PSU's that you may not want to scrap out!

**bigburtchino** · 03-21-2014, 05:40 PM

Ok just started a thread of examples of PSU's maybe you, me or we would be better off saving and try to sell whole. I'm no expert on this so anyone that has input please join in and contribute to the information exchange. My example is a Achme AM630BS20S 200 Watt, ATX & SATA connectors. First I pulled from a working Shuttle computer. Another reason I'm not going to scrap it, this is small PSU weighing only 1 pound 11 ounces. Don't seam like any thing there! It is known as a switching PSU, honestly don't know what that means. Also have read they are known as "FLEX" PSU's again don't know why? Maybe because I notice it has more connectors than most I have seen. Connectors 20 pin ATX (1), p4(1), molex 4 pin (3), molex 3 pin (1) and SATA (2). Has a small fan and power receptacle on opposite side of wires and connectors. Dimensions 6" x 3 1/4" x 1 1/2" like I said small, smallest one I have seen. On EBay seven recently sold used ones for $10 to $40. I will hold this one back from the scrap pile and will try to get a better than scrap value out of it.

**Mick** · 03-21-2014, 09:40 PM

Test them before trying to sell them. I've got a bunch that were pulled from working units. They don't test good but can't figure out why. Next step is to test the tester, I guess.

**Mechanic688** · 03-21-2014, 10:28 PM

I've got a bunch that were pulled from working units. They don't test good but can't figure out why. Next step is to test the tester, I guess.

I thought some of them needs a jumper (wire) in place of the off/on switch to activate it and turn it on. Some do not automatically turn on.

**bigburtchino** · 03-22-2014, 05:17 AM

Yes I won't sell until I have a working test method. It would be nothing but frustrations on both ends (buyer/seller) sending DOA's.

**lousypirate** · 03-22-2014, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

I've got a bunch that were pulled from working units. They don't test good but can't figure out why. Next step is to test the tester, I guess.

I thought some of them needs a jumper (wire) in place of the off/on switch to activate it and turn it on. Some do not automatically turn on.

Exactly true. Same as server power boards, and most other psu's for computers. You usually have to jumper to ground, it's an orange wire to black iirc on most pc's

**mikeinreco** · 03-22-2014, 07:44 PM

If unit worked before pulling it I call that a "working pull"

**drozenski** · 03-25-2014, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by Mick

Test them before trying to sell them. I've got a bunch that were pulled from working units. They don't test good but can't figure out why. Next step is to test the tester, I guess.

Because some are proprietary to a manufacturer. HP and Dell do this. They will often move wires on the 24 pin connector. This will cause testers to show those units as bad even if they are good.

**FLimits** · 03-30-2014, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by bigburtchino

It is known as a switching PSU, honestly don't know what that means. Also have read they are known as "FLEX" PSU's again don't know why? Maybe because I notice it has more connectors than most I have seen. Connectors 20 pin ATX (1), p4(1), molex 4 pin (3), molex 3 pin (1) and SATA (2). Has a small fan and power receptacle on opposite side of wires and connectors. Dimensions 6" x 3 1/4" x 1 1/2" like I said small, smallest one I have seen. On EBay seven recently sold used ones for $10 to $40. I will hold this one back from the scrap pile and will try to get a better than scrap value out of it.

Hey BBC ;-). The Achme AM630BS20S is a FlexATX power supply. ATX (which stands for "Advanced Technology eXtended") is actually a motherboard standard spec developed by Intel after the PC AT era. ATX motherboards have a single 20- or 24-pin power connector, whereas the old AT boards had 2 smaller connectors. All ATX PSUs are "Switch-Mode Power Supplies" (SMPSs), which just means that the power supply adjusts the amount of current it delivers to match the actual consumption by the computer's components. This is why ATX power supplies won't turn on when all of their connectors are unplugged from the computer: They're designed to deliver power only when they're attached to something that places an electrical load on them. As a result, it's difficult to test them if they're not driving a computer.

