Find PC Problems with a Power Supply Tester!

The Fuhengli Power Supply Tester Featured in this video is available through my Amazon Affiliate Link:
amzn.to/2PXsXR1
Through this link, ThriftyAV receives a small commission at no additional cost to the buyer.
When a GPU fails or when a motherboard fails, sometimes folks jump to the wrong conclusion and assume a card or board is faulty, when they are really having a problem with POWER! It is possible to test power issues with a multimeter, but this is burdensome, and if you make a mistake, it can cause costly damage to your gear. A quicker, easier way to test power issues is with a Power Supply Tester!
Amazon description of this product:
Brand Fuhengli
Item Dimensions LxWxH 4.9 x 2.6 x 0.63 inches
Item Weight 3.1 Ounces
About this item
[8-in-1 ATX Power Supply Tester] -- Support test 20-pin IDE / 24-pin IDE / HDD / Floppy 4-pin / PCI-e 6-pin / 4-pin / 8-pin / SATA connectors
[Aluminum Alloy Enclosure] -- Light and Easy to Carry, High Strength, Nice Thermal Conductivity & Corrosion Resistance
[1.8'' LCD Screen] -- Outputted Voltages shows on the 1.8'' LCD Screen, Easy to Read ( The 1.8'' LCD Screen was Powered by 20-pin / 24-pin Connector ), Note: The Product Screen Has a Load of Scratches All Over It？Because The Screen is Easy to Scratch, We Put a Protective Film on It, If You Think It's Not Beautiful, You Can Tear It Off by Yourself
[Beep Alarm] -- When your power supply test value is beyond normal range, the Power Supply Tester would issue a buzzer alarm, Easy to Know
NOTE: The voltage of IDE / SATA / P6 / P8 interface is displayed by the three lights on the left of the power tester. If their voltage is normal, the three groups of lights (+ 12V, + 3.3, + 5V) will be on. If the light is not on, it indicates that the interface line group is faulty.
0:00 Intro / Open
0:52 Unboxing
1:24 Hookup
2:40 Display
4:13 SATA/Molex/Floppy
5:36 Testing with Multimeter
8:39 Conclusion
My Website
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ThriftyAV is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
#PowerSupplyTester #PowerTest #ThriftyAV

[@TexanWolverine]

@2:00 The Plus four connecter has to be inserted first before the 20 pin in order to insert it all the way and also prevents it from sliding back out. There is a little tab on it that will prevent you from inserting it all the way in if you put it in last. The same pin prevents it from backing out when inserted in the correct order.

[@Junkman2008]

Good review my man. I've seen this same tester sold under 15-different brand names and they are all the same exact tester. The manufacturer is selling them to whoever wants to claim it is theirs, thus the generic name stamp.

[@insidethreewide7133]

Thank you for this video. I just made a purchase via your Amazon link.

[@martinmercerjr8615]

I been reading a course on PC repair. It tells you when you power on a power supply and test it with a multimeter. Make sure you a load on the power supply

[@tacticalcenter8658]

I use the pc/sps tester to check the initial voltage without load. It won't tell you if the psu has issues, just if some of the voltage is not in range. Passmark has a physical psu tester that does even more testing than one of these simple testers, and it's in line, so you hook it up to a working system to impose load on the psu and test the voltages. Problem with the Passmark tool is that it doesn't work with server psu's or 12v only psu's (the new standard that has the psu components on the motherboard). In that case you can just populate a test system with gpus, hdds etc and impose a stress on the components to impose a high load on the server psu's. Alternatively there is other testers that are for electrical engineering... These can be a bit expensive and often not worth it unless your a psu manufacturer, and rma facility or something like that.

[@ThriftyAV]

You are correct that this device will not test a psu under load. Over the years, I've had power supplies go bad with voltages out of range with NO load applied. This tester will work for extreme problems like those. I looked into the Passmark Inline Tester you mentioned. This looks like a really cool device, but it is currently unavailable on Amazon. Also, as a hobbyist I cannot justify the price tag. If I'm having issues with a PSU under load, I'll just swap it out with another and see if it fixes the problem.

[@tacticalcenter8658]

@@ThriftyAV yup. I'm just sharing some info. I've been a repair technician for over 20 years.

[@infopc-arieh6372]

Excellent ... well done ...

[@mikejohnson7380]

Excellent review ... but you bridged pin 16 to GND ... not pin 4... right?

[@Yorumcu63]

Thank you for video

[@slybunda]

need to actually put a load on the psu to test it properly.

[@mrlest29]

Love it.

[@deadhorse1]

Thank you, I bought this same one today, but mine didnt come with instructions, so i plugged everything in, I take it from your video you just want to test one cable at a time?

[@heniman2687]

Hello Bro! I bought this item just from Amazon. I plugin in my 6 pin PSU power supply for my Goldshell mini doge miner, but it doesn't work. My question is do I need to connect 24pin power supply to work, or something wrong with device? Please any ideals otherwise I want to return it.

[@acoatl751]

I accidently plug the 6P connector (that goes to the graphics card) on the 4p to 8p (that goes motherboards ) and got sparks i already knew that power supply was faulty do you think i damaged the power supply tester? I tested another power supply after that and i it tested good even thought the second power supply did no had 6p for graphics cards.

[@pettitbill]

My small 230W Dell PS doesn't have an off and on switch so when I plug in any cable the tester never comes on so how do I force the PS on to test it?

[@ramanmono]

My PG says 180ms but flashing and it gives a beeping sound. The voltages show correctly.

[@tarikcollins778]

what does the pg mean ? because i tested mines it was beeping with pg At 130. also let me add i’m testing a corsair Rm850x then i tested my old corsair v850w which tested normal pg and not beeping

[@MarcsVlogVids]

Is it safe to test unknown cables on a modular power supply using a tester?

