Lab Exercise 802: Measuring Power Supply Output 105 in Software

Generate GS1 - 13 in Software Lab Exercise 802: Measuring Power Supply Output 105

A single reading from your power supply may not be enough to pinpoint a power-related problem Sometimes, a power problem becomes evident only when the power supply is placed under a heavier-than-normal load, such as burning a CD Also, some random access memory related errors mimic a failing power supply

The other method to verify that the power supply is operating properly and supplying all the voltages within tolerance is to use a power supply tester There are many styles of power supply unit (PSU) testers on the market, so make sure you follow the speci c directions included with your tester as you complete the steps Step 1 Starting with the P1 connector, follow the directions to connect it to your speci c PSU tester Verify that all of the voltages provided through the P1 connector are acceptable (usually an LED will light up to verify that voltage is present and within tolerance levels)

When connecting and disconnecting the power supply connectors, always take care to insert the connector with the proper orientation Most power connectors are keyed to make it difficult to install the connector backwards, but if you use excessive force, you may be able to insert the connector improperly This applies to powering the motherboard, plugging in devices, and even using the PSU tester

Step 2 Now, depending on your tester and power supply, plug the 4-pin, 6-pin, or 8-pin auxiliary connector into the appropriate socket on the PSU tester, and verify the voltages provided through this connector Once veri ed, remove the connector from the socket Step 3 Next, plug the Molex connector into the PSU tester, and verify the voltages provided through this connector Once veri ed, remove the connector from the socket Step 4 Plug the Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) hard disk drive power connector into the appropriate socket, and verify the voltages provided through this connector Once veri ed, remove the connector from the socket Step 5 Finally, plug the mini- oppy disk drive power connector into the PSU tester, and verify the voltages provided through this connector Once veri ed, remove the connector from the socket and remove the P1 from the socket

Pamela uses an electrical outlet tester to check the outlets in the computer lab She nds that the hot and neutral connectors have been reversed on half the outlets Why would Pamela be concerned with these results Your client calls you and says that her PC is unusually quiet and keeps rebooting for no apparent reason What should you ask her to check Your assistant technician calls you and says he suspects a bad power supply in one of your client s systems He said the multimeter readings are 1265 VDC and 415 VDC What should he do Colleen has a system that has stopped powering up She asks you to troubleshoot the system for her, so you plug the P1 connector into a power supply tester The tester indicates that there is no + 5 VDC What are the main devices or components that require +5 VDC Sharon states that there are only a handful of voltages (VDC) provided by today s computer power supplies List the voltages provided by an ATX power supply

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Use the following vocabulary terms to complete the sentences that follow Not all of the terms will be used

33 V 5V 12 V 20-pin P1 24-pin P1 amps (a) Molex connector P4 P8/P9 power sags power spikes power supply UPS volts (V)

volts alternating current (VAC) volts direct current (VDC) watts (W)

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The ATX 12-V 20 power supply plugs into the motherboard using the ________ connector(s) The three basic components of electricity are voltage, measured in ________; current, measured in ________; and power, measured in ________ Hard drives and CD-ROM drives connect to the power supply with a(n) ________ The voltage provided by the power company is typically measured in ________; whereas the computer power supply converts this voltage to ________ Pentium 4 motherboards have both ________ and ________ power connectors