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PSU failed Paper Clip test, but Breadboarding test shows results. Is it dead?

I have an old AT PSU, want to test if it worksHow do I do the “paper clip test” on an old PSU with 20-pin connector?PSU and motherboard power up failureHow can a power supply (PSU) fail to power a motherboard but still test as “OK”?PSU starts and stops immediately. Need Help.. IS it faulty?Shortwiring a PSU WITHOUT Paper clipNew Computer, will not power upPSU or motherboard dead?Why does my computer abruptly shut down? PSU is faulty but works well without load

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2

I just did a Paper Clip test on my PSU. I got nothing. That tells me that the PSU is dead, right?

But:

When I did a breadboarding test, the heatsink fan was activated, plus an LED light on the front panel was also on. Is this possible with a dead PSU?

power-supply

share|improve this question

edited Jul 16 '11 at 11:13

ChrisF

38.5k1488139

asked Jul 16 '11 at 10:19

Jim SyyapJim Syyap

5631415

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  What makes you think the PSU is dead? What failed to make you start testing it?
  
  – ChrisF
  Jul 16 '11 at 11:13
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

I just did a Paper Clip test on my PSU. I got nothing. That tells me that the PSU is dead, right?

But:

When I did a breadboarding test, the heatsink fan was activated, plus an LED light on the front panel was also on. Is this possible with a dead PSU?

power-supply

share|improve this question

edited Jul 16 '11 at 11:13

ChrisF

38.5k1488139

asked Jul 16 '11 at 10:19

Jim SyyapJim Syyap

5631415

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  What makes you think the PSU is dead? What failed to make you start testing it?
  
  – ChrisF
  Jul 16 '11 at 11:13
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

I just did a Paper Clip test on my PSU. I got nothing. That tells me that the PSU is dead, right?

But:

When I did a breadboarding test, the heatsink fan was activated, plus an LED light on the front panel was also on. Is this possible with a dead PSU?

power-supply

share|improve this question

edited Jul 16 '11 at 11:13

ChrisF

38.5k1488139

asked Jul 16 '11 at 10:19

Jim SyyapJim Syyap

5631415

share|improve this question

edited Jul 16 '11 at 11:13

ChrisF

38.5k1488139

asked Jul 16 '11 at 10:19

Jim SyyapJim Syyap

5631415

share|improve this question

edited Jul 16 '11 at 11:13

ChrisF

38.5k1488139

asked Jul 16 '11 at 10:19

Jim SyyapJim Syyap

5631415

edited Jul 16 '11 at 11:13

ChrisF

38.5k1488139

edited Jul 16 '11 at 11:13

ChrisF

38.5k1488139

asked Jul 16 '11 at 10:19

Jim SyyapJim Syyap

5631415

asked Jul 16 '11 at 10:19

Jim SyyapJim Syyap

5631415

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2

Some PSUs will not start up properly unless they are connected to a load, so if you did the paperclip test with no devices connected to the PSU then it may 'play dead' - and that's also why things seemed OK when you tried again later with the PSU hooked up to some PC parts.

share|improve this answer

answered Jul 16 '11 at 11:36

Linker3000Linker3000

24.7k34265

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  There's an interesting discussion on this here playtool.com/pages/psuunderload/mincurrent.html - apparently not only is this a problem for unloaded power supplies, but also for some of the higher output ones being coupled to a system that's very power-efficient. Not enough current draw on the 12V rail, and it will either not power up, or only power up briefly. Paper clip test really needs to be depreciated, as max load goes up, so does minimum load, particularly if the manufacturer is trying to control costs.
  
  – Stephanie
  Jul 16 '11 at 12:28
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Also... "A modern ATX supply has minimum loads of about 1A on the +12 supples, 0.3A on the +5V, and 0.5A on the +3.3V. The -12V and the +5V standby ouput have no minimum current. These figures can be used as a general guide if the exact specifications are unknown." from mysite.du.edu/~etuttle/electron/elect62.htm
  
  – Stephanie
  Jul 16 '11 at 12:31
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Stephanie +1 good additional info, thanks
  
  – Linker3000
  Jul 16 '11 at 13:42
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @stephanie-- thanks for the information. Put that in as your answer and I'll choose that as best.
  
  – Jim Syyap
  Jul 17 '11 at 0:36
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1

Did you actually do the paperclip test properly?

Getting nothing could mean the PSU is dead or the paperclip test wasn't done properly. It's impossible for us to say.

But it sounds like the PSU isn't dead if the fan was activated and a LED was on.

share|improve this answer

answered Jul 16 '11 at 11:10

paviumpavium

5,80612125

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  It's inconclusive then. I guess I am going to have to swap out that psu to get that ruled out. Thanks!
  