[@THEONLYETP]

I have a similar unit and the PG is 0! But the PSU is fine and working with no issues. EVGA said the cheap testers do not test PG correctly. How could you get 0 and a unit be fully operational? Also other EVGA PSU test 100 and all of the non- EGVA test lower than they should. These units cannot be trusted to test PG properly. Volts are fine BTW!

[@aglandorf75]

Got that one today... Its Not turing on... Tomorrow I will get a new PSU...lets see whats going on with the device

[@windfire5380]

Question: I have a new Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1200W 80+. When I plug in the 24pin + 8pin the voltages are great. My PG is flashing and beeping with a value of 120ms. Is that a failure? Also, I think this new 1200 comes with 2x 8pin PCIE power--which my "Power Supply Tester" does not support. Is that why the PG is blinking???

[@trippeffect]

I have a Corsair 850w and plug in 24 and 8 pin, voltage is all good but my PG is flashing with 120ms as well. Have you confirmed your PSU to be good or faulty?

[@orestesdd]

Where can I get the 24 pin connector diagram shown in your video? Thank you, and I bought the "tester" using your link.

[@ThriftyAV]

The following page has 24 pin out, along with Molex, 6pin, 8pin, and more. Thank you for using the affiliate link. www.copperramparts.com/2018/05/19/pc-power-supplies-part-2/

[@orestesdd]

@@ThriftyAV Do you have any recommendation for a multimeter? I think I need to build a tool set of items to diagnose this type of issues. Thank you for your prompt response.

[@ThriftyAV]

@@orestesdd kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJCQl2uNf7elqaM

[@whollenbeck8]

Nothing floppy going on over here sir.

[@jragonwriter6316]

I built a computer with used parts. On day 1, everything worked fine. On day 2 and 3 the RGB lights on my cheap "Darkflash" branded fans stopped working, but the fans would still spin. Around this time, I learned that the USB ports would only support my mouse and usb flash-drive intermittently. I disassembled the fans and I could see that each LED strip showed exactly 1 burnt out spot on a tiny circuit controller, but the burn marks were in different locations for each fan. I have sharp eyes but was unable to see any signs of burn related to the USB ports. Am I crazy to think the problem with the fans and the USB ports might have come from the power supply? And if so, would this tester help me to confirm the PSU as the source of the problem? PSU is a Corsair GS700. It's old, but I do still hope to use it. Thanks!

[@ThriftyAV]

This tester is an inexpensive way to see if the voltages are outside spec on your power supply with no load. With USB issues, pay particular attention to the 5V test. Power supplies may perform differently under load, and this device will not test this. The problem may also be with your MB.

[@jragonwriter6316]

Thanks!

[@luigiprovencher8888]

I just bought this and received it today.

[@whollenbeck8]

I just read your comment and I have this device also today.

[@richied5294]

Restarting after power down - Capacitor discharge?

[@rongibson9702]

I believe that is due to back EMF (see also Lenz's law), essentially the same thing as all circuits have inductance and capacitance when the current is changing. Obviously an AC circuit is constantly changing. DC is a little less obvious but turning off the current is changing. Strange things happen under non-steady state conditions. A high frequency AC circuit starts to behave as if it were a DC circuit and a high frequency DC circuit (such as those occurring in computer circuits - on and off) start to behave as if they were AC circuits. If there are any EEs out there feel free to correct me as I am an ME not an EE. Mechanicals use electronics as tools but we are forced to understand them in our college requirements

[@noone5014]

What if the PG is only 130ms like mine? the tester also keeps on beeping, does it mean my psu is defective? all other values are normal.

[@CasualVitality]

I’ve been trying to find an answer to this specific question, did you figure it out?

[@Wtfduderofl]

@@CasualVitality did either one of you happen to figure this out? Lol..

[@whereta3097]

the manual says "if their test voltage is exceeds the normal range, the buzzer will sent out beeps for a long time and the corresponding voltage or pg value display status is flashing, it means that power supply is a fault source"

[@jimmiievans9244]

You need plug in 12v cpu, kit test not sound beep 😂

[@paul5828]

These are a total waste of money best way to check if your psu is no good is with another known working one , it may show all good but will not show power draw, it's like a car batt thats dead will run lights radio ect but will not start the car

[@rongibson9702]

I have to respectfully disagree. First off this device is really inexpensive - I paid $18 for it delivered from Amazon. Multiple events can cause a power problem or worse something else may be failing due to a power fault and is masked - say a failing video card (this happened to me). I had several power supplies I was not sure if they were bad or not. While this device will not detect fault under load it will rule out fast and easy any just plain old dead PSU allowing one to determine quickly and easily determine if its OK or not. I tested all the old ones I had and found 2 were definitely bad and threw those out. You will spend far more time wrestling with a multimeter because the leads won't fit in the sockets. Of course if you are an octopus with 8 arms you can do that easily :) In addition a multimeter has the same issue - can not test under loaded conditions. While this little device may not give you the exact answer to a problem it saves time by eliminating the basics first. I spent 2 hours wrestling with a multimeter before I gave up

[@defunctuserchannel]

🎯💯​@@rongibson9702

[@TexanWolverine]

@@rongibson9702 he wasn't arguing that it was faster than a multimeter. Its simply faster to swap out the power supply with a known working one. This tester will not necessarily tell you the PSU is bad. While it is quick way to check the voltages, unless for some reason you don't have another working PSU laying around, It is still a waste of time more often than not. It doesn't do any sort of load testing or tell you its efficiency. You can have all the right voltages and still have a shit power supply.

[@shurikenflip9818]

​@@TexanWolverine yo i just bought a used psu, how could i know if its still in good condition or no? the outside part still looks perfect (msi mpg a850gf)