Why do power supply units "blow"

In summary, a cheap PSU caused my new computer build to exceed $300 and I had to buy a new Corsair PSU.
  • #1
DiracPool
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I just recently finished a new computer build for $280, or so I thought. I did it reluctantly. I was hoping to hold on to my old Core2Duo I built back in 2007 until 2022 when they stopped supporting Windows 8. In fact, I probably would have pushed it even until they stopped supporting Windows 10 with the free upgrade :smile:

However, while I'm able to milk all my other components for all they're worth, my PSU's always seem to give out on me every 2-3 years. The last one supposedly shorted out my motherboard when it took a dive which is why I had to assemble a new build.

Now my new build is making a high pitched-whine from the PSU. I don't even have to turn the computer on, it just sits there and whines turned off. I have to turn the PSU itself off to stop the noise. So I had to order a new $40 Corsair which pushed my new build over $300. That made me furious :mad:

I know the PSU is a mini-transformer and, as such, seems to be more prone to failure than perhaps most of the other components of the build, but what is it actually that keeps failing? What is the limiting factor? I read that the high pitched squeal that typically signals the death throws of a power supply unit are burned-out capacitors. Is this right?
 
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  • #2
The primary factor is underrated cheap components in the areas of the supply with the most stress. Capacitors are usually the primary culprit because cheap ones are build with the thinnest layers and lowest quality materials to reduce cost while having the highest value of capacitance at the rated voltage. This means the ESR is high causing heat generation from the high peak currents normally seen in switcher type power supplies. Cheap fans with small internal heat sinks on hot components also are an important factor in killing electronic parts.

https://www-304.ibm.com/jct03001c/procurement/proweb.nsf/objectdocswebview/file14+-+malik+power+supply+failure+-+final/$file/14+malik+power+supply+failure+-+final.pdf
 
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  • #3
nsaspook said:
power supply failure

Thanks for the white paper. Those pesky Zinc whiskers, I should have guessed :oldgrumpy:
 
  • #4
DiracPool said:
Thanks for the white paper. Those pesky Zinc whiskers, I should have guessed :oldgrumpy:

I repaired stereos as a kid. Roach Infestation was pretty high on the list of root causes then. Zinc whiskers and poor solder joints in general was not a big deal then because we used lead for solder and wiring. Today it's a mess, RoHS is a nightmare for high-reliability.

http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1279227
 
  • #5
nsaspook said:
I repaired stereos as a kid. Roach Infestation was pretty high on the list of root causes then.

Jeez, I don't even know why I'm telling you this, it's embarrassing, but it seems related to your comment, so being a sucker for cognitive association, here goes:

When I was a kid the late 80's I met this tourist girl in Hawaii and we had a week-long fling. Most of the tourists just come and go and you don't hear from them again, but a few make the attempt to stay in contact. This girl was one of them. Anyway, she lived in the hinterlands of Puyallup, Washington, and invited me to come down and visit her for a week (and pay for the ticket). Well, I couldn't refuse, good excuse to get out of the hotbox of Waikiki for a spell.

So I received my ticket and boarded the plane with my 80's "fanny pack" and my 80's "boom box" (we didn't have iPods back then). I'm sure you've worked on a few boom boxes. So I arrived in Washington and had a great week. This girl was living at her parents house at the time and we all got along really well, with the partial exception of her brother, who seemed to eye me suspiciously from the get go o_O

In any case, after a really fun week in Washington State, I visited all the cool landmarks and even hiked up Mount Rainier, I'm back in Hawaii and get this troubling phone call from the girl. She tells me that cockroaches have infested their entire property and they can't get rid of them. Turns out there was a population of roaches that infested my boom box that "stowed-away" for the trip. If you've ever lived in Hawaii or any tropical climate you know that cockroaches are everywhere. However, in rural Puyallup at the time no one had ever seen one. So it must have come as something of a shock.

They infested the entire house and during the winter they nested around the hot water heaters and radiator units.

It took about 3 years to finally get rid of them. I actually kept up a relationship with this girl and went back to visit a few times more despite the fact. However, forever after that and until we broke up, I was designated as the "bug man" by her brother, who never eventually warmed to me (obviously).

So there you have it, my cockroaches served as a successful "viral vector" because they didn't kill their host, my boom box. To prove this I can tell you that I was cranking the George Michael on that baby all night long as we were making love in her attic. And there was no short to be found :biggrin:
 
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  • #6
The main reason power supply units blow after 2 or 3 years is because that's how long it takes the dust buildup inside to cause it to overheat and self destruct.

You need to apply compressed air to clean the dust out of the supply.

The next major cause is fan failure causing overheating, and the next is bad capacitors in a cheap supply.

