Many power supply testers have connector ports to test the following power supply connectors:
- 20-pin/24-pin motherboard connector
- 4-pin Molex connector
- 6-pin PCI-E connector
- P4 +12V connector
- P8 +12V EPS connector
- 4-pin Berg connector
- 15-pin SATA connector
How do I use a power supply tester?
Complete the following steps for the connectors supported by the power supply tester that you are using. Set the power supply switch (if available) to the OFF (or 0) position. Plug the 20-pin or 24-pin motherboard connector into the tester. Plug the power supply into an AC outlet.
How to test power supply on (PS_on) test?
It is a basic Power ON test to check whether the PSU is starting or not. It is done by shortening the Power Supply ON (PS_ON) Signal Pin of the 24-pin or 20-pin ATX connector of the PSU with any one of the ground pins in the connector. For the 24-pin connector, it is PIN 16 and for the 20-pin connector, it is PIN 14.
How do I know if my power supply has 12V?
For the Floppy connector the +12V and +5V LEDs will be lit up along the left hand side of both PSU tester models. The Molex Connector (located along the bottom edge of the tester) should give results similar to the Floppy connector. A lit up +12V and +5V LED.
Where is the SATA power connector located on the tester?
The SATA power connector is located along the top edge of both testers. When you test this connector you should see all three LEDs along the left side of both units light up; these represent +12V, +3.3V & +5V tests. The tester did not beep and/or the xxxV test light did not light up!
What connectors are on a power supply?
Common Computer Power Supply Connectors4 Pin Peripheral Power Connector. ... 4 Pin Peripheral to SATA Cable Assembly.SATA Power Connector. ... ATX 20 Pin Main Power Connector.ATX 24 Pin Main Power Connector.4 Pin ATX +12V Power Connector.8 Pin EPS +12V Power Connector. ... 6 Pin PCI Express Power Connector.
How do I test a power supply with a power supply tester?
Plug the power supply into a live outlet and flip the switch on the back. Some power supplies don't have a switch on the back. If the PSU you're testing doesn't, plugging in the device is sufficient to provide power. Press and hold the ON/OFF button on the power supply tester.
What does a power supply tester do?
The power supply tester prevents electrical disasters by testing your power supply regularly to identify problems before they damage your computer. Features: Monitors output voltage. Green LED display lights up when your devices are working properly.
How do I check my power supply connection?
To test your PSU:Shut off your PSU.Unplug all cables from the PSU except for the main AC cable and the 24-pin cable.Locate pin 16 and pin 17 on your 24-pin cable. ... Bend your paper clip so the ends can be inserted into pin 16 and pin 17. ... Turn on the PSU.See if the PSU fan turns.
Where does a power supply tester go?
Before you start testing, connect both the 18-pin and 10-pin connectors of the motherboard cable to the power supply. Attach the Power Supply Tester to the end of the 24-pin motherboard connector. There is a notch on the Tester that fits directly into the notch on the 24-pin connector.
How do I check my power supply voltage?
Switch your multimeter to the range that is appropriate for reading the voltage from your power supply. If your power supply's voltage is 125 volts, switch your multimeter to read a range of 100-200 volts. Some multimeters may not offer a range, so you may need to choose the approximate voltage on a dial.
How do you use a LCD power supply tester?
3:3313:18Computer Power Supply Tester with LCD Screen - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the first step in checking this power supply tester is just to plug it in.MoreSo the first step in checking this power supply tester is just to plug it in.
How do you use a power supply?
1:016:22How to Use a Power Supply - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSome will have knobs. And others will have buttons that are used to set the voltage. And currentMoreSome will have knobs. And others will have buttons that are used to set the voltage. And current limits. This unit also has some buttons that allows us to turn the output on and off adjust.
How do I test my PC power supply with a multimeter?
Connect the red probe to a yellow wire and the black probe to a black wire. Once the probes are connected, your multimeter should indicate a voltage between 11 and 13 VDC. If a power supply is slowly dying and causing the types of problems that I described earlier, the voltage will be a little below this level.
How can I test my power supply without a motherboard?
Although PSUs are designed to only work while connected to a motherboard, you can bypass this by using a small length of wire. Commonly known as the paper clip test, this shortcut offers you the ability to check that the PSU is receiving power without using the motherboard.
How do you troubleshoot a power supply?
