Power Button won't work with PSU

[SalzBrezel]

Hi Guys!

I'm having a rather strange issue in my partly new setup. My PSU (Enermax Liberty ELT500AWT) won't start by pressing the power-button on the case when it is screwed into the case (Fractal Define R5 Black). I have to connect the green wire to one of the black ones on the ATX 24-pin connector so that the PSU starts and I then can press the power-button to start the PC. I tried out another PSU this weekend and with that one the power-button works without any problems, so the case should be fine. Now comes the strange part, I left the other PSU screwed into the case (completely unplugged) and put mine on top of my PC, and put some plastic in between so it wont scratch the case. Plugged everything in and the PC started using the power-button. Ran the PC for a couple of hours like that and then decided, to put my PSU into the PC and surprise surprise the power button didn't work "normally" anymore. The very same PSU works without any issues with another case and Motherboard.

Is there some pins i have to set? I'm 100% sure I got the PWR_BTN pins correct on the Motherboard, as I've checked those multiple times. Does someone have any idea?

Would it be safe to run the PSU without a connection to the case over a long time period? Or was I nominated for the Darwin award while running it with plastic in between case and PSU?

Best Regards
SalzBrezel

PSU: Enermax Liberty ELT500AWT
MB: Gigabyte GA-H81M-D2V rev 2.1
Case: Fractal Define R5 Black

 

[user11464]

If it runs outside of the case, then it can't have anything to do with pins or wires. The only explanation I can think of is maybe when installed inside the case, one of the cables is routed in a way that maybe pulls on it causing a loose connection.

and no, having it outside the case wouldn't pose any problems so long as the fan on the psu isn't covered.

 

[SalzBrezel]

If it runs outside of the case, then it can't have anything to do with pins or wires. The only explanation I can think of is maybe when installed inside the case, one of the cables is routed in a way that maybe pulls on it causing a loose connection.

and no, having it outside the case wouldn't pose any problems so long as the fan on the psu isn't covered.

Thanks for your reply, checked the connectors without any luck. We ended up measuring the voltage on the green pin (16 if i recall right). That pin should have a voltage of 3,3 but it dropped to around 1,8v when plugged in to the motherboard. When unplugged it had 3,3v. We do not fully know what the issue was, could have been some clue which became conductive over time. Two caps were a bit swollen but nothing in a range of fatal. Ended up buying a new PSU and it works now without any issues.

 

[user11464]

wow, that's strange that it worked out of the case. lol. coincidence i guess