Close Call

richlevy · 11-29-2009, 06:06 PM

This morning I woke up and thought I'd overslept. The clock said 12:57. It took me a few moments to realize we'd had another brief power failure in the middle of the night.

I didn't think anything of it until an hour or so later when I went to turn on my desktop.

Click. Silence.

Then I knew I was screwed. A few months ago we installed a 'power leveller' in the house. The main reason for this is that our wired smoke alarms would go off briefly with any power surge,

Last night the smoke alarms did not go off. So even with the power leveller and a surge suppressor, I had a dead computer. I tried all of tricks I could think of. Turning the surge suppressor off and on. Resetting the CMOS jumper. Nothing worked. My power supply had a green LED that was dark. I couldn't remember if the LED was always on or only on if the computer was on, but this gave me some hope.

So I disconnected and disassembled the power supply looking for a circuit breaker. I didn't find any but I did see something like scorch marks on one of the parts. This gave me hope that I had a dead power supply and possibly not a dead motherboard.

Now my computer has been deteriorating for the past few months. I've had overheating and other issues. It's a Presario 2600 with an AMD Sempron and 1.5GB of RAM. With the extra software I've loaded and the ever increasing demands of McAfee Antivirus, it seems to be getting slower. I am in the market for a new computer, but I wasn't intending to rush.

So my first visit was to Second Source to see if they had a used power supply. On the way there I was guessing $10 and this turned out to be the price. I brought my old power supply with me and they confirmed that it was DOA. Again that spark of hope.

I got home and installed the power supply. I had a moment of panic before I remembered that I had disconnected the power switch from the motherboard.

So I've bought myself some time.

Juniper · 11-29-2009, 08:06 PM

Our power went off briefly last night, too. Weird.

casimendocina · 11-29-2009, 08:46 PM

Conspiracy...

ZenGum · 11-29-2009, 11:01 PM

*thinks* when did I last back up my hard drive?

Too long ago.

Damn, there's another thing that needs doing.

tw · 12-01-2009, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richlevy

Then I knew I was screwed. A few months ago we installed a 'power leveller' in the house. The main reason for this is that our wired smoke alarms would go off briefly with any power surge,

What is a power leveler?

xoxoxoBruce · 12-01-2009, 01:04 AM

Watch out Rich, tw's setting you up for a lecture.

Bitman · 12-18-2009, 04:40 PM

Well, this definition resembles the mouse picture above, but that's not what we're looking for. From context, I assume a "power leveler" is a machine for stabilizing the voltage coming into the house. I'd love to provide a link, but Google can't find any useful links for "power leveler" (except for companies that provide the above linked service.) I suspect it's not the correct formal name for the machine.

Flint · 12-18-2009, 04:52 PM

power conditioner
voltage regulator

tw · 12-18-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

power conditioner
voltage regulator

But there is not such thing on AC electric. Voltage is stabilized back at the substation since that equipment must be large, expensive, located behind security fences for safety reasons, carefully maintained, and remotely monitored.

One item to adjust power - to decrease electric bills - was a synchronous motor that ran constantly and powered nothing. I doubt anyone has a large spinning electric motor constantly running and mounted to the basement floor.

What is a power leveler?

Flint · 12-18-2009, 10:00 PM

http://www.frys.com/category/Outpost...+Conditioners/

spudcon · 12-19-2009, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tw

One item to adjust power - to decrease electric bills - was a synchronous motor that ran constantly and powered nothing. I doubt anyone has a large spinning electric motor constantly running and mounted to the basement floor.

What is a power leveler?

I have one of those large power condenser motors bolted to my basement floor, but I use it to deter the flying spaghetti monsters from nesting down there.

SamIam · 12-20-2009, 10:07 AM

I think it has something to do with World of Warcraft.

tw · 12-05-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richlevy

A few months ago we installed a 'power leveller' in the house.

What is a power leveler?

footfootfoot · 12-05-2009, 05:37 PM

This'll do the job.

tw · 12-16-2009, 06:28 PM

Assuming you do not have a garage that large, then what is that power leveler?

11-29-2009, 06:06 PM	#1
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	Close Call This morning I woke up and thought I'd overslept. The clock said 12:57. It took me a few moments to realize we'd had another brief power failure in the middle of the night. I didn't think anything of it until an hour or so later when I went to turn on my desktop. Click. Silence. Then I knew I was screwed. A few months ago we installed a 'power leveller' in the house. The main reason for this is that our wired smoke alarms would go off briefly with any power surge, Last night the smoke alarms did not go off. So even with the power leveller and a surge suppressor, I had a dead computer. I tried all of tricks I could think of. Turning the surge suppressor off and on. Resetting the CMOS jumper. Nothing worked. My power supply had a green LED that was dark. I couldn't remember if the LED was always on or only on if the computer was on, but this gave me some hope. So I disconnected and disassembled the power supply looking for a circuit breaker. I didn't find any but I did see something like scorch marks on one of the parts. This gave me hope that I had a dead power supply and possibly not a dead motherboard. Now my computer has been deteriorating for the past few months. I've had overheating and other issues. It's a Presario 2600 with an AMD Sempron and 1.5GB of RAM. With the extra software I've loaded and the ever increasing demands of McAfee Antivirus, it seems to be getting slower. I am in the market for a new computer, but I wasn't intending to rush. So my first visit was to Second Source to see if they had a used power supply. On the way there I was guessing $10 and this turned out to be the price. I brought my old power supply with me and they confirmed that it was DOA. Again that spark of hope. I got home and installed the power supply. I had a moment of panic before I remembered that I had disconnected the power switch from the motherboard. So I've bought myself some time. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

11-29-2009, 11:01 PM	#4
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	thinks when did I last back up my hard drive? Too long ago. Damn, there's another thing that needs doing. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

12-01-2009, 01:04 AM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Watch out Rich, tw's setting you up for a lecture. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-18-2009, 04:52 PM	#8
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	power conditioner voltage regulator __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

12-18-2009, 10:00 PM	#10
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	http://www.frys.com/category/Outpost...+Conditioners/ __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

11-29-2009, 08:06 PM	#2
Juniper I know, right? Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,539	Our power went off briefly last night, too. Weird.

11-29-2009, 08:46 PM	#3
casimendocina Professor Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,622	Conspiracy...

12-18-2009, 04:40 PM	#7
Bitman cellar smellar Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: californy, baby! Posts: 403	Well, this definition resembles the mouse picture above, but that's not what we're looking for. From context, I assume a "power leveler" is a machine for stabilizing the voltage coming into the house. I'd love to provide a link, but Google can't find any useful links for "power leveler" (except for companies that provide the above linked service.) I suspect it's not the correct formal name for the machine.

12-20-2009, 10:07 AM	#12
SamIam Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Not here Posts: 2,655	I think it has something to do with World of Warcraft.

12-05-2009, 05:37 PM	#14
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	This'll do the job. Attached Images __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

12-16-2009, 06:28 PM	#15
tw Read? I only know how to write. Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 11,933	Assuming you do not have a garage that large, then what is that power leveler?

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