Could a PSU tester cause a power supply to start smoking?

[slhardware]

I got a PSU tester to help with troubleshooting one of my PCs. I used it to test the PC's power supply and it seemed to work fine.

Then I used it to test a spare PSU that I haven't used in several years. After I plugged the PSU into the tester and turned the PSU on, the PSU started making a weird noise after a couple of seconds, and then smoke started coming out of the PSU. I quickly unplugged the PSU.

Is it possible the tester may have damaged the PSU? Or did the PSU die after not being used for several years? I'm afraid to continue using the tester - I don't want to risk damaging any working PSUs that I have.

 

[shrapnel_indie]

What tester do you have? What is the brand and model of PSU that smoked? Most testers are pretty safe to operate for a few minutes.

 

[slhardware]

I got this tester: https://www.amazon.com/Insten-24-pin-Power-Supply-Tester/dp/B005CTCD6S/

The PSU is a really old Antec PP-412X.