About two years ago I bought two 1100W Xion power supplies. I hadn't heard of them but at the time I needed a PSU and they were in the price range. They lasted until now with everything from light gaming to incredibly heavy and watt-intensive F@H work. I recently moved them to a new location hooked up to a monstrously large extension cord and then connected to that cord was a Belkin Surge Protector.
It should be worth noting that both power supplies were at the time hooked up together with an Lian-Li power supply adapter, so both would turn on when the computer was powered up.
After having set them up and assuring all connections were set, I turned it on. Within about 10-20 seconds as I was leaving the room I heard a loud crackling and then a pop and more violent crackling with flashes of light and smoke.
I rushed over and turned off the power to it as quickly as I could and surveyed the damage. Some components visible from the rear exhaust were completely black, I couldn't see a blown or bulged capacitor though, just some very large yellow wrapped object that was scorched along with a few scorched wires.
The power supply was 2-3 years old at this point and had recently been under heavy loads. So I chalked it up to natural - if violent - death. Rechecked the surge protector, said it was protected and grounded (via it's LED light for each).
I reconfigured the computer so it had the proper load for only a single power supply, and I reconnected/disconnected appropriate items. This time, fearing that because they were bought at the same time that they might both go (this one was hooked up to the other via the adapter when the former blew) I stayed with my finger hovering on the surge protector's switch to cut power.
Lo and behold, about 10-15 seconds later after no obvious issues, no sound, no light, no smell, no smoke, it made a loud flash and a pop that was shocking loud and I immediately turned power off. My computer seemed to turn on okay and the PSU didn't show any signs of distress.
I have it hooked up on a large outdoor quality 16AWG line that's built for heavy-duty use. The surge protector had been working fine as well or so it would seem. What I'm concerned about is if the change to a new location with its different outlet is the cause.
While the power supply blew, both times, there was a small CFL lamp hooked up on the same line, but not on the surge protector, it didn't flicker or show any signs of damage and still is on.
What I'd like to know...is it really that possible for two PSUs, even though they were bought within a week or so to die the very same way, within less than 5 minutes of each other? It took longer than 5 minutes, but I'm only considering the time they were actually powered on.
Is something wrong with my wiring causing this, or did they just die from a 'natural' death? They had been working really hard and really well previously to this. But showed no signs of damage. I don't know if it matters, but I had the computer set up to resume power as soon as it was restored, if it had been cut. Which means when the power to the house went out for half a second, just enough to knock out the power, they'd be turned on immediately again.
I'm deeply concerned that if I were to buy a new power supply and hook it up out there, that it'd blow too. I have very little money to get this going again and another blown PSU would completely devastate me. I don't know how to check for an electrical fault or anything else, but no circuit breaker tripped or anything of the sort that I can tell. Am I good to buy another (better brand) power supply or is there something else wrong?
It should be worth noting that both power supplies were at the time hooked up together with an Lian-Li power supply adapter, so both would turn on when the computer was powered up.
After having set them up and assuring all connections were set, I turned it on. Within about 10-20 seconds as I was leaving the room I heard a loud crackling and then a pop and more violent crackling with flashes of light and smoke.
I rushed over and turned off the power to it as quickly as I could and surveyed the damage. Some components visible from the rear exhaust were completely black, I couldn't see a blown or bulged capacitor though, just some very large yellow wrapped object that was scorched along with a few scorched wires.
The power supply was 2-3 years old at this point and had recently been under heavy loads. So I chalked it up to natural - if violent - death. Rechecked the surge protector, said it was protected and grounded (via it's LED light for each).
I reconfigured the computer so it had the proper load for only a single power supply, and I reconnected/disconnected appropriate items. This time, fearing that because they were bought at the same time that they might both go (this one was hooked up to the other via the adapter when the former blew) I stayed with my finger hovering on the surge protector's switch to cut power.
Lo and behold, about 10-15 seconds later after no obvious issues, no sound, no light, no smell, no smoke, it made a loud flash and a pop that was shocking loud and I immediately turned power off. My computer seemed to turn on okay and the PSU didn't show any signs of distress.
I have it hooked up on a large outdoor quality 16AWG line that's built for heavy-duty use. The surge protector had been working fine as well or so it would seem. What I'm concerned about is if the change to a new location with its different outlet is the cause.
While the power supply blew, both times, there was a small CFL lamp hooked up on the same line, but not on the surge protector, it didn't flicker or show any signs of damage and still is on.
What I'd like to know...is it really that possible for two PSUs, even though they were bought within a week or so to die the very same way, within less than 5 minutes of each other? It took longer than 5 minutes, but I'm only considering the time they were actually powered on.
Is something wrong with my wiring causing this, or did they just die from a 'natural' death? They had been working really hard and really well previously to this. But showed no signs of damage. I don't know if it matters, but I had the computer set up to resume power as soon as it was restored, if it had been cut. Which means when the power to the house went out for half a second, just enough to knock out the power, they'd be turned on immediately again.
I'm deeply concerned that if I were to buy a new power supply and hook it up out there, that it'd blow too. I have very little money to get this going again and another blown PSU would completely devastate me. I don't know how to check for an electrical fault or anything else, but no circuit breaker tripped or anything of the sort that I can tell. Am I good to buy another (better brand) power supply or is there something else wrong?
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