[Solved] Bang and spark at the end of the kettle plug type lead

[mij]

Yesterday the computer failed following the bang mentioned above. Initially I thought it was just the lead shorting out until I used another lead. It did the same thing! The flash and the bang came from the same area, the power supply and the end of the lead. Upon dismantling there was nothing to indicate that the power supply had caused the burning/smell. The leads were hot and the switch on the extension plug burnt out-it would not work. No one carries them in stock around here and I am obliged to use SWMBO's AIO Dell.

Jim.

Edited December 11, 2018 by KenB

[KenB]

Hi,

If it has happened twice then DO NOT attempt to use this machine.

 

There is obviously a serious fault which would need to be looked at by a qualified tech / electrician.

Please DO NOT attempt to repair this yourself.

 

You could replace the PSU - which is most probably the cause - but DO NOT attempt to open up the PSU.

[mij]

Thanks for the reply KenB. I did open the power supply but did not stick any digits inside as I know what capacitors are like. The computer is a few years old and has W7 as it's OS. I think I am ready to go new. I am unsure what is best

these days. Using the phone I found they charge £40.00 for them. I can get them online for something close to half of that.

 

The big prices seem to be in the gaming world, I am only in the domestic desktop. Amazon seems to have a lot of refurbished Dells. Is there a favourite place to buy and places to avoid?

Jim.

[KenB]

Hi Jim,

I don't have a favourite place to buy from - in fact it is some time since I bought my last machine.

 

It sounds as if you are looking at buying a re-furbished one.

If you are looking at eBay then be careful who you use.

Look at their % and anything below, say, 95% I wouldn't bother.

Also check out the country of origin.

 

Amazon is now simply a market place.

You could set yourself up as a company and sell there.

So again, be careful if you intend buying from them.

Remember not all reviews are genuine.

 

Google is a great source of information.

[mij]

Ok KenB, thanks for that. I'll drop down to Eastbourne and see what the shops are like there. Locally there is nothing, nowt. Zada!

Jim (SWMBO says that I am like a fish out of water without my PC)

[KenB]

Let us know how you get on Jim :)

[mij]

I got a laptop with W10 and a solid state drive. The trouble is I cannot get past the email section and it is stuck there, no matter what keys I press.

I've even tried rebooting and rebooting whilst holding the windows key down - nothing but that dreaded google password screen.

Jim.

PS I have tried the alt ctrl del buttons also!

[Rustys]

The trouble is I cannot get past the email section and it is stuck there

Just to clarify if this is during the registration of the system?

OR

Are you trying to configure you email address in windows so you can check you email?

 

What if any error messages come up?

[mij]

It has talked me through set-up and then begins to link my mail addy with the computer. The password I have forgotten, I must have changed it at some point.

It will not change from that screen, no matter what buttons are pushed. Talk about frustrating!

Jim.

[KenB]

Jim,

I will leave you in Rusty's capable hands as I am off on holiday for a few weeks :)

[mij]

Have a good holiday KenB, I'm on permanent holls here :).

Hello Rusty, is this page ok or do you want to change it?

Jim.

[Rustys]

I will leave you in Rusty's capable hands as I am off on holiday for a few weeks :)

 

The password I have forgotten, I must have changed it at some point.

It will not change from that screen, no matter what buttons are pushed. Talk about frustrating!

If you have access to another system you could attempt a password reset then see if you can get past it using the new password. Fully understand the frustration part.

[mij]

I have tried to install the new power supply but I am left with three leads floating. I am unsure where they fit.

There seems to be no receptors in the computer for them. One is the power connecter for the mother board.

It is square and has four leads coming away from it, two yellow and a red lead and a black lead. There seems

to be no connecter of that shape left inside. I should have made a note where they came from on the computer

but me being me I was most annoyed and took it out on pulling the thing to pieces.

I suppose a photo might help. I do not know how it works with this thing so I'll have to fire up SWMBO's machine.

Jim.

[mij]

I'm now on SWMBO's computer so I hope to get the photo's onto the forum (if I can remember how :) ).

jim.

 

Edited August 20, 2018 by Rustys

[mij]

Oh dear! I've made a mess of that. I'd have done better on the old machine that I'm used too.

I can retake them if its not clear :(.

Jim.

[Rustys]

I think I go it cleaned up for you the Pictures are there and look just fine.

[mij]

Thanks for that. The long four pinned drive plug is a spare disk drive I think. It is the four pinned square shaped one that has me foxed as it is marked with the 12v heavy current

supply apparently to the motherboard. There is one on the old power supply but I can't remember where it was plugged. The text says it is the motherboard

supply but I cannot see where unless it is half of the eight pinned slot.

Jim.

[Starbuck]

I have tried to install the new power supply but I am left with three leads floating. I am unsure where they fit.

Don't worry about any extra leads.

Power supplies always come with more leads than you normally need.

It's because power supplies will fit multiple types of computer.

I just tie them up with a cable tie and tuck them out of the way.

[mij]

I have just got back to the desktop with the new power supply fitted and there is no life in it at all. The fans are not turning and nothing is lighting up (the fuse has been seen to in the plug). I think the four plug lead listed in the blurb as the mother board supply needs to go into the eight pin plug (it is the right size and shape) and did have a similar plug on the one I took out - If only I had taken a photo before I disconnected it.

Jim.

[KenB]

Hi Jim

 

The shorting out [ initial post ] could have taken out your motherboard.

OR - the new Power supply could be dead.

 

Do you have a volt-meter to test the output of the new power supply ?

[mij]

Thanks KenB for coming back on this.

 

you asked "Do you have a volt-meter to test the output of the new power supply ?"

Yes, What would you like to measure as it looks as if there is a variety of voltages in the power supply - but most seem to be low in value.

Jim.

PS. I have ordered an adapter lead that changes the 4 lead plug (it is a male on th power supply) it changes the 4 plug to an 8 which will fit the Mo-Board. It says the yellow leads are 12V and 22A. The other wires (black) are grnd.

Edited September 9, 2018 by mij

[mij]

I tried the output on what the blurb says is the mobo feed of two yellow wires which should be 12V. Nothing! So I assume the power supply is suspect and remove it for further investigation. The mains feed is ok, there is 240V at the end of the cable. I did try the switch on the power supply in both positions as it did not read off/on. I assume its fan should run anyway.

Jim.

[KenB]

Hi Jim

 

I wrote an article a few years back on how to test a PSU.

See here - Test a Power Supply Unit - Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help Magazine

 

From what you say re: the yellow leads your PSU is suspect as you say.

I suspect that you will have a 24 way connector [ alternative is 20 ] so refer to the appropriate section of the tutorial.

 

Take a photo if you need to of where the connections are.

 

Unplug all of the PSU leads from the motherboard and other hardware.

Edited September 9, 2018 by KenB

[mij]

You are correct as it is a 24 pin plug.

There is no life (no voltage reading) on the red or yellow wires/connections.

 

I'm wondering why it has to be in the main casing as before I fit the next one I was going to plug it in and see if the fan worked - wouldn't this tell me that life was getting to the PSU? I assume that the PSU is earthed through the mains plug - or can we not rely on that?

Jim (not an electrician obviously).

[KenB]

I assume that the PSU is earthed through the mains plug

Yes it is Jim - leaving it in the case assumes that the PSU being tested is already mounted in the case

and there is no need to remove it for testing.

 

The PSU fan rotating simply indicates that power is getting to that part of the PSU.

The voltage check on the 24 way connector checks out the 12v and 5v and 3.3v wires.

 

Are you checking the old or the new PSU ?

[ I thought it was the new one :) ]

Edited September 9, 2018 by KenB