Computer Related > opinions please! Computing Issues
Thread Author: devonite Replies: 12
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 Wed 23 Nov 11 15:11 
 opinions please! - devonite
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-20-24-PIN-ATX-LCD-POWER-SUPPLY-TESTER-HDD-SATA-/160579600207?pt=UK_Computing_PowerSupplies_EH&hash=item25634a3f4f

A useful tool for the price and worth having in the tool bag? or just a "snake-oil" item?
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 Wed 23 Nov 11 15:57 
 opinions please! - RattleandSmoke
At that price it is ok, but a multi meter or portable oscilloscope is a lot better with that I can check the waveforms to check that it is functioning ok.

From experience though with PSUs, I often find it is quicker just to swap it with a known good, because a PSU teser can tell you if the PSU is faulty but it can't tell you if the faulty PSU has caused other damage.

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 Wed 23 Nov 11 16:00 
 opinions please! - RattleandSmoke
I use one of these for testing power supplies.

www.amazon.co.uk/UNI-T-UT-81B-HANDHELD-OSCILLOSCOPE-OSCILLO/dp/B0040XIAH8

Slightly over the top, but I only paid £50 for it, as it belonged to a HIFI speaker manufacturer who was upgrading, so I bought it of them.
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 Wed 23 Nov 11 16:09 
 opinions please! - spamcan61
If it actually provides a reasonable current load for the PSU as well as displaying voltages then seems like a fair price, but I wouldn't buy one unless I was testing several PSUs a day, for my modest needs I'll continue using a DMM.
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 Wed 23 Nov 11 17:49 
 opinions please! - Zero
How many times are you planning to use it? How many Duff PC Power Supplies have you diagnosed WITHOUT IT!
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 Wed 23 Nov 11 21:05 
 opinions please! - devonite
>>How many Duff PC Power Supplies have you diagnosed WITHOUT IT!

Erm one really - the hostesses a couple of weeks ago! but only by swapping it for another known good one.

In the past however when trying to help friends out with probs, I have gone to the trouble of swapping psu`s over to no avail, so was thinking if i had one of these it would be easier to use, and rule out the psu ftom the start, either way changing a connecter over must be easier and quicker than swapping and replacing a psu in hope! ;-)

Cant afford £300 for a `scope - not that i`d understand waveforms either!
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 Wed 23 Nov 11 21:10 
 opinions please! - RattleandSmoke
Not suggesting you do spend £300 on a scope, I would never do that, only bought it as it was offered cheap.

Bought it with the intention of getting back into the hobby.

However £15 will buy you a very decent multi meter, and you can use that for other things such as fault finding with basic mains faults.

I use mine from everything from checking alternator output, checking sockets and measuring PSUs to ensure the output is stable under load.
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 18:41 
 opinions please! - devonite
Took your advice, got a multi-meter = £3,69 inc postage.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380342000086?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

hope its not a case of "you gets what you pays for" !!!! ;-)
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 18:45 
 opinions please! - RattleandSmoke
I wouldn't risk it for testing mains, but for computer work it will be be accurate enough. You're not going to be able to test logic circuits with it, but for checking voltage at 12v and for checking stability it is fine.

You can also use it for checking alternator output and for testing items like the throttle position sensor.

I would have probably spent £12 on a UNI-T though.
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 18:50 
 opinions please! - devonite
>>You're not going to be able to test logic circuits with it,

??? ill settle for it arriving in a box i can get into!
It does say mains use tho, but i get your drift!
Last edited by: devonite on Fri 25 Nov 11 at 18:52
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 19:46 
 opinions please! - bathtub tom
That looks identical to one I got from Maplins in a sale. The only disadvantage I've found is it doesn't have any croc clips.
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 Sat 26 Nov 11 00:11 
 opinions please! - VxFan
>> Took your advice, got a multi-meter = £3,69 inc postage.
>> hope its not a case of "you gets what you pays for"

Got one similar to that at a Sunday market quite a few years ago for £3 or £4. Took it into work one day and ran some comparison tests with a multimeter costing over £100. Definitely not a case of "you gets what you pay for" as the comparison tests were near as damn it the same results.
Last edited by: VxFan on Sat 26 Nov 11 at 00:11
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 Sat 26 Nov 11 12:58 
 opinions please! - devonite
Whoo hoo! - sounds like me found me a bargain then! - makes a change!! ;-)
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