Usually degraded capacitors. Or in the case of physically blowing up, a capacitor that is installed backwards. 😜

I had one power supply that didn't exactly explode, but I heard some kind of crackle and then there was flames coming out of where the power supply usually suck air from. Any idea what could cause something like that?

Strahssis wrote:

I recently recapped one
of my old power supplies. Now I'm wondering; what actually
causes a power supply to blow up?

better late than never 😁

Strahssis wrote:

Is it a result of leaking
capacitors, does one of the transformers explode spontaneously
or something else?

caps are the most sensitive part i believe; i'm no pro in this but looking at some youtube pros i'd say there are chances other parts get damaged too - mostly not visible stuff but changes parameters;

Strahssis wrote:

Now my follow-up question; can I trust a power supply
which I recently recapped like a new one?

hell no

Use a undamaged PSU if you want to protect the mobo, SSD, GPU, etc.

I recently had a PSU blow up too,
I think it was caused by bottom PCB side of a HDD making contact with metal part of the case and forming a short circuit.

The PSU made a loud puff sound and starting pumping out grey smoke (boiled capacitor electrolyte).
It was a high quality PSU but I am never using it again, I won't even bother repairing it.

Strahssis wrote:

Hey guys, Now my follow-up question; can I trust a power supply which I recently recapped like a new one? I used VISHAY branded […]
Show full quote

Hey guys,
Now my follow-up question; can I trust a power supply
which I recently recapped like a new one? I used VISHAY branded
capacitors. I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon,

Sincerely,

Miko, Strahssis

Well in all honesty it depends on the quality of the unit you recapped. Something like an old Antec Trupower full of Fuhjyuu's is a well built unit, but if it has lots of hours on it with blown caps? Odds are even after a recap there will be components damaged by high ripple, out of spec voltages, ect.

Now you take the same unit that hasnt seen heavy usage or is NIB and recap it and I would trust it no problem. Well as long as you are replacing then with something like a Rubycon vs OST or something.

In one case, what made one of my power supplies explode was a small amount of black powder. Don't ask. 😀

As I understand the capacitors are the first components to die in a power supply, but the other components take damage as well over time, so a recapped power supply can't fully be trusted anymore, correct? Reading all your comments, I will probably use it for quick testing only, but I will not put it through any kind of long term use anymore. It is not a very high quality power supply, though it is not extremely lightweight, indicating that it isn't absolute garbage either. It's a OEM 250W FSP-Group power supply. 😀

Strahssis wrote:

As I understand the capacitors are the first components to die in a power supply, but the other components take damage as well over time, so a recapped power supply can't fully be trusted anymore, correct? Reading all your comments, I will probably use it for quick testing only, but I will not put it through any kind of long term use anymore. It is not a very high quality power supply, though it is not extremely lightweight, indicating that it isn't absolute garbage either. It's a OEM 250W FSP-Group power supply. 😀

Recapping can be trusted, given that you are using high-quality caps (Panasonic/Rubycon/Nichicon/Sanyo) when recapping.

And also, FSP power supplies are actually one of the better power supplies, up there with Delta and Seasonic.

PcBytes wrote:

Recapping can be trusted, given that you are using high-quality caps (Panasonic/Rubycon/Nichicon/Sanyo) when recapping.

And also, FSP power supplies are actually one of the better power supplies, up there with Delta and Seasonic.

Then I might actually use it in one of my builds later on. Not on anything too worthy though, maybe in a Pentium 4 or Athlon 64 build.
The exact model number of my power supply is FSP250-60PNA(PF) and I used VISHAY-branded capacitors. For now I have been using it to test components or configurations quickly. 😊

Are Seventeam power supplies any good?

Baoran wrote:

Are Seventeam power supplies any good?

From what Iv heard on different topics on VOGONS they seem good. I think some of the atx ones used crap caps, but otherwise were well built.

One method I've come across for blowing up power supplies is an ignorant person switching the voltage from 240v to 110v.
Power supplies don't like that.
Someone I know of actually did this a few months ago.

Imperious wrote:

One method I've come across for blowing up power supplies is an ignorant person switching the voltage from 240v to 110v.
Power supplies don't like that.
Someone I know of actually did this a few months ago.

Why did he do that? 😵

I have seen that happen in a school once where a kid thought it'll make a game work or enable cheats or something.