A gamer bought a new power supply. But when he opened the power supply, he experienced a nasty surprise. Because the power supply is not only cheaply made, but it is also dangerous. Because important fuses and controls are missing inside.
Those who buy new hardware may come across a nasty surprise. A gamer inexplicably opened his power supply and presented the inside. And that caused many astonished faces.
Large metal block and missing fuses in the power supply
What kind of device is it? The Equites T500 exhibits all the characteristics of a low-quality power supply, as important safety mechanisms are missing. This is explained by colleagues from TomsHardware. However, in the model presented by the user on reddit, an additional object was found inside.
What exactly did the user find? Upon inspecting the power supply, the poster found a huge block of iron inside the power supply, which was firmly installed next to the capacitors. Although it was placed inside the device, the block of iron serves no real purpose. None of the other electrical components is wired to the block of iron or connected to it in any way.
Why is there a metal block in the power supply? Normally, weight is not a reason that makes a model more valuable. However, high-quality power supplies or models with high power are often heavier than versions with less power because they require more components. This metal block inside was presumably meant to increase the weight and thus give the power supply “quality”.
Many therefore strongly advise him against using this power supply:
Note that it has no conformity marking. If you plug it in, you will lose your household insurance, and if you sell it, you will more or less violate the law everywhere.
(…) Do not use this power supply.
However, it is fundamentally unclear who is responsible for the metal block: The user is also unlikely to know whether the manufacturer or the seller is behind the metal block. However, this cannot be said with complete certainty either.
Rather buy a quality power supply: A power supply without protection is the most dangerous component in a system. Without protection, the components of the power supply can fail and destroy the rest of the system. In particular, every power supply should be equipped with three important fuses:
- Short circuit protection (SCP): Should prevent the power supply or other components from being damaged in the event of a short circuit.
- Over power protection (OPP): If the power supply is heavily loaded, it is supposed to cause the power supply to turn off itself.
- Over/Under current protection (U/OCP): This is supposed to protect the power supply and the components from too strong voltage drops or surges.
Basically, we would recommend you to choose a known and reputable manufacturer when buying a power supply.
Never mess with a power supply
How dangerous is it to open a power supply? In principle, you should never open a power supply if you have no idea about it. Because a power supply can be life-threatening. There is a warning on the label of power supplies that indicates danger to life.
Some components may still carry residual voltage, which can already be very dangerous. Often, defective parts inside are difficult to detect, and often it is not worth the trouble. In the best case, you simply buy a new power supply or use the possible remaining warranty of your device.
You endanger not only yourself but also those around you in the worst case.
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