Power supply problem?

[tw]

Originally Posted by glatt

Turns out I either don't know how to use my auto ranging meter, or it's crap. It won't settle down on a known value even when I try it on a working battery.

So I wen old school and just bought a cheap analog meter from Radio Shack.

An analog meter is best relocated to a bin. Meter must be digital.

Now, assuming those numbers were from a digital meter, well, a power supply is actually two supplies. One to power a system that says even when the CPU can execute. It had to measure 4.87 or higher. A number determined, in part, by how a digital meter operates.

A defective supply can still boot the computer. Also important is to confirm purple, red, orange, and yellow wire voltages on the new supply after installed. Others have seen resulting failures even months later that could have been identified long before its warranty expires.

Best would be to return the analog meter. Then buy a superior product from Wal-Mart. Or even a $5 meter from Harbor Freight. Analog meters are useless. See that number 4.87? Analog meter cannot measure to three digits.

Back to the auto ranging meter. What does it measure for a 9 volt battery? It may have been bouncing because that was your problem. A failure that might have been identified even months ago when a defective supply was still booting that computer.

Best is to confirm voltages on all six wire are now correct. Identify a failed supply months or a year before it causes computer crashes.