How To Check Power Supply If Defective

Identifying Power Supply for defect occasionally difficult for most typical user. But for some people with knowledge in technical is easy. For some that are new to repair or to this field. I think you must learn the basic of testing the power supply if it is working or not. During my earlier years in college we were not taught how to diagnose a power supply. I only learned this technique from a co-worker when I was already working. Most of tech person already knew this process. So, I am going to share this to you now. This process work well that you could easily determine if your power supply still work. 

This applies to the computer that won't start. Let's pretend that you power on your computer but the system did not turn on. So, if you have already checked your AVR and UPS (uninterruptible power supply) unit if their lights were on. Also you have already checked every power cable if they were all mounted correctly. Then you get to the point that you suspect the power supply for possible damage. So, you have to open the computer and remove the power supply.

Example of a good quality power supply in the market.

You need the following.

1. Paper Clip
2. Screwdriver - This tool will be use only for opening the computer case.
3. The guts - You need this if it is your first time to do this.

Yeah, you can name it whatever you want "the paper clip technique", whatsoever.

Please read all the steps carefully.

Step 1.

Open the computer case, if you are new to this you need to mark every wire with a marker to easily recognized the connection of your power supply. This is helpful when you return the power supply and you don't want to miss every connection you pulled out after you remove the power supply.

Step 2.

Next, If you already pulled out the power supply, you need to strip the ends of the paper clip. This will serve as a shunt wire or a switch for the power supply.


Step 3.

The next step is really heart pumping, you must be careful on this step. Explosion sometimes happened but it defends on its trouble. In most cases damage power supply won't explode. Power supply has a fuse, this safety protection is integrated on every power supply. Damage power supply does not explode unless your power supply was repaired recently. If you encounter damage power supply while testing it is seldom that you might experienced another explosion.

Method 1. You can plug your power supply first then you insert the paper clip or Method 2. You insert the paper clip first then plug the power supply. You can choose between this two option, but I think for first timer you should choose method 2.

You should insert the paper clip into the pin of black wire (ground wire) and green wire (p.s. on wire).

Step 4.

Then check if the power supply fan is working. If the fan is working your power supply is 90 percent to 100 percent in good condition. Why is it that only 90 percent possibility? Because some power supply shuts down when a load is connected. Some tech check the power good wire  (Gray Color) if it has a voltage of 5.5 volts but it does not assure you that your power supply will work properly when installed.