Power Supply Unit Related Issues and Causes....Note!Plug the PSU power cable into a known working power outlet.Swap the PSU power cable with known working cable.Verify the PSU power cable and internal power adapters are secure connected.Check the PSU for any damage caused by overheating or excessive wear.More items...
How do you test a power cord?
1:054:03How to Diagnose a Bad Cord or Power Switch - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAt the opposite end of the cord at the switch i touch the other test probe to each of the incomingMoreAt the opposite end of the cord at the switch i touch the other test probe to each of the incoming connections on the switch. Itself the multimeter should indicate a circuit at one of these.
How do I test if my PSU is failing?
Signs of a Failing PSUPC Won't Boot at All. As the central hub of the energy of your computer, if the power supply has died, the computer will fail to start. ... PC Randomly Restarts or Shuts Down. ... Random Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) ... Extra Noise Coming from the PC Case. ... Smoke or a Burning Smell.
How do I know if my PC power supply is working?
The AnswerPlug the power supply into the wall.Find the big 24-ish pin connector that connects to the motherboard.Connect the GREEN wire with the adjacent BLACK wire.The power supply's fan should start up. If it doesn't then it's dead.If the fan starts up, then it could be the motherboard that's dead.
How do you test a 12v power supply with a multimeter?
Take the black (negative) probe from your multimeter and carefully touch it against the barrel of the plug without touching the tip or your red probe. If you make a connection, you will be creating a short circuit. On your multimeter you should see a reading of the voltage coming from your power supply.
How do I know if my power supply is failing?
11 Signs of Power Supply FailureComputer turns on for some time then it suddenly turns off.Random black & blue screen crashes.Random Computer Crashes and Restarts.Display Issues.Freezing.Smoke/Burning Smell.Strange noises from the PC case.More items...
What is a SATa cable?
Also known as SATA power cable, Serial-ATA power cable. Connects to: power connectors on SATA hard drives and SATA optical drives. Note: Always make sure that your SATA power connectors are fully inserted. Since it doesn't have a clip, this PC power connector tends to loosen and detach itself.
Do I need a power supply for a graphics card?
Note: Whether a graphics card requires this power supply connector will depend on its power consumption. Low end graphics cards may not need it at all, while high end graphics card (such as the one pictured below) may require up to two such connectors to run. There are also 8 pin (6 + 2) PCI Express connectors that deliver more power than the regular 6 pin connectors.
Is Molex still alive?
Note: IDE drives are going the way of dinosaurs but Molex connectors are still well and alive... thanks to the following adapters that allow them to power SATA drives and computer case fans:
Do Molex connectors have clips?
Since SATA and Molex power connectors do not have clips, be sure to insert them firmly so that they won't come loose or get disconnected.
Can a power supply be connected in one direction?
Let's begin with some good news: All computer power supply connectors have a foolproof design such that they can only be connected in a single direction (so there's no way to mess up here).
What connectors are used in a PSU tester?
Connect the 20-pin/24-pin connector and other connectors (Molex/SATA/PCIe/EPS) to the PSU Tester.
How to check if a molex connector is working?
First, connect the Red lead of the multimeter to the Red wire pin of the Molex connector and Black wire to any ground wire of the Molex connector. If the +5V voltage rail is working properly then your multimeter will show voltage close to 5V. Similarly, to test +12V, connect the Red lead of the multimeter to the Yellow wire pin and Black lead to any black wire pin of the Molex connector. If it is working fine then your multimeter will show a voltage at around 12V with a slight variation.
How to check PSU rails?
Using Multimeter. You can use a basic and inexpensive multimeter to check the PSU rails by measuring the voltages across various connectors of the power supply. It is also used to check the connectors of the PSU and whether they are outputting proper voltages.
What is the pin number for a PSU?
For the 24-pin connector, it is PIN 16 and for the 20-pin connector, it is PIN 14. In the images below, you can see the green-colored Pins in the 24-pin and 20-pin connectors are ‘Power Supply On’ sensor pins.
What is the pin number for a 24 pin connector?
For the 24-pin connector, it is PIN 16 and for the 20-pin connector, it is PIN 14. In the images below, you can see the green-colored Pins in the 24-pin and 20-pin connectors are ‘Power Supply On’ sensor pins.
What is a power supply tester?
