Test power supply without full components?

[Jacob999]

Hi, im buying a second hand psu and I only have the mobo atm. Is there anyway to test if the PSU is faulty? I also have a super old desktop which I could use? thanks

 

[clutchc]

If the old PC is compatible with the new one, you could swap out the PSUs. But be sure it isn't an old Dell from the P4 era. They had proprietary PSUs/MB 24 pin headers back then.
You could also pick up one of these and test the PSU. But it will simply tell you if the voltages are correct: http://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-Digital-Supply-Tester-RTK-PST/dp/B004Q7FUGM/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_1_0
You could do the same thing with a VOM meter, a schematic, and a paper clip.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

The paper clip test doesn't prove that it's fully functional.

Second hand power supplies are a bad idea.

 

[Jacob999]

If the old PC is compatible with the new one, you could swap out the PSUs. But be sure it isn't an old Dell from the P4 era. They had proprietary PSUs/MB 24 pin headers back then.
You could also pick up one of these and test the PSU. But it will simply tell you if the voltages are correct: http://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-Digital-Supply-Tester-RTK-PST/dp/B004Q7FUGM/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_1_0
You could do the same thing with a VOM meter, a schematic, and a paper clip.

It's an compaq lol. I've opened it out a few times for curiosity and to clean it too.

 

[clutchc]

What I meant about using the paper clip was that it would turn it on for voltage testing with a meter. Just a way of saying it would be a cheap way of doing what the PSU tester does.