Repairing PSUs - Stories and resources

landonprisbrey · 12 Feb 2011

I'm wondering if anyone has stories or resources about repairing bad power supplies. Most people treat their PSUs like they're disposable, but with some experience with a soldering iron and a multimeter I'd bet common PSU problems can be remedied easily! I expect most problems boil down to a single bad component (which could be replaced for under $1).

Naturally, it was a bad power supply that got me thinking of this in the first place. Specifically, it's a ThermalTake Silent Purepower 450 W. Disconnected from the computer the DC output voltages are spot on, but connecting the 24 pin powercord to the motherboard lowers the output voltages by ~20% (way out of range for the computer to run). Connecting more components continues to lower the output voltages. Sounds like a fixable problem to me, but I couldn't find much help in google searches.

GeneO · 12 Feb 2011

Sounds too risky to me. I expect that is why you don;t see many how-tos. A wrong move and you could fry some expensive parts and pieces. I don't think that is the best PSU in any case so why not spend effort on it?

profdlp · 13 Feb 2011

I've replaced a few PSU fans before, but be careful if you decide to go mucking around in there - those capacitors can deliver thousands of volts even when they are unplugged.

Personally, I'd be too afraid of a PSU deciding to go in dramatic fashion and take something more expensive with it. The trouble with electronic equipment is that Part A" can go bad and ruin "Part B". You replace "Part B" and it seems to work for a while, but you haven't really solved your problem. The next time "Part A" causes an overload somewhere down the line it might cause that dramatic failure I referred to.