Can a power failure cause a PSU to blow?

Lee2k4 · 1 Jul 2006 at 12:33

Last night my electric went (I am on a token meter) as soon as I switched the electric back on the fuse for the plug sockets flipped. Went to turn the PC back on and got no power. I could smell burning at the back of the PSU which led me to believe it has blown. What could have caused it? I have gone through 4 PSU's now, went out this morning and got a quality one with surge and overload protection but I am puzzled as to why this keeps happening is it bad wiring in my house?

EDIT

I have had the computer on all week it has not been switched off so coujld that be why? and how can I prevent this from happening in the future? I wen

kitfit1 · 1 Jul 2006 at 15:35

The power failure itself would not cause the psu to blow. What would do it though is the sudden overload when you turned the power back on. That's why any important electrical equipment should allways be backed up with surge protection, not only the equipment itself but anything connected to it as well, ie phone, router,surround amp,rechargable mouse, everything. If you can get hold of a UPS even better.

Arthalen · 1 Jul 2006 at 21:09

For gawd sake man, get yourself a good Surge Protector. And Im not talking about a £2 4way adaptor from Tesco's Either!

Spend about £15 and get a belkin surge protector. No more blown PSU's.

silversurfer · 1 Jul 2006 at 21:44

A power surge is possible under those conditions yes and anyone using more then a basic pc should have a psu with surge protection or it could blow components when it wears out.

Any good review of a psu will check for possible overvolting.

A phone line definetly needs surge protection in case of a storm, they arent insulated or grounded at all afiak, I use an old worn out IBM UPS for that

FreeStream · 1 Jul 2006 at 21:51

Are PCs covered by insurance for surges/spikes etc? If not I might have to get one, gott be atleast 1Kw tho

kitfit1 · 1 Jul 2006 at 23:17

Concorde Rules said:
Are PCs covered by insurance for surges/spikes etc? If not I might have to get one, gott be atleast 1Kw tho

If you mean, are they covered under home contents insurance for power spikes. The answer is no.

Iceberg2 · 1 Jul 2006 at 23:35

kitfit1 said:
The power failure itself would not cause the psu to blow. What would do it though is the sudden overload when you turned the power back on. That's why any important electrical equipment should allways be backed up with surge protection, not only the equipment itself but anything connected to it as well, ie phone, router,surround amp,rechargable mouse, everything. If you can get hold of a UPS even better.

I didnt know that. hmm . Now i know thats what counts

silversurfer · 1 Jul 2006 at 23:52

I can remember hearing the advice, turn everything off unplug it even when switching the power back on after a cut..

I never do but we dont often have the power off luckily

FreeStream · 2 Jul 2006 at 09:26

kitfit1 said:
If you mean, are they covered under home contents insurance for power spikes. The answer is no.

Lee2k4 · 2 Jul 2006 at 12:23

Right so I found a Belkin one here for £24.99 any good?

8 surge protected sockets with additional phone/fax/modem protection (relevant cables included).

Unique 180 degree rotating socket design and large AC blocked space for those oversized power supplies to prevent them covering unused sockets.

75,000 amp.

2m heavy duty cable.

UK - £175,000 connected equipment warranty.

ROI - 275,000 connected equipment warranty.

Manufacturer's lifetime warranty

The higher the Amp does that mean the more surge it can take? Also if I do get a surge whilst my equipment is plugged into this thing does that mean I have to buy another surge protector?

Arthalen · 4 Jul 2006 at 09:04

Looks a good one to me.

But then, my physics isnt the strongest in the world

greencreeper · 4 Jul 2006 at 19:05

Seen it a few times now (at work) where a power spike causes a power cut - and the spike damages equipment. Digi port servers seem to suffer. If your electric went off because the credit ran out, then I doubt that would do it - though the power on, as others have said, might. Token meter though - you pay extra!

Devious · 4 Jul 2006 at 19:58

The whole of my town had a power cut last week while I was at work, I thought it was a problem at work as it happens now and again. My spare pc was running at home at when i got home it was off. I turned it on to find the fans spinning etc but no picture, turns out at least PSU has blown and god know what else.

Ive applied for a rma for my psu, though not heard anything as yet.

pegasus1 · 4 Jul 2006 at 20:57

Had one and luckily i have surge protecters for my PC stuff and also for my Sony widscreen/DVD player. When the power came back on i had already tuened everything off so i just turned it back on switch by switch from the wall socket and all was cool

Mikebert4 · 4 Jul 2006 at 21:39

I have all my PC kit on Surge protectors (got uber UPS's arriving soon

)

but yesh, I learnt that lesson with an old p3 machine...