New PSU blew fan controller

JessieD · 24 Jul 2017 at 14:31

I bought an EVGA G3 850W psu for my rig last week. It seems to be fine, sooo quiet. But when I initially connected everything up an alarm went off in my fan controller & smoke started coming out of it. I turned everything off & removed the fan controller. The fan controller is old & I'm not going to bother replacing it. My only concern is that my PSU & rig are ok.

Without meaning to expect you to have a crystal ball was it just a coincidence do you think?

JessieD · 24 Jul 2017 at 15:41

I haven't got a multimeter. I did take photos right after it happened is this any use? https://postimg.org/image/glk2t05bh/

It had four 120 mm fans connected. One per channel. No idea which part was smoking it just billowed out. Not sure on brand sorry it was quite old & I threw it away after I took the photos

JessieD · 24 Jul 2017 at 17:01

EsaT said:
Kaze Master Ace
http://www.scythe-eu.com/en/products/pc-accessory/kaze-master-525.html
Googling for that VFD5.25 gave it up.

http://www.fudzilla.com/component/k2/19079-scythe-kaze-master-ace-525-tested?start=2
I would keep that 1A ampere current per channel as let's say "optimistic" value when there's no heatsinks.
But can't see any sure signs of burned component or smoke on that side of PCB and single fan per channel shouldn't have stressed those.

Other side of PCB might have shown something.
Inadequate "autopsy"...

BTW, was election of pope successful?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_conclave#Smoke_colors

You are very good

If you zoom in you can see burnt liquidy stuff around the yellow doober on the bottom right Also there is blackening on the right metal frame on the same side

JessieD · 25 Jul 2017 at 07:05

lee32uk said:
If you want to test the psu with the components disconnected you can use the connector that you get with it.

I did that before I connected everything up

JessieD · 25 Jul 2017 at 12:15

EsaT said:
Without knowing circuit diagram and location of part which gave up that magic smoke it's hard to say but this could be one scenario:
Some capacitor had dried up but was still working just enough while having voltage.
But when you shut down PC and switched PSUs it "cooled" and didn't work at all stressing some other part.

That's also one failure mode for especially cheap capacitor PSU:
Keeps working and booting while being connected to power, but once disconnected from wall 5V standby cools down and voltage regulation/ripple goes completely haywire.
(and after multiple booting attempts/enough warming up time PC can boot again...)

So can I put it down to the fan controller being at the end of its life & the PSU is fine? Would that be a reasonable assessment? Oh & I managed to find it in the bin but there is an lcd on the otherside of the board so I can't see any damage, if it is there.