Power Supply Tester
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Bought me one of these[^] the other day for AUD$22.10. Fired it up today for the first time testing a couple power supplies I had in the garage. After seeing that it has a couple of contact points for testing voltages I dug out my brand new, never been used 11 or 12 year old multimeter I bought all those years ago thinking I might need it one day (See ladies, it wasn't a waste of money. I did need it and at a time when no shops were open, so lucky I did buy it back then). Funny thing is when I connected it all up none of the voltages were all that close. The readings were
PSU 1 PSU 2+3.3V 3.35V 3.36V
+5V 5.22V 5.20V
+12V 11.81V 11.90VIs it normal for voltage to be off by 4% like that. I used to short pins 13 and 14 or 14 and 15 on the power supply as told by Roger Wright. But a couple of weeks ago I found a machine where the power supply ran for hours when shorted this way with no load. But when connected to the computer sporadically turned itself off or wouldn't start at all. When I heard of this little toy (with built in load) I ran out to get one to throw in my toolkit. Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So i had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash 24/04/2004
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Bought me one of these[^] the other day for AUD$22.10. Fired it up today for the first time testing a couple power supplies I had in the garage. After seeing that it has a couple of contact points for testing voltages I dug out my brand new, never been used 11 or 12 year old multimeter I bought all those years ago thinking I might need it one day (See ladies, it wasn't a waste of money. I did need it and at a time when no shops were open, so lucky I did buy it back then). Funny thing is when I connected it all up none of the voltages were all that close. The readings were
PSU 1 PSU 2+3.3V 3.35V 3.36V
+5V 5.22V 5.20V
+12V 11.81V 11.90VIs it normal for voltage to be off by 4% like that. I used to short pins 13 and 14 or 14 and 15 on the power supply as told by Roger Wright. But a couple of weeks ago I found a machine where the power supply ran for hours when shorted this way with no load. But when connected to the computer sporadically turned itself off or wouldn't start at all. When I heard of this little toy (with built in load) I ran out to get one to throw in my toolkit. Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So i had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash 24/04/2004
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dan neely wrote: Yes. The atx standard specifies a 5% variance is allowable. Thanks, I didn't know that. Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So i had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash 24/04/2004
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Bought me one of these[^] the other day for AUD$22.10. Fired it up today for the first time testing a couple power supplies I had in the garage. After seeing that it has a couple of contact points for testing voltages I dug out my brand new, never been used 11 or 12 year old multimeter I bought all those years ago thinking I might need it one day (See ladies, it wasn't a waste of money. I did need it and at a time when no shops were open, so lucky I did buy it back then). Funny thing is when I connected it all up none of the voltages were all that close. The readings were
PSU 1 PSU 2+3.3V 3.35V 3.36V
+5V 5.22V 5.20V
+12V 11.81V 11.90VIs it normal for voltage to be off by 4% like that. I used to short pins 13 and 14 or 14 and 15 on the power supply as told by Roger Wright. But a couple of weeks ago I found a machine where the power supply ran for hours when shorted this way with no load. But when connected to the computer sporadically turned itself off or wouldn't start at all. When I heard of this little toy (with built in load) I ran out to get one to throw in my toolkit. Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So i had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash 24/04/2004
Neat tool! I've been meaning to build one for years, but have never done so. Your measured voltages are fine for an ATX PSU - the standard specifies a 5% tolerance. BTW - The shorting trick is only valid for modern ATX supplies which support the MB-controlled enable. If you try it on other styles you may get exciting results.:rolleyes: "...putting all your eggs in one basket along with your bowling ball and gym clothes only gets you scrambled eggs and an extra laundry day... " - Jeffry J. Brickley
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Bought me one of these[^] the other day for AUD$22.10. Fired it up today for the first time testing a couple power supplies I had in the garage. After seeing that it has a couple of contact points for testing voltages I dug out my brand new, never been used 11 or 12 year old multimeter I bought all those years ago thinking I might need it one day (See ladies, it wasn't a waste of money. I did need it and at a time when no shops were open, so lucky I did buy it back then). Funny thing is when I connected it all up none of the voltages were all that close. The readings were
PSU 1 PSU 2+3.3V 3.35V 3.36V
+5V 5.22V 5.20V
+12V 11.81V 11.90VIs it normal for voltage to be off by 4% like that. I used to short pins 13 and 14 or 14 and 15 on the power supply as told by Roger Wright. But a couple of weeks ago I found a machine where the power supply ran for hours when shorted this way with no load. But when connected to the computer sporadically turned itself off or wouldn't start at all. When I heard of this little toy (with built in load) I ran out to get one to throw in my toolkit. Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So i had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash 24/04/2004
Could also be that your Voltage Meter is not accurate.