A Power Supply Tester is a small device that is used to check and diagnose a PSU. It can give out the voltage reading of all Rails (+12V/+5V/+3.3V/5VSB/ 12V) and can also tell you whether there is something wrong with the power supply or it is functioning properly. Generally, a power supply tester has a small LCD screen attached to it that shows you the voltage output on all the Rails. It also displays PG or “Power Good” parameter that is used to detect any abnormality with the PSU. Generally, Power good values are often considered abnormal if detected lower than 100ms or higher than 500ms for the most power supply testers available in the market today.
Why won't my computer turn on?
Power supply failure is one of the most common problems faced by PC users. If your power supply fails then your PC won’t turn on and it can hamper your work. A faulty power supply is not easy to detect because it cannot be monitored through any software and the fault can be diagnosed by testing only. It can get further difficult to detect the fault ...
How to test a Molex?
Plug the 4-pin Molex connector into the tester. The LED illuminates on +12 V and +5 V. (If the power output fails, the LEDs will not illuminate.)
Why are my LED lights not working?
If the power supply is working, LEDs will illuminate and you might hear a beep. If the LED lights do not illuminate, it is possible the power supply could be damaged or the motherboard connector has failed. In this instance, you must check all connections, ensure the power supply switch (if available) is set to ON (or 1) and try again. If the LEDs still do not illuminate, consult your Answers.
What voltage does a Berg tester light on?
Plug the 4-pin Berg connector into the tester. The LED will illuminate on +12 V and +5 V. (If the power output fails, the LEDs will not illuminate.)
How to connect P4 to tester?
Plug the P4 +12 V connector into the tester. The LED will illuminate on +12 V. (If the power output fails, the LEDs will not illuminate.)
How many V does a SATa tester need?
Plug the 5-pin SATA connector into the tester. The LED will illuminate on +12 V, +5 V, and +3.3 V. (If the power output fails, the LEDs will not illuminate.)
What to do if your multimeter does not show battery voltage?
If the multimeter does not display a number close to the battery voltage, check the multimeter setting to ensure it is set to measure voltage, or replace the battery with a known good battery. If the number is negative, reverse the probes.
What is the voltage of a 1.5V battery?
Answers may vary but the number should reflect the voltage of the battery. For example, a 1.5 V battery should display a number such as 1.47 V or 1.52 V.
How to test a power supply?
Step 2: Explore the different multimeter measurements. Step 3: Measure the voltage of a battery. Step 1: Check the testing ports for the power supply tester. Step 2: Test the power supply motherboard connector. Step 3: Test the power supply Molex connector.
How many V does a SATa tester need?
Plug the 5-pin SATA connector into the tester. The LED will illuminate on +12 V, +5 V, and +3.3 V. (If the power output fails, the LEDs will not illuminate.)
How to test a Molex?
Plug the 4-pin Molex connector into the tester. The LED illuminates on +12 V and +5 V. (If the power output fails, the LEDs will not illuminate.)
What voltage does a Berg tester light on?
Plug the 4-pin Berg connector into the tester. The LED will illuminate on +12 V and +5 V. (If the power output fails, the LEDs will not illuminate.)
What to do if your multimeter does not show battery voltage?
b. If the multimeter does not display a number close to the battery voltage, check the multimeter setting to ensure it is set to measure voltage, or replace the battery with a known good battery. If the number is negative, reverse the probes.
How to read a battery on a table?
Place the battery on the table. Touch the tip of the red (positive) probe to the positive (+) side of a battery. Touch the tip of the black (negative) probe to the other end of the battery.
Where do the black and red leads go on a meter?
a. Insert the red and black leads into the jacks on the meter. The black probe should go in the COM jack and the red probe should go in the + (plus) jack.
How to check if a PSU is good?
If you don't hear a beep, then something did not check out right. The LED row along the right show results for +3.3V, -12V, PG (Power Good meaning that overall the PSU test was good), +5VSB, +12V, -5V, & +5V. Don't be alarmed when testing your new PSU if the -5V LED does not light up. If you are testing an ATX PSU that adheres to version 1.3 or higher for PSU Specs, the -5V LED may not come on since the spec for -5V was removed because it was only used by, now non-existent, ISA cards. On the LCD version you will see a PG Value which is the time, in milliseconds, from turning on the PSU to when the voltage is actually sent.
How to test a PSU?
