PC power supply, Please Help

[Mrpotatohead]

Hello,

My PC Power Supply Unit came fitted with a 13A fuse in the power cable. When i just turned my pc on it blown the fuse and now its completely dead. I took the Power Supply Unit out and checked the label and it says:

Input Current 10A – 5A

I did not realise this as i thought the cable that came with the unit would just work straight out the box! My question is, do i use a 10A fuse or 5A?? and would they be safe to plug in a power strip?

Thank you!

 

[Deleted member 105166]

Even an 850 Watt PSU at 240V will draw less than 4A so the 13A fuse is overkill from the outset and risked frying something.
Due to the use of the interchangeable "Kettle leads" many PC owners and incompetent repairers ended up using a 13A kettle lead to replace the 5A power lead supplied by manufacturers.

The lead supplied will typically be rated to 10A and fitted with a non-rewirable (moulded) plugtop and 13A fuse, in accordance with ISITEE 15.12

There is a difference between "kettle leads" which are slotted and fitted with IEC60320 C15 connectors (rated to 120deg/C), and computer leads, which use the C13 connector (rated to 70deg/C) Both types current rating is 10A.

 

[LeeH]

If your PC is drawing enough current to blow a 13A fuse then I would suggest your PSU is faulty and you need to get it checked/changed.
Even an 850 Watt PSU at 240V will draw less than 4A so the 13A fuse is overkill from the outset and risked frying something.
Due to the use of the interchangeable "Kettle leads" many PC owners and incompetent repairers ended up using a 13A kettle lead to replace the 5A power lead supplied by manufacturers.
Edit: Internally your PC may draw higher currents through the various rails as it is running at lower voltages, but this will not blow a fuse in your power lead.

How does the fuse in the plug top protect the appliance via a PSU?

 

[LeeH]

Ok so this is an internal PSU?

 

[Pete E]

The lead supplied will typically be rated to 10A and fitted with a non-rewirable (moulded) plugtop and 13A fuse, in accordance with ISITEE 15.12

There is a difference between "kettle leads" which are slotted and fitted with IEC60320 C15 connectors (rated to 120deg/C), and computer leads, which use the C13 connector (rated to 70deg/C) Both types current rating is 10A.

Don't most onboard PSU's also have their own fuses as well?

 

[telectrix]

How does the fuse in the plug top protect the appliance via a PSU?

it doesn't. the plug fuse is there to protect the cable from overload/short circuit.

 

[Link65]

Don't most onboard PSU's also have their own fuses as well?

Yep, most of them are not considered user replaceable and are soldered onto the PCB of the PSU.

OP needs to replace the PSU by the sounds of it.. plus you really wouldn't want to keep trying to replace fuses and trying it, if faulty it could damage the rest of the system if it hasn't already done so.

 

[Spoon]

OP needs to replace the PSU by the sounds of it..

This is the second time it has happened, the current power supply unit is a replacement

Sounds like he already has replaced PSU.

 

[Mrpotatohead]

I have never replaced the fuse or cable, the cable came with the PSU and it's fitted with a 13A fuse. I plug this into a surge protected power strip which makes a pop when I flick the switch. The label on the power supply says

Input Current 10A – 5A

Does that mean the 13A fuse is causing the problem? I don't think it's a faulty PSU as this is the second time, this PSU is a brand new replacement

 

[LeeH]

it doesn't. the plug fuse is there to protect the cable from overload/short circuit.

That was my point tel. A rhetorical question to the chap who disagreed with my post.

 

[Link65]

Sounds like he already has replaced PSU.

I think I misread that, thanks.

I'd change the lead, sounds like it could be a break in an old cable causing the fuse to operate.

13A is normal for a PC plug top fuse, some PC's can pull over 1500W which sits it between 3A and 13A fuse types.

As 3A would be too low, 13A is used.

 

[Deleted member 105166]

I plug this into a surge protected power strip which makes a pop when I flick the switch.

What happens if you plug it directly into a wall socket?

 

[telectrix]

What happens if you plug it directly into a wall socket?

it goes bang?

 

[Mrpotatohead]

I think I misread that, thanks.

I'd change the lead, sounds like it could be a break in an old cable causing the fuse to operate.

13A is normal for a PC plug top fuse, some PC's can pull over 1500W which sits it between 3A and 13A fuse types.

As 3A would be too low, 13A is used.

Can a 5A or 10A fused be used? I don't think it's the cable getting old as this was replaced when the PSU got replaced. Could it be my surge protected power strip? Is it OK to plug a 13A plug into a power strip? When I flick the switch on the power strip, nothing else is turned on as I always turn my PC on first then my monitor

 

[Mrpotatohead]

it goes bang?

Never tried as my wall socket is hard to get to so I use a power strip

 

[telectrix]

possible surge problem. try plugging in with PC and monitor off. then switch pc on, then monitor, so that the plug fuse is not seeing the full inrush current of both at same time.