A2000 PSU blew up

[amiga2000]

The PSU to my Amiga 2000 just blew up again - that is twice in one year (after replacing it with another 300W PSU from Mr Hardware Computers). I was wondering, what does that mean? This time, after 'shutting down', I heard a pop sound and then a horrible burning smell...

I do have a lot of drives and cards in the Amiga 2000 tower. Would getting a higher watt PSU like 400W prevent this kind of burnout from happening? (would getting a 400W PSU for an A2000 damage the computer?) Or is it a heating issue? I just need a more reliable solution for the power supply to my A2000 -- I was pretty anxious that the motherboard or some of the cards were damaged (but it all seems fine - right now I am running the computer from my originall 2000 PSU).

I am actually not 100% certain that this replacement PSU which blew up was in fact a 300W PSU - it certainly lasted for a much shorter time than the original 300W PSU I got from Mr. Hardware, and when I tried installing a dkb wildfire card, it still had difficulties booting up.

if anyone has any suggestions/insight into this problem, let me know - I was thinking it might be better for me to start building my own A2000 PSU's rather than paying $120 every 6 months.

[amiga2000]

Does anyone know of any online files or sites about converting a PC power supply to an Amiga (specifically A2000) PSU? I guess I should look into this, although I have to say that I really do not know anything about electronics.

[Linchpin]

Its pretty easy to do, (easier with an old PC AT PSU) as i have just done it for my a1200T... just a case of being carefull man. PSU's are dangerous! Check a.org there is a posting around where JC put the wiring im sure... but cant remember and am kinda still drunk so wont look :-)

It is easy to do tho.

[Framiga]

by amiga2000 on 2003/12/7 11:16:43

The PSU to my Amiga 2000 just blew up again - that is twice in one year (after replacing it with another 300W PSU from Mr Hardware Computers). I was wondering, what does that mean? This time, after 'shutting down', I heard a pop sound and then a horrible burning smell...

you are very unluck :-)

300 watt PSU are enought to run a small car for children. :-)

Probably your new PSU has a problem in the shoutdown "very complex" component . . .a resistor.

If it is too low in OHM, this acts a stress on the big capacitors when it is trying to discharge them.

Now or replace it with an higher resistance one (PAY ATTENTION:only if you know what you are doing) or replace the PSU with a standard AT one.

Ciao

-edit- HERE you can find a lot of Amiga and ATX connectors pin assignment

http://www.hardwarebook.net/connector/

[Amiga4k]

You stated your now running it from the original A2000 power supply.  If this is true, and the system is operating, then the original supply is adequate in wattage.
There are several voltages and "tick signals" that are not standard with non-Amiga 2000 PS units.

My assumption is that you wanted to lighten the load on the original supply.  You also stated "many drives".
 My suggestion is this: keep the original supply for all MB and expansion cards.  Power hard drives and other devices from another supply source.  I did this for many years with an A3000D that had several 5.25"  full height hard drives in an external case.

[HopperJF]

lol
my blessings to your A2000 ;-)

[redrumloa]

Hello! Why not replace the whole A2000? They are cheap enough! Here is one for a current bid of $5.50.
HERE Hell the last bare bones A2000 I sold only got something like $30 on eBay. $120 for a power supply? That's nuts.

If you decide to convert a PC power supply let me know and I can help you as I am about to do the exact same thing with a A4000. The problem is making a PC power supply fit in a stock A2000 case.

[TallAmigan]

would getting a 400W PSU for an A2000 damage the computer?

Don't think so....  

Sounds like you have a heavy load on that PSU... Might even consider a big drive vs many smaller drives....

 :-)  :-)

[Tomas]

It is not allways about watt, a low quality 300watt psu can sometimes be worse than a high quality 200watt one.. It is more about amp it delivers for 5v, 12v and so on

[jeffimix]

Why do I have this freaked out feeling that if I install a couple more things in the 2000 it's not gonna load properly anymore.   :nervous:  :nervous:  :nervous:

[FlagshipAmigaLover]

Hi amiga2000,

Just get yourself an original Amiga 2000, 200 Watt power supply and you should not have any more problems.  The original stock 200 watt Amiga 2000 power supplies are very high quality.  My Amiga 2000HD is 16 years old and my Amiga 2500 is 14 years old.  They both still have their original 200 watt power supplies in them and they are both still running strong.  In fact, I have never had any problems with them.  My advise to you is to only use the original 200 watt Amiga 2000 power supplies, they are the best.     :-D

[jeffimix]

Yeah I admit the original power supply seems able enough to run my Harddrive, CD-ROM drive, floppies (2), accelerator, and 5 zorro cards just fine... thats a 68040 too not the most efficient accelerator...

[Wain]

There's another important question here that isn't being addressed...

What's the wiring like in your home? and what's the general power like in your town?

Many areas of the world(including major cities) do not have stable power output, and may power supplies (especially earlier made ones) cannot handle the stress of it for too long without degrading.  Although I have seen some pretty darn strong A2000 PSU's before, it's still worth thinking about.

When things (refridgerator, possibly television, or air conditioner) turn on in your house do your lights dim for half a second?  do you live in a place that is frequent for brownouts?  do you live in a metropolitan area?  Do you live in an "old" building?

If any of these questions are answered "yes", you might also want to look into a line conditioner or a UPS.

I can tell you that a brand new theatre was built in downtown chicago last year, I was sitting with my brother and one of the electricians and we ran a meter across an outlet, and came up with 137 volts.  

I've lost PSU's to brownouts and the general wiring of my apartments before, it's been frustrating, but a UPS has been some of the best money I've ever spent.

[sir_inferno]

Wain wrote:
There's another important question here that isn't being addressed...

What's the wiring like in your home? and what's the general power like in your town?

Many areas of the world(including major cities) do not have stable power output, and may power supplies (especially earlier made ones) cannot handle the stress of it for too long without degrading.  Although I have seen some pretty darn strong A2000 PSU's before, it's still worth thinking about.

When things (refridgerator, possibly television, or air conditioner) turn on in your house do your lights dim for half a second?  do you live in a place that is frequent for brownouts?  do you live in a metropolitan area?  Do you live in an "old" building?

If any of these questions are answered "yes", you might also want to look into a line conditioner or a UPS.

I can tell you that a brand new theatre was built in downtown chicago last year, I was sitting with my brother and one of the electricians and we ran a meter across an outlet, and came up with 137 volts.  

I've lost PSU's to brownouts and the general wiring of my apartments before, it's been frustrating, but a UPS has been some of the best money I've ever spent.

central london doesn't get many power cuts, so a need for a ups is not that great, however i did make my own home-made ups  :-D

I keep my main fileserver in the garage, and i have about 15 heavy duty industrial batteries, then through some circuity things it detects if the voltage is too low and then activates the batteries. But there is a GFCI in the house protecting the entire circuit and i use power surge thingy's on every plug.

[QuikSanz]

Hi,

Something else to consider. Power supplies use "elecrolytic capacitors". these can dry out over time and fail.
You might want to take a look inside and replace them with new ones as they are cheap.

Chris