More on my "exploded" Antec TruePower New 650W

[Man-wai Chang to The Door (24000bps)]

TP-650 uses modular cable management. But I didn't use any one of them.
I only used the default set of cables coming directly out of the unit.

In one rail of 4-pin molex connectors, I connected the following:

1. ThermalTake DuOrb VGA cooler (2 fans with 6 blue LED)
2. One 80mm case fan
3. Asus Xonar Essence STX
4. One LG H62L DVD burner

Could this have overloaded the 4-pin molex rail and caused the "explosion"?

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[Paul]

TP-650 uses modular cable management. But I didn't use any one of them.
I only used the default set of cables coming directly out of the unit.

In one rail of 4-pin molex connectors, I connected the following:

1. ThermalTake DuOrb VGA cooler (2 fans with 6 blue LED)
2. One 80mm case fan
3. Asus Xonar Essence STX
4. One LG H62L DVD burner

Could this have overloaded the 4-pin molex rail and caused the "explosion"?

No.

If you overloaded a Molex connector, eventually it would get hot
enough to melt the plastic. The load you state above, isn't even
close to doing that. The Molex connector is probably good for
somewhere between 8 amps and 10 amps of current flow per pin - the
exact rating depends on the gauge of wire connected to the pin.
A heavier gauge of wire, draws more heat from the pin, which is
why more current flow is then allowed.

Inside the power supply, overcurrent limiter and thermal limiter
circuits protect the supply. The overcurrent would likely be
actuated at a load of around 130% of rated. So if 12V1 was
rated for 20 amps, overcurrent should trip around 26 amps,
protecting the supply. The power supply should stop if an
overload is detected. Overcurrent is set above the value
printed on the label, to prevent accidental tripping of
the circuit. You need a definite overload to get it to work.

If the supply gets too hot inside, there should be at least
one thermal monitor to detect that.

If you had bought a $20 650W supply, there might not be any
protection features on it. But Antec usually provides protection
features on their products, so I doubt your supply was
completely unprotected.

Your power supply would have one or two capacitors on the primary
side, and a larger number of small electrolytics on the secondary side.
Based on your description of the amount of electrolyte that was released,
it sounds like the primary one opened up. The capacitor has a rubber
seal on the bottom, and it can pop out of the bottom of the metal
can that holds the guts of the capacitor. The capacitor also has
pressure relief lines stamped into the top of the can - they release
if too much gas pressure develops inside. So liquid can escape from
either end, if gas pressure is present.

A properly designed electrolytic capacitor can last for 15 years,
before the rubber plug in the bottom allows the electrolyte to dry out.
A failure could be due to improperly prepared materials, too high
a voltage applied to the capacitor (lightning or AC transient).
Or the cap could even be damaged by an adjacent component
exploding and punching a hole in the cap.

Paul

 

[Man-wai Chang to The Door (24000bps)]

If you overloaded a Molex connector, eventually it would get hot

enough to melt the plastic. The load you state above, isn't even
close to doing that. The Molex connector is probably good for
somewhere between 8 amps and 10 amps of current flow per pin - the
exact rating depends on the gauge of wire connected to the pin.
A heavier gauge of wire, draws more heat from the pin, which is
why more current flow is then allowed.
OK.

A properly designed electrolytic capacitor can last for 15 years,
before the rubber plug in the bottom allows the electrolyte to dry out.
A failure could be due to improperly prepared materials, too high
a voltage applied to the capacitor (lightning or AC transient).
Or the cap could even be damaged by an adjacent component
exploding and punching a hole in the cap.

Thanks

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