PC blows AC power cords?

[Guest_imported]

Got an odd one, I've got a PC in my company that is possesed. Its only 4-5 months old, clone, ATX Procase mid-tower, ASUS mobo, ATI all-in-wonder, etc... Problem being, it eats up power cords!! Never seen this one before. PC runs great but about every 2-3 weeks, the user will turn it on in the morning and nothing happens. replace the AC power cord and it works great for another 2-3 weeks. This has happened in different offices, with different UPS' and now in different buildings. PC is perfect otherwise, I'm just tired of treating power-cords like consumables.
Only thing I can think of is the power supply. any ideas?
Thanx,
Ed Holtzman
edster.ser4vices@gte.net

 

[Karl Blessing]

I have a couple considerations

1) have you ever used the outlet before for the machine that it's being used on.

2) is the proper voltage selected on back of powersupply

Also , is your power supply generic or some kind of name brand, if it's just something you "got with the case" I would go with one of those Sparkle 300 Watt power supplies from monarchcomputer.com , only about 40$, but I use it on my existing machine, very nice, very clean.

it might help. ( if it involves AMD cpus, mobos, or powersupplies, I usally only go with monarchcomputer.com just so you know ) Karl
kb244@kb244.com

http://www.kb244.com

Experienced in : C++(both VC++ and Borland),VB1(dos) thru VB6, Delphi 3 pro, HTML, Visual InterDev 6(ASP(WebProgramming/Vbscript)

http://www.brainbench.com/transcript.jsp?pid=629151

 

[edfair]

Haven't ever seen a power supply that could eat a power cord.
Have seen power cords that back out of connection. Have seen power cords that wouldn't fully insert and would temporarily work. Have seen power cords that had mismatched pin to socket size that would overheat and lose tension and fail. If you have any of these you should be able to identify it. Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[bdux]

Does the sus power cord work with another p.c . If it does then it may be a fuse that has not blown fully and is just making contact . Then you vibrate the computer via changing the cord and contact is made again . Just an idea .

 

[alex304]

I would have to agree with edfair. There is no way that a power supply should be able to damage a power cord. The fuse within the power supply should go first...that's what its there for. And if there was a surge going to the pc powerful enough to destroy the power cord, if the building is wired correctly, then a circuit breaker should go off somewhere...That's what circuit breakers are there for. You may have an odd size connection on the back of your power supply...maybe there's some arching going on...and the contacts in the power cord are getting dirty because of the sparks. Anyway, if your power cord is too loose you might want to change the power supply.

Alex

 

[Guest_imported]

couple more follow ups/facts on my odd problem...
1-have used the outlet before, tried different outlets in the same gang-plate, pc is now in a different building and has same problem
2-proper voltage is set on power supply
3-power cord seats tightly into power supply
4-no arcing, pitting, etc on any contacts
5-after it stops working, power cord is unusable on anything
6-continuity is broken in cords afterwards(never in the same lead,seams to be random on which lead is damaged
7-there is no movement/strain on the cord, ever
8-building wiring is fine. PC has had this problem in 3 different offices located in 2 different buildings
9-I know in theory there is no way the power suplly can blow a cord but it does

ordered a new power supply today, still love to hear thoughts????

 

[edfair]

Are all the power cords that have blown from one shipment/supplier? When you install the new PS use the cord that came with it.
Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[alex304]

okay...this I cannot believe...there is now way that I will believe that the power cord will become open without any physical damage to the insulation. The heat required to open the wiring inside the power cord should be enough to melt the insulation or at least make it pretty soft in the area where the opening occurs. Anyway...I am just guessing. I have never seen a power cord open in such a way. I have seen other types of power cables open due to a power surge and they usually smell, smoke, melt...etc...etc. When you check the continuity of the cord, make sure you scratch the surface of the contact...if it gets coated you may not be able to see the coating...it's kind of like a varnish. Also just because the cord is tight it does not mean that the contacts are completely touching. If there is any space between contacts...no matter how small...you might have arcing. Other than this...I am out of ideas...maybe you can send me one of those bad power cords...I would like to see one.

Alex
Darn Gremlins!!!!

 

[prozzee]

Pretty sure you've got non quality connections on your AC power connectors inside the PSU.

If the machine is out of warranty and you feel confident with electrics I suggest you disconnect all mains from the unit, take the case off the PSU and check the cable is soldered/crimped firmly on the sockets and that any bare part of the cables do not have the ability to some into contact with each other, if sheathing is damaged on any part get it repaired. Check the cables sheathing aren't damaged and shorting against the case. Make sure you have a good earth in the PSU and power lead.

The connectors on most power leads are of a poor quality and shorts can cause the inferior connection from cable to connector to open circuit before blowing a fuse.

If all else fails, use a power cable from an electric kettle (if british/similar).

Note: if you are in any doubt with any of what I have said and unsure on id'ing components I have mentioned let a suitable engineer/electrician do it for you.

Hope this helps.

 

[Timothyy]

I would start looking at where the power cord is being placed. Is there any traffic across this cord that could be damaging it? What about the users, are they abusing the cord? I,like everybody else are supprised that the power cord should just stop working with out any other signs. After all these are pretty simple devices ( and I use this term loosly)with a plug at each end and three contacts. Sound like this is a unit that needs to be pulled from general production and put into a test bench for evaluation.