  – Jim Syyap
  Jul 16 '11 at 20:48
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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2

Some PSUs will not start up properly unless they are connected to a load, so if you did the paperclip test with no devices connected to the PSU then it may 'play dead' - and that's also why things seemed OK when you tried again later with the PSU hooked up to some PC parts.

share|improve this answer

answered Jul 16 '11 at 11:36

Linker3000Linker3000

24.7k34265

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  There's an interesting discussion on this here playtool.com/pages/psuunderload/mincurrent.html - apparently not only is this a problem for unloaded power supplies, but also for some of the higher output ones being coupled to a system that's very power-efficient. Not enough current draw on the 12V rail, and it will either not power up, or only power up briefly. Paper clip test really needs to be depreciated, as max load goes up, so does minimum load, particularly if the manufacturer is trying to control costs.
  
  – Stephanie
  Jul 16 '11 at 12:28
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Also... "A modern ATX supply has minimum loads of about 1A on the +12 supples, 0.3A on the +5V, and 0.5A on the +3.3V. The -12V and the +5V standby ouput have no minimum current. These figures can be used as a general guide if the exact specifications are unknown." from mysite.du.edu/~etuttle/electron/elect62.htm
  
  – Stephanie
  Jul 16 '11 at 12:31
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Stephanie +1 good additional info, thanks
  
  – Linker3000
  Jul 16 '11 at 13:42
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @stephanie-- thanks for the information. Put that in as your answer and I'll choose that as best.
  
  – Jim Syyap
  Jul 17 '11 at 0:36
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

Some PSUs will not start up properly unless they are connected to a load, so if you did the paperclip test with no devices connected to the PSU then it may 'play dead' - and that's also why things seemed OK when you tried again later with the PSU hooked up to some PC parts.

share|improve this answer

answered Jul 16 '11 at 11:36

Linker3000Linker3000

24.7k34265

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  There's an interesting discussion on this here playtool.com/pages/psuunderload/mincurrent.html - apparently not only is this a problem for unloaded power supplies, but also for some of the higher output ones being coupled to a system that's very power-efficient. Not enough current draw on the 12V rail, and it will either not power up, or only power up briefly. Paper clip test really needs to be depreciated, as max load goes up, so does minimum load, particularly if the manufacturer is trying to control costs.
  
  – Stephanie
  Jul 16 '11 at 12:28
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Also... "A modern ATX supply has minimum loads of about 1A on the +12 supples, 0.3A on the +5V, and 0.5A on the +3.3V. The -12V and the +5V standby ouput have no minimum current. These figures can be used as a general guide if the exact specifications are unknown." from mysite.du.edu/~etuttle/electron/elect62.htm
  
  – Stephanie
  Jul 16 '11 at 12:31
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Stephanie +1 good additional info, thanks
  
  – Linker3000
  Jul 16 '11 at 13:42
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @stephanie-- thanks for the information. Put that in as your answer and I'll choose that as best.
  
  – Jim Syyap
  Jul 17 '11 at 0:36
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Some PSUs will not start up properly unless they are connected to a load, so if you did the paperclip test with no devices connected to the PSU then it may 'play dead' - and that's also why things seemed OK when you tried again later with the PSU hooked up to some PC parts.

share|improve this answer

answered Jul 16 '11 at 11:36

Linker3000Linker3000

24.7k34265

share|improve this answer

answered Jul 16 '11 at 11:36

Linker3000Linker3000

24.7k34265

answered Jul 16 '11 at 11:36

Linker3000Linker3000

24.7k34265

answered Jul 16 '11 at 11:36

Linker3000Linker3000

24.7k34265

1

Did you actually do the paperclip test properly?

Getting nothing could mean the PSU is dead or the paperclip test wasn't done properly. It's impossible for us to say.

But it sounds like the PSU isn't dead if the fan was activated and a LED was on.

share|improve this answer

answered Jul 16 '11 at 11:10

paviumpavium

5,80612125

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  It's inconclusive then. I guess I am going to have to swap out that psu to get that ruled out. Thanks!
  
  – Jim Syyap
  Jul 16 '11 at 20:48
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1

Did you actually do the paperclip test properly?

Getting nothing could mean the PSU is dead or the paperclip test wasn't done properly. It's impossible for us to say.

But it sounds like the PSU isn't dead if the fan was activated and a LED was on.

share|improve this answer

answered Jul 16 '11 at 11:10

paviumpavium

5,80612125

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  It's inconclusive then. I guess I am going to have to swap out that psu to get that ruled out. Thanks!
  
  – Jim Syyap
  Jul 16 '11 at 20:48
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Did you actually do the paperclip test properly?

Getting nothing could mean the PSU is dead or the paperclip test wasn't done properly. It's impossible for us to say.

But it sounds like the PSU isn't dead if the fan was activated and a LED was on.

share|improve this answer

answered Jul 16 '11 at 11:10

paviumpavium

5,80612125

share|improve this answer

answered Jul 16 '11 at 11:10

paviumpavium

5,80612125

answered Jul 16 '11 at 11:10

paviumpavium

5,80612125

answered Jul 16 '11 at 11:10

paviumpavium

5,80612125