Question Is my PSU dead?

[ThrashOrDie]

I'll try to keep this as simple as possible.

My PC was working fine all day yesterday. This morning I try to turn it on, and nothing happens, at all.

My PC is plugged into a special multi socket that is supposed to protect from lightning strikes and overcharges, which that is plugged into a mechanical time switch socket that turns on/off power at a set time, and that time switch is then in the actual wall socket.

This morning I heard a loud bang when the time socket flipped on, I didn't think anything of it, but found out that the fuse box jumped out, or however you want to call that.

I flicked my fuse back on, went to turn my PC back on, and it's dead. All my other hardware such as monitor, modem, surround sound system are also plugged into that same multi socket, they all still work.

My PSU is a Corsair HX1000, I have now taken the PSU completely out of my PC, and unhooked all cables. I have seen that paperclip trick from a Google search, to see if my PSU is still working, but all the cables are black, so I cannot really bridge anything that way.

I have now plugged in the cables for my motherboard into my PSU, and the power cable into a different wall socket, and flipped the power switch of the PSU on, but still nothing. I can't really plug in a single fan either, since all fans are plugged into the motherboard.

I'm not super knowledgeable in terms of PC Hardware, I've never built my own, and I'm honestly not sure if I can put all the cables back into my PSU in the correct order that I took them out, but I do have some knowledge, as you could read, so please bare that in mind.

I'm not sure what to do now. Taking my PSU out, I also noticed that something loose is in there, sounds like a small piece of plastic that makes noise every time I turn the PSU upside down. I never took my PSU out, so I don't know if that was there before.

I hope someone can help me, thank you.

 

[Juular]

Taking my PSU out, I also noticed that something loose is in there, sounds like a small piece of plastic that makes noise every time I turn the PSU upside down.

Sounds like something blew up then. Is it under warranty ? Contact Corsair if so.

 

[ThrashOrDie]

Sounds like something blew up then. Is it under warranty ? Contact Corsair if so.

So you'd say it's safe to go ahead and order a new one? Would there be any other way to confirm that it is in fact the PSU?

Oh and, the PSU is older than 2 years, so I don't think warranty still applies.

 

[Juular]

Oh and, the PSU is older than 2 years, so I don't think warranty still applies.

It's 10 years, if you have a receipt for it on your name then it does.

Would there be any other way to confirm that it is in fact the PSU?

Do the paper clip test, even if the wires are all black you can count them from the edges.

 

[ThrashOrDie]

It's 10 years, if you have a receipt for it on your name then it does.

That's good to know, thanks!

 

[geofelt]

The paper clip test is useful only to confirm a dead psu.
It does nothing to test if the psu works properly.
Really, not worth the effort.

Contact Corsair about a replacement.
I think the warranty is 5 years at least depending on the model.

It sounds like the psu was blown.
The only good way to test a psu is to replace it with a known good quality unit if sufficient power.
Borrow a test unit if you can, or buy a new unit from a shop with a good return ppilicy.
Expect to pay a 15% if you need to return it.

 

[carocuore]

Sounds dead for sure, could be a fuse or other minor component or a cap that was already failing from before and that inrush current was the last nail in the coffin for it, chances of it happening are slim nowadays, unless you have a dirt tier PSU, that wasn't the case.

My PC is plugged into a special multi socket that is supposed to protect from lightning strikes and overcharges, which that is plugged into a mechanical time switch socket that turns on/off power at a set time, and that time switch is then in the actual wall socket.

May I ask why the complexity of this circuit? I get most people use a surge protector or strip because the double wall socket isn't enough anymore, but a timer? if it's for power saving you could simply turn off the surge protector or unplug it.

 

[Juular]

could be a fuse or other minor component or a cap

A PSU is not a box of fuses and capacitors. Besides, neither of them fail breaking into pieces.

 

[ThrashOrDie]

May I ask why the complexity of this circuit? I get most people use a surge protector or strip because the double wall socket isn't enough anymore, but a timer? if it's for power saving you could simply turn off the surge protector or unplug it.

For power saving indeed. It's set to turn off during the night time. I just don't want to get out of bed every night after I got done using the wifi, and crawl under my desk to turn it off manually.

 

[ThrashOrDie]

A PSU is not a box of fuses and capacitors. Besides, neither of them fail breaking into pieces.

https://imgur.com/a/YdXNtNK

View: https://imgur.com/a/YdXNtNK


I believe those fell out of my PSU after I took it out of my PC.

 

[ThrashOrDie]

https://imgur.com/a/PX5lsw5

View: https://imgur.com/a/PX5lsw5


Okay, this one definitely just came out of my PSU. I was shaking it until that fell out.

 

[jonnyguru]

https://imgur.com/a/PX5lsw5

View: https://imgur.com/a/PX5lsw5


Okay, this one definitely just came out of my PSU. I was shaking it until that fell out.

Ah.. A large inrush of power from your mains blew up the inrush current thermistor.

Tell me again why you turn your PC off and on every single night? Because... that's not what they're designed to do. That's why we don't have AT PSUs anymore. ;-)

 

[ThrashOrDie]

Ah.. A large inrush of power from your mains blew up the inrush current thermistor.

Tell me again why you turn your PC off and on every single night? Because... that's not what they're designed to do. That's why we don't have AT PSUs anymore. ;-)

I'm assuming I cannot replace that part myself? Seems like a rather cheap component, compared to buying an entire new unit.

If you are referring to the time switch socket, then I have now taken my PC and monitor off of that, and only have modem, Hifi, external drive hooked to it. Lesson learned I suppose.

 

[jonnyguru]

I'm assuming I cannot replace that part myself? Seems like a rather cheap component, compared to buying an entire new unit.

If you are referring to the time switch socket, then I have now taken my PC and monitor off of that, and only have modem, Hifi, external drive hooked to it. Lesson learned I suppose.

You can replace the part if you know what you're doing. But if you have to ask, then....

The PSU is under warranty. Just have the whole thing swapped out.