FlexATX is just a subcategory of the general ATX specification. It defines a subset of specs for small, low-powered PCs.

**bigburtchino** · 03-30-2014, 06:24 PM

Flimits as always you know your stuff! I appreciate your willingness and desire to share your expertise. Thanks for that clarification on FlexATX and testing. I have a lot to learn about computers and trying to catch-up as I can. I have used a computer since the early 70's as a tool on my desk. Always had a IT to hold my hand as we transitioned with the constantly changing programs and systems. Opened my first computer only four years ago. I worked as a Avionics technician for years at all levels, technician, flight engineer, and division manager. Can read a schematic as others read a road map and can trouble shoot, identify, isolate and repair as good as anybody. Computers just seemed to be another device I took for granted, as in OK we got a new toy. Now learning it's that and a whole lot more.

**FLimits** · 03-30-2014, 11:03 PM

Burt, you are awesome. I think it's hard to read some of the computer schematics. I don't even want to think about what avionics schematics look like... The aerospace industry was a huge source of innovation in computing technology. They had some crazy, complicated devices. In fact, one of the best old books on computers that I've ever seen was a USAF Training Manual. Of course now I can't remember the name, but it had the word "Switching" in it. I've looked all over the Web for that publication, but it's nowhere to be found. These days, when I need to look at some great old-school IT training, I use a Navy manual from 1979.

Anyway, if I ever have a problem reading a schematic, I know who I'm gonna bug. ;-P

Edit: Btw, I just realized I must sound incredibly dorky sometimes in my posts here at SMF. I swear I'm not as big a nerd as you guys must think I am. Just sayin'...

**FLimits** · 03-31-2014, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by bigburtchino

Thanks for that clarification on FlexATX and testing. I have a lot to learn about computers and trying to catch-up as I can.

Since most of the computers you guys work on are PCs, if you want an excellent reference manual I would recommend this book:
Upgrading and Repairing PCs by Scott Mueller

The most recent edition (the 21st!!) came out in 2013 and costs about $34 at Amazon, but you can find used copies of older editions for much less. It's definitely worth owning -- this is the PC bible.

Complete testing of switch-mode power supplies is complicated, time-consuming, and requires expensive equipment -- which means almost nobody actually does it, including PC repair shops and IT people. (If you're interested in what a complete test involves, here's an example: Hardware Secrets Power Supply Test Methodology | Hardware Secrets.) On the other hand, it's easy to do "good-enough" testing of the ATX PSUs that are in just about every PC built since the standard was introduced in 1993. There are 2 ways you can do it:

If the PSU is still in a PC with working components, you can take multimeter readings. There are a lot of videos and articles on the Web about how to do this. A nice short explanation is at Test your power supply with a multi meter - Tech Support Forum, and a nice detailed one is at Isolating ATX SMPS Supply and power related faults - PC Hardware Troubleshooting. This kind of test is easy and tells you if the PSU operates at the right voltages with the loads in the computer it's powering. It's not a complete test, and since you guys usually don't know whether all the components in the test computer are working correctly, it could end up giving you misleading results.
The best easy, cheap tester for ATX PSUs is the ThermalTake Dr. Power II, which sells for approx. $30 at Amazon. It's really easy to use, and it gives actual voltage readings for each rail that are very accurate -- close to what you'd get using a good multimeter. This is the tester used by a lot of pros. The only thing it doesn't tell you is how the PSU responds to various loads, but I'm sure that almost no used PSU being sold for under $100 has been formally load-tested. If you use this tester, you can see if an ATX PSU is dead, you can see if it's operating at the right voltages, and the whole thing takes about a minute of your time.

One last bit of advice: If you're working with components that you might want to resell, remember to be careful about electrostatic discharge (that little zap you get if you drag your feet across the rug and then touch something metal), especially in low-humidity environments. It really can damage electronic components.

PSU's that you may not want to scrap out!

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