I think dust buildup is by far the most common.
 
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  • #7
meBigGuy said:
The main reason power supply units blow after 2 or 3 years is because that's how long it takes the dust buildup inside to cause it to overheat and self destruct.

That looks like a pretty good assessment. Every once in a while when I cleaned out my computer I would send some compressed air through the outside of the PSU assembly. But I was always not sure how effective this was. Same thing with the aftermarket CPU fan. It seems as compressed air can only do so much. There always seems to be so much "gunk" left behind. I got tired of going through the fan blades with a q-tip.

meBigGuy said:
The next major cause is fan failure causing overheating

Kind of hard to check that--PSU fans are usually pretty quiet anyways. Besides, how long could the PSU last once the fan went out? My guess would be not that long and you wouldn't know it soon enough to prevent it.

meBigGuy said:
the next is bad capacitors in a cheap supply

That's probably what did me in. It was a cheap 430W Thermaltake from a small local shop. And I'm guessing that the high-pitched squeal gives away a capacitor problem?

In any case, I got the new 500W Corsair in there right now and it's quiet as can be. It's so quiet that, when I fired it up the first time, I thought it was DOA because nothing happened. But then I saw the MB LED on. So I thought, this is great. Corsair PSU's are pretty cheap, too, though, $44 or $24 after a $20 rebate (if I get it). Anyway, I hope it lasts. I'll take your advice and try to blow the dust out every few months.
 
  • #8
A big factor is variable power supply to the PSU. The electric power grid is not immune to voltage and frequency variance. This stresses your PSU over time. The other factors mentioned play a role, but variability in the grid power supply is still a big factor. It depends where you live, not all legs of the grid are the same. Using modulaters [like a battery backup with surge protection] will help.
 
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  • #9
The life expectancy of an electrolytic capacitor is very temperature sensitive. If you run them close to their Max temperature some only last a few thousand hours! It's surprising how few electronic engineers know this. Many famous companies have had whole production batches of their products fail within warranty or just out of warranty. It's so common that some people sell kits of replacement capacitors o eBay. I've had to replace the caps in a PVR, Sat receiver and LCD monitor in the past two years.
 
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  • #10
When i picked a PSU for my primary it was grossly oversized for the application, 850w where half that capacity was really needed. Paid more then for sure. But said unit has racked up well in excess of 65,000 hours of service. Sees downtime a few times a year for cleaning with the rest of the box, has always been supplied through a filter/ups. I took the cover off once well after warranty period had expired to remove some of the larger dust bunnies and the few insects who had met their end inside the case.
 
  • #11
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague

My son buys failed monitors and TV's and the replacement capacitor kits. I get to do the soldering. (at least I don't have to disassemble and reassemble them)

It isn't as significant as it was 5 years ago. But a few people made decent money selling the kits and others selling repaired devices.
It will always be an issue in that many component manufacturers are going to cut corners to grab a little more profit, and consumer products design by ODM's will always try to squeeze out the last 0.1 cents. Low ESR capacitors in switching supplies are a primary cost cutting target by both designers and purchasing agents.
 

1. Why do power supply units "blow"?

Power supply units can "blow" or fail due to a variety of reasons. The most common cause is overloading, which occurs when the PSU is unable to handle the amount of power required by the computer components. Other possible reasons include power surges, faulty components, and overheating.

2. Can a power supply unit "blow" without warning?

Yes, a power supply unit can "blow" without warning. In some cases, there may be signs of impending failure such as unusual noises or a burning smell, but in other cases, the PSU may fail suddenly without any warning. It is important to regularly check the health of your PSU to prevent unexpected failures.

3. How can I prevent my power supply unit from "blowing"?

To prevent your power supply unit from "blowing", make sure to use a high-quality PSU that can handle the power demands of your computer components. Avoid overloading your PSU by not connecting too many devices or components to it. Additionally, use a surge protector to protect your PSU from power surges. Regularly cleaning and maintaining your PSU can also help prevent failures.

4. Can a power supply unit "blow" if it is not compatible with my computer?

Yes, using a power supply unit that is not compatible with your computer can lead to failures. It is important to check the wattage and connections of your PSU to ensure it is compatible with your computer components. Using a PSU with insufficient wattage or incorrect connections can cause damage to your computer and potentially lead to the PSU "blowing".

5. What should I do if my power supply unit "blows"?

If your power supply unit "blows", the first step is to disconnect it from the power source and your computer. Check for any signs of damage such as burning smells or visible damage to the PSU. If you are comfortable doing so, you can try to replace the faulty components or purchase a new PSU. However, it is recommended to seek professional help in order to avoid any potential safety hazards.

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