PSU Problems

Heavenkiss · 1 May 2014 at 11:40

I recently braided my cables to only turn it on and hear a BIG bang and a lot of smoke from one of the cables. It turnes out it the small 4pin CPU cable (of which is made up of 4x2 but I only use one of the 4):

After some inspection, it's the capactior on the cable that has blown:

Can see how it is bulging at the tip.

Now the PC works fine despite this, however im now worried that this capacitor was here for a reason and so it must be important - despite the PC working now or not.

So here are my questions:

1) Should i just forget about this and use my machine normally? Afterall it works...
2) Can i purchase a replacement capacitor elsewhere and replace? I took pics of every details found on it and more pics can be found here http://s1359.photobucket.com/user/freelancerkev/slideshow/PSU Capacitor

If anyone has any advice on how to proceed, that would be great. I don't want to fry my CPU (What this cable directly powers) or any other parts by risking it with this cable.

I have tried to reach out to superflower (psu brand) for some cables but after 1 week there is still no reply. Look forward to your replies.

Nice one,

ExRayTed · 1 May 2014 at 12:56

The advice here seems to be that you can remove them safely.

Heavenkiss · 1 May 2014 at 15:34

ExRayTed said:
The advice here seems to be that you can remove them safely.

I found that thread mate, after some googling before posting here. Problem is, everything I found was to do with capacitors on PCI cables.. as is that thread.

One guy does say the following on that link though:

"If they are connected to PCI-E, IDE(MOLEX) or SATA then my opinion would say your fine to remove them entirely (i have some experience in electronics ) but that is MY opinion ONLY!

But if they are connected to the 24pin EATXPWR, or 4pinPWR for the CPU i think they should stay where they are, or removed and re-soldered out of site on the same wires."

As mine is on a 4pin CPU, I thought i'd get more opinions here.

I'm just in the boat that if it was there in the first place, it must be needed.

Heavenkiss · 2 May 2014 at 15:42

Anyone got any input?

Heavenkiss · 6 May 2014 at 11:17

Shameless bump for more info chaps. Last thing i want is to fry my system.

lee32uk · 6 May 2014 at 12:22

The Superflower Leadex comes with 2 cables for the motherboard 8 pin socket.

You should have 1 x 8 pin EPS and 1 x 4+4 ATX/EPS. You can use either cable to power up with. So you can either just use the other cable for the time being, or you could see if it has the same capacitor fitted.

Heavenkiss · 6 May 2014 at 12:29

lee32uk said:
The Superflower Leadex comes with 2 cables for the motherboard 8 pin socket.

You should have 1 x 8 pin EPS and 1 x 4+4 ATX/EPS. You can use either cable to power up with. So you can either just use the other cable for the time being, or you could see if it has the same capacitor fitted.

I used 1 x 8 pin and 1 x 4+4 ATX/EPS but only 1 of the 4 mate to power my CPU. The 4+4 however are on the same cable and share the same capacitor. This is the one that is blown.

lee32uk · 6 May 2014 at 15:31

Does your Superflower psu not have have 2 separate ATX/EPS cables ? The link below suggests that it does (Ones with Blue connectors)

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/SuperFlower/SF-750F14MG/images/box_cables.jpg

Your motherboard has a 4 pin ATX socket and an 8 pin EPS socket, but you don't need to connect cables to both of them. I would just use the 8 pin socket.

Heavenkiss · 6 May 2014 at 15:42

Yep, 2 seperate connectors. 1 of the cables has the blown capacitor, the other is fine.

lee32uk · 6 May 2014 at 16:31

Ok so just use the good 8 pin EPS cable, and check that your rig powers up ok.

The damaged 4+4 cable can be put to one side until you get a replacement capacitor, then it can be kept in the box as a spare.