Conducting a computer power supply repair can be very challenging especially for newbie technicians. You see, present day computers are equipped with more complex power supplies called SMPS (switch mode power supply).
What I mean by "complex" is that the inner workings and circuit design of an SMPS unit is more difficult to figure out than a linear power supply unit.
But don't worry! As they say, practice makes perfect. You'll get better after completing a few SMPS repair scenarios.
If you require a detailed guide to help you hit the ground running, I think you can find a downloadable one by clicking here.
Alright now, in most computer power supply repair cases, the problems are pretty obvious. Here are a few things to help you get started.
First things first!
Learn all about the components, their functions, schematic diagram etc…
(1) Measure the computer's SMPS. You should do this in order to find out if the failure is caused by overvoltage.
(2) Carefully remove the casing and brush off any dust/dirt/little debris. Also be on the lookout for decayed glue covering the major components. Remove accordingly otherwise the power supply won't be able to work properly.
(3) Examine the primary and secondary area of the circuit board. Look carefully to see if there's any damage to one or more components. Loose capacitors, dry joints located in voltage transformer pins, e-caps popped out etc. These issues can lead to failure.
(4) Also check the chopper transistor. I've done a lot of computer power supply repair jobs, and I've replaced many blown up transistors! So check and replace accordingly.
(5) Once you've identified and taken care of the problem, be sure to test the power supply on a dummy hard disk and motherboard. Assess every output voltages before placing the power supply back to the original computer.
Practice, practice, practice! Again, if you require a comprehensive guide on conducting computer power supply repair – specifically SMPS unit - complete with full instructional pictures and diagrams, then you need to go directly to this website.