First, here is the basic testing procedure: First, make sure that the switch on your PSU (if it has one) is turned to the "Off" position. Connect the main motherboard wire bundle (20 or 24 pin) to the tester and then plug the PSU into a power source.
Where are the LEDs on a PSU tester?
For the Floppy connector the +12V and +5V LEDs will be lit up along the left hand side of both PSU tester models.
Can you leave a PSU tester unattended?
Please Note: Do not leave the PSU tester plugged into a PSU for a great length of time and do not leave them unattended. They can generate heat and are not intended to be plugged in for an extended duration. They are intended to be used as a quick means to evaluate a PSU's health and reliability.
Where is the +12V LED on my motherboard?
Plug in the 8pin or 4pin motherboard power connector and you should see the +12V LED on the left hand side light up. If you are using the LCD model, the +12V2 rating will display.
Where is the SATa connector located?
The SATA power connector is located along the top edge of both testers. When you test this connector you should see all three LEDs along the left side of both units light up; these represent +12V, +3.3V & +5V tests.
Can a bad PSU kill a PC?
However, a bad PSU will set you back until you are able to secure a new one... a REALLY bad PSU could even end up killing other parts of your PC. I know this because I have been a victim of such a catastrophic event. Checking out the PSU with a PSU-tester before hooking it up can save you time, money & stress.
How to test a battery on a table?
Place the battery on the table. Touch the tip of the red (positive) probe on the positive side of a battery. Touch the tip of the black, (negative) probe on the other end of the battery.
Where do you put the black and red leads on a meter?
Insert the red and black leads into the proper jacks on the meter. The black probe should go in the COM jack and the red probe should go in the + (plus) jack.
Step 1: Gathering the Materials
This instructable is meant to help save you money and keep people from wasting resources. All the parts I used (except the heat shrink) came from an old computer. This is just one of many things that can be built entirely from recycled components. I intend to use every piece of material from this pc.
Step 2: Finding and Removing the Unnecessary Pins
For this instructable you only need 4 of the 20 pins on the MOBO power connector. The pinouts for 20 and 24 pin connectors can be found here and are very helpful: 20 pin - http://pinouts.ru/Power/atxpower_pinout.shtml 24 pin - http://pinouts.ru/Power/atx_v2_pinout.shtml The only pins we will use are (on the 20 pin) pins 7 and 8 which are Ground and Power OK respectively, and pins 13 and 14, Ground and Power On.
Step 3: Attach the Switch
The switch you will use to turn on the power supply is soldered to the two wires. After attaching the wires to the switch, attach them to pins 13 and 14 of the connector.
Step 4: Attaching the Indicator LED
Finally, the LED is soldered onto pins 7 and 8. Make sure that the positive side of the LED is on pin 8 and the negative side is soldered to pin 7, Ground. After i soldered it i bent it upward so it wouldn't catch on anything and mess it up.
Step 5: Test Your Tester
Now that you have a completed PSU tester in your hand, my suggestion is to use it first on a power supply that works. Unhook everything from the power supply first (except the power cable of course). Take sure the switch on your tester is in the "OFF" position and attach the tester. Once it is attached, flip the switch.
How to test a Molex?
Plug the 4-pin Molex connector into the tester. The LED illuminates on +12 V and +5 V. (If the power output fails, the LEDs will not illuminate.)
Why are my LED lights not working?
If the power supply is working, LEDs will illuminate and you might hear a beep. If the LED lights do not illuminate, it is possible the power supply could be damaged or the motherboard connector has failed. In this instance, you must check all connections, ensure the power supply switch (if available) is set to ON (or 1) and try again. If the LEDs still do not illuminate, consult your instructor.
What to do if your multimeter does not show battery voltage?
If the multimeter does not display a number close to the battery voltage, check the multimeter setting to ensure it is set to measure voltage, or replace the battery with a known good battery. If the number is negative, reverse the probes.
Why is a multimeter important?
A multimeter is important so that a technician can properly test equipment and easily identify the problem.
What position should the power supply switch be in?
Set the power supply switch (if available) to the OFF (or 0) position.
How to test a battery on a table?
Place the battery on the table. Touch the tip of the red (positive) probe to the positive (+) side of a battery. Touch the tip of the black (negative) probe to the other end of the battery.
Why should you not try to measure something while on the wrong setting?
Use should not try to measure something while on the wrong setting because it will give you incorrect results.
