Weird restarts from Antec Truepower 410w

[Bun-Bun]

Ok I have had this thing for years and its pretty loaded up but it has been running stable with no problems (2.8 prescot @ 3.5 on air)

Anywho the problems started when I was testing out my DPST relay on the back power plug on the PSU (has a 6a molex on teh back of the PSU). What would happen is without a load and just the relay the computer would restart if I disengaged the relay. However once I put a load on it it was fine. I could engage the relay and disengage all I want without restarts but... take the fans off... switch the relay coil off and the computer would restart...

Anyone have any clue as to what would cause this?

[jonnyGURU]

It might be seeing that load as a short.

Check your voltages and see if there's a sudden drop in the voltage when you switch the relay off and on. If you can check that with a DMM on the back side of that Molex connector, that's even better.

If there seems to be no voltage drop, which would cause a drop in voltage, open up the PSU and check for swollen caps. Heck... even if there IS a voltage drop, I'd go ahead and check for swollen caps just for the heck of it.

[Bun-Bun]

Originally Posted by jonnyGURU

It might be seeing that load as a short.

Check your voltages and see if there's a sudden drop in the voltage when you switch the relay off and on. If you can check that with a DMM on the back side of that Molex connector, that's even better.

If there seems to be no voltage drop, which would cause a drop in voltage, open up the PSU and check for swollen caps. Heck... even if there IS a voltage drop, I'd go ahead and check for swollen caps just for the heck of it.

I know I should have bought a DMM yesterday... I will open up the PSU later and take a peek inside. I was wondering if it could have anything to do with the relay coil being such a small load. What does a swollen cap look like?

[Oklahoma Wolf]

http://www.badcaps.net/ident/

[Super Nade]

There could be a voltage bounce from the relay which is mimicing the PS_ON signal.

[Bun-Bun]

Ok... its a major pain with my setup but I guess I will rip out the PSU and crack her open. Be back in a while... hopefully lol

[CAD4466HK]

Is it me, or should your TP 410 be a TP 430, and no, I'm not trying to start something either

[Bun-Bun]

Originally Posted by CAD4466HK

Is it me, or should your TP 410 be a TP 430, and no, I'm not trying to start something either

Yeah I got corrected. I think the 410 came from some review or something that said the max output was really 410... but yes it is a TP 430w that is over 4 years old right now, I got it used back in 2003.



That's the PSU



With the cover off.



First set of caps look ok.



Second set is hard to see but they look ok.



This set... yeah. Pictures says all.

So this explains a lot. I fried a 2.8 M0 proccesor a few weeks ago... earlier this year the temps rose by 5°C for no reason and I just blamed my old heatsink...

Anywho im still running it and its stable (somehow kinda maybe I dunno) and need a new PSU obviously.

Looking at a local retailer... they have a Coolermaster eXtremePower 430w for $32 CAD. Think that would be suitable replacement?

My system specs:

Prescott 2.8 @ 3.5 GHZ 1.28v (250FSB 1:1)
Abit IC7-Max3
2 GB OCZ Gold XTC PC-4000
4 maxtor HD's (2 x 80's& 2 x 250's)
Coolermaster Aerogate II and 2 x Cooldrive 6's
Audigy 2 ZS
Asus TV Tuner
BFG 6600GT @ 565/650
Plextor PX-716SA
7 LED 80mm fans, some el wire, and a modded northbridge heatsink with the iceberq fan in it...

The antec seemed fine with it but obviously it wasnt. Should I look for something a bit beefier?

[CAD4466HK]

Those Pressies suck down alot of juice, and yours is OC to the gills

I would go with something a little more robust, such as the Corsair HX520,
that way you will be pretty much future proof ie: like if you want to add more drives or add a new GPU,CPU, ECT.

BTY=I have a TP 430 ,not modded like yours, pushing 8 drives and a ass load of fans and I use to have a 3.2E on it and it's still kicking

PS. If the HX520 is too pricey for you, try a Enhance/Sliverstone PSU, Strider or the like.

Nice Berber by the way

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Yipes... that Antec is the worst example of a CWT with bad caps since I saw the one with the blown primaries. Replace or recap it asap. Even that 5vsb cap is swelling

The Coolermaster should do, but wouldn't be my first choice. There isn't much at that price point that's any good.