I sometimes find small burnt smell coming from my chassis, but it's only "sometimes", and later on I don't find the burnt smell anymore, but it happens sometimes, I've asked on the web about that, people said it might be due to failing PSU. I would like to know if it's likely, or I just smell wrongly? The PSU is a new Antec bought in 2013. If the PSU is burnt or failed, could the burnt wired smell come out 'sometimes'' and disappear again ''sometimes''..??
is the PSU going to fail or I smell wrong??
- Thread starter kenny1999
- Start date
The VCR King
Well-Known Member
If you smell anything burning you NEED to get it replaced! Imagine if it started to make the burning smell when you are away and can't smell it? It is a fire hazard and needs replaced! Which power supply do you have (brand, model, wattage?)
lovely?
Active Member
It would happen in the power supply if a stranded core of copper had come into contact with another and caused a short circuit. it would heat the stray copper until it was white-hot, and then burn it as well as any shielding nearby. That would account for the burning smell. The danger is the short could readily touch again, this time lighting fire to the whole PSU. It is dangerous, and should be replaced. If you have a warranty on the antec psu, which you should if purchased recently, then I definitely suggest a warranty replacement.
Saying from the case, its hard to tell. Pop the side off and see if you can get a idea where from. Plus what Okedokey said above.
hi how could I check the bulging capacitors?? where are they?? do I have to screw open the PSU unit??
In fact, it's an Antec NeoEco 400W which should be a PSU with decent quality. It's only 1.5 year time. I used a lot of cheap PSU before and they last for many years and didn't go wrong. I can't understand why it could happen.
But the smell just comes out sometimes and very little. I don't know what it could be if it's not from the PSU
i've opened the case and no smell can be sniffed.
You need to take it apart and do a better/closer inspection and sniff results
disconnect the power and take it apart? when power is taken away, how can I sniff result??
unscrew and unmount everything??
i want to know if it's possible that something is failing but is working for quite some time??
I've did that tough work but hardly smell anything. I may have stuffy nose I am not sure, but I could smell (the smell of burnt device) sometimes from the chassis but it goes away very quickly, and this happened since Nov last year.
but the whole computer is now working fine except it sometimes (once a week of continuous ON , I don't turn OFF PC at night) would give blue-screen and force a reboot.
Tried, Nothing is sniffed. I am quite certain that some burnt smell came from the chassis, it's not strong smell though
ScottALot
Active Member
You want to look for that. When capacitors degrade, they start to release a gas that builds pressure in the capacitor. It won't make a huge explosion or anything, but if it pops, it could be pretty nasty. If you find one, you're going to want to replace the component it's mounted to. Otherwise, you'll be running questionable power to other components which could cause them to fail early.
You want to look for that. When capacitors degrade, they start to release a gas that builds pressure in the capacitor. It won't make a huge explosion or anything, but if it pops, it could be pretty nasty. If you find one, you're going to want to replace the component it's mounted to. Otherwise, you'll be running questionable power to other components which could cause them to fail early.
start by opening the case of the PSU and inspecting it by naked eyes??
is it safe or dangerous opening the case of PSU while not touching anything else??