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D.I.Y.
This page contains some of my useful D.I.Y.
projects. As they deal with electricity, please do it with care.
Change PC Power Supply
(ATX/ATX-12)
Repair The Power Plug
Change PC Power Supply
(ATX/ATX-12 only) - Non Proprietary Generic OEM
* Please try the following at your own risk,
I shall not be liable for any damages done to your computer system
or yourself. If you are not comfortable with doing it yourself, please
get someone to do it for you or get a certified electrical technician.
The 2nd most easy to fail component of a PC is the power supply (1st
being the hard disk drive). The PC power supply is easy to source
and replace, just make sure you bring your defective power supply
along when you shop for it.
Power supply failure has the following symptoms:
- PC unable to start due to no power
- PC shuts down or restarts on its own
- PC unable to power up sometimes, sometimes OK
- There is a noise (humming or high pitch noise) coming out from the
power supply
- The power supply fan does not move
- You heard a loud "bang" sound from the power supply
- You saw smoke coming out from the power supply
- You smell burnt plastics
- Your home power protection device (over current protector / Earth
Leakage Protector) tripped when powering on your computer
If your computer is a branded one and still in warranty, you should
call the computer vendor. The procedures below will break the seal
and void your warranty. Power supplies used by HP or other branded
PC could be proprietary and may be difficult to source.
To remove your power supply
- remove power cable to the power supply
- remove the side panel / chassis casing from the PC
- remove all connections to the motherboard and drives
- remove the 4 screws behing the PC that is securing the power supply
- remove the power supply
To source for a power supply
- buy one that has the same type of connectors
- no need to buy an expensive one, unless you are overclocking, then
buy one that has 2 fans
- ensure the power (measured in Watts) is higher or same as your previous
power supply
- check voltage selector is set at 220/250V (if there is one)
To install the new power supply
- secure the power supply onto the casing
- check voltage selector is set to correct voltage of the location
you live (110V/240V)
- connects the power to your motherboard and drives
- make sure no cable is touching any fan blade inside the chassis
- connects one end of the power cable to the PC
- connects the power cable to the power socket
- close back the chassis cover
- push the power button on the PC, the
PC should power up
Repair The Power
Plug
* Please try the following at your own risk,
I shall not be liable for any damages done to your computer system
or yourself. If you are not comfortable with doing it yourself, please
get someone to do it for you or get a certified electrical technician.
The power plug sometimes get damaged because it has been dropped or
cables exposed due to excessive force pulling it, or its fuse blown.
As most of the plugs uses screws to tighten the cable to the pins,
these screws may loosen and cause power problems.
To repair or replace your power plug - loosen the screw to open the
plug.
- An inside of a typical "non-indicator, non surge protected"
plug. In Singapore, the fuse is normally rated at 13 amps or 5 amps.
Some plugs has a screw-on cable grip.
- remove the PVC jacket of the power cable using a scissor
- a 3 conductor power cable has 3 cables - normally a green+yellow
cable, a blue cable and a brown cable
- trim the cable as follows (may be different depending on the physical
dimension of the plug. Please refer to the connection info normally
attached underside of a new plug)
- e.g. total length for blue cable is 15mm+6mm = 21mm
- connect the cables to their respective pins: Green+Yellow to Earth;
Blue to Neutral; Brown to Live
- screw back the cover
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