On May 5, 6:47 pm, Sarah Houston <SHo...@pndfnospam.com> wrote:
> They should be in regulation though, right? Not floating?
>
> Do they put voltage regulators in these things?
Normal is to have a defective power supply that boots the computer.
Then strange failures occur months later. An example of why
shotgunning does not provide useful conclusions. Also a good power
supply can boot one computer but not boot another. Another problem
with swapping parts. Voltages (numbers) find defective hardware
before that hardware causes failures.
Not posted are numbers meaning replies are incomplete. Remember -
your replies will only be as useful as numbers provided.
That measuring software is dependent on hardware calibration. It is
called a monitor - intended to detect changes - not measure voltage.
To measure voltage, that hardware must first be calibrated with a 3.5
digit multimeter.
All voltages must remain well in spec when under almost no load and
when under maximum load. In spec even when AC voltage drops so low
that incandescent lamps are at less than 50% intensity. Power supply
must compensate for all those and also contains a long list of other
functions (that are not relevant here). It is a regulator and many
other things.
Measure that voltage as described in "When your computer dies
without warning....." starting 6 Feb 2007 in the newsgroup
alt.windows-xp at:
http://tinyurl.com/yvf9vh
Connector chart to locate each color:
http://www.hardwarebook.net/connecto.../atxpower.html
What are valid spec numbers? Numbers will be different due to how
hardware measures voltages. Numbers must exceed 3.23, 4.87, and
11.7. Numbers below this would explain current or future problems
that appear to be completely different. Problems in any of numerous
power system components. System? Yes. Power supply is only one
component. Just another reason why measuring those voltages reports
on so many items in so little time.
