FOAK: PC switches itself off

No - works fine

 

Good, then it's probably just the out of value caps on the board. I replace
hundreds on a monthly basis, although it appears to be getting a little less
common now.

 

greybeard escribió:

I'm going to get a new PSU as it's only about 16 euros. Then when I go to
change it I'll check all the caps. Worst outcome is I'll have a spare PSU -
not a bad thing.

 

Yeah - I replaced them on my son's motherboard a few years ago.

 

If its been in service a while there's no harm in taking the covers off and
cleaning out the dust/fluff etc and inspecting the state of the capacitors.

Bulged tops isn't the only bad sign, sometimes the top becomes slightly
concave - the electrolyte has vented while the capacitor was running hot and
left a vacuum when it cooled down.

The state of the plastic sleeve around the capacitor can also be a clue - if
its been running hot the plastic discolours and sometimes shrinks.

If you're brave enough to run the PSU with the covers off, you can feel if
any capacitors are getting hot - but one of the heatsinks is likely to be
live at -320VDC (lethal!) as will be the aluminium cans of some of the
capacitors on the primary side.

Back in the days when I earned my living repairing the things (and before I
bought an ESR tester) I found quite a few failed electrolytics just by going
over the soldering, some capacitors leak at the seal and ooze electrolyte,
this sometimes corrodes through one of its leads - re-heating the solder
joints cooks the leaked electrolyte and makes a pretty evil smell.

Some manufacturers put the covers on with pop rivets - you can drill them
out and replace with self tappers, but make damn sure you get all the swarf
out!

 

I've got one, but not everyone has.

And IIRC its called an IR pyrometer.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, ian field

Those who don't really don't deserve to live.

 

Presumably you mean the medical type which isn't much good at aiming at
closely packed rows of electrolytics.

I have one of those to check if I'm overheating and a proper test gear one
with built in laser pointer.

 

I don't think that computer has EVER had the side panel on

Pah - no more than a slight tickle

On a power supply ?

For £30 quid (800W) I just replace them

 

Do you mean those who do ?

 

But only really useful if you understand what you're measuring (i.e. the
cone subtended, not just the bit the LED shines on)