of burnt components, they are all normal.

 

[hunter315]

Weird smell means you let the magic smoke out of something. What power supply do you have?

Magic smoke is in transistors, capacitors, most of the overmolded black packages, they will all smell strong and nasty when you kill them. The overmolded black packets often just blow a tiny hole in them that they vent their guts through.


"Under load" is also a relative term. You could take a half dozen of the filtering capacitors out of my Seasonic X-750 and run it at 200W and still have decent ripple suppression, but if you have a cheap Apevia 500W unit that barely has enough filter caps when its made, losing even one could result in ripple that is grossly out of spec since they tend to start life barely in spec.

 

[makhoder]

Weird smell means you let the magic smoke out of something. What power supply do you have?

Magic smoke is in transistors, capacitors, most of the overmolded black packages, they will all smell strong and nasty when you kill them. The overmolded black packets often just blow a tiny hole in them that they vent their guts through.


"Under load" is also a relative term. You could take a half dozen of the filtering capacitors out of my Seasonic X-750 and run it at 200W and still have decent ripple suppression, but if you have a cheap Apevia 500W unit that barely has enough filter caps when its made, losing even one could result in ripple that is grossly out of spec since they tend to start life barely in spec.

It is not a high quality and not a generic one. It was working in this build for the last 2 years. It is a very normal one.