Power Supply Unit and Electrical Concepts

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Questions and Answers

What is the function of the power supply?

To take AC power from the wall socket and transform it into DC power to run the motherboard and other internal components.

What is an electron?

Negatively charged particles.

What is current?

The amount of electrons moving past a certain point on a wire.

What is a watt?

The amount of amps and volts needed so that a particular device will function is expressed as how much watts the device needs. Signup and view all the answers

What is an FRU?

FRU refers to the typical parts a tech should carry like RAM and hard drives. Signup and view all the answers

What are two types of current?

Alternating current (AC) and Direct current (DC). Signup and view all the answers

What are the symbols used by multimeters to indicate DC and AC settings?

V...̅ is the DC symbol and V~ is the AC symbol. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a continuity test?

It's used to determine breaks in wires and components. Signup and view all the answers

What devices can be used to protect a PC from faulty AC?

UPS and surge suppressors. Signup and view all the answers

What is the power conditioning feature of a UPS?

It means that the battery filters the AC power to provide the PC with very smooth AC current. Signup and view all the answers

What is surge suppression?

A device that holds extra voltage and protects the devices from voltage spikes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the P4 12V connector?

Used to supply 12 volt power to the motherboard. Signup and view all the answers

How long does the ATX power supply remain on?

The ATX power supply always has 5 volts always running the motherboard. Signup and view all the answers

What is the correlation between volts, amperes, and wattage?

V * A = W; Volts (V), Amps (A), Wattage (W). Signup and view all the answers

What is the soft power feature?

Refers to the fact that the system is always on when plugged in; this allows features such as power management. Signup and view all the answers

What should be checked if a system doesn't seem to have power?

Ensure the PC is plugged in and check to see if the power supply is working. Signup and view all the answers

A possible symptom of a power supply that is dying slowly?

The computer is locking up, has random crashes, and/or has intermittent failure to boot. Signup and view all the answers

What is the use of splitters?

They allow you to create more connections to power all the devices in a PC. Signup and view all the answers

How do fuses provide basic protection from overflow of electricity?

When too much electricity passes through the fuse, the wire inside breaks. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of slot covers?

They cover empty slots to maintain airflow and keep dust and smoke out. Signup and view all the answers

What are the ways in which power supplies can fail?

Power supplies can fail either very slowly or suddenly. Signup and view all the answers

You begin troubleshooting a computer that does not start. The fan in the power supply does not turn on when the PC is plugged into a known good AC outlet. What would you do?

Verify that the PC is turned on and, if so, check and/or replace the power supply. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the exhaust fan in a computer case?

Takes warm air from inside the case and sends it outside. Signup and view all the answers

What are the functions of the power supply fan?

Provides cooling for the voltage regulators and the circuit within the power supply. Signup and view all the answers

Where is the real on/off switch?

On the back of the power supply. Signup and view all the answers

What aspects of electric current can be measured using a multimeter?

Provide the measurements of AC voltage, continuity, DC voltage, and resistance. Signup and view all the answers

How do the electrons flow in DC versus AC?

AC can move in alternate directions back and forth, while DC is only one direction. Signup and view all the answers

Describe a multimeter.

Measures a number of aspects of electrical currents. Signup and view all the answers

You suspect that a wire has a break in it. What can you do to test your theory?

Use a multimeter to do the continuity test. Signup and view all the answers

How does a ground wire provide protection from overflow of electricity?

A ground wire provides a path of least resistance for electrons to flow back to ground in case of accidental overflow. Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Power Supply Unit Overview

Transforms AC power from wall sockets into DC power for motherboards and internal components.

Basic Electrical Concepts

Electrons are negatively charged particles essential for electricity flow.
Current refers to the amount of electrons passing a specific point in a wire.
Watts are calculated by multiplying volts (V) by amps (A), representing the power requirements of devices.

Types of Current

Alternating Current (AC) allows electrons to flow in two directions, whereas Direct Current (DC) flows in one direction.

Measurement Tools

Multimeters use symbols: V...̅ indicates DC and V~ indicates AC.
Multimeters measure AC voltage, continuity, DC voltage, and resistance.

Power Supply Components and Functions

FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) includes essential parts like RAM and hard drives that technicians should carry.
UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) and surge suppressors protect PCs from faulty AC power.
UPS features power conditioning, filtering AC power for smooth delivery to the PC.
Surge suppression prevents voltage spikes by absorbing excess voltage.

Specific Connections and Features

The P4 12V connector supplies power to the motherboard; the ATX power supply maintains 5 volts constantly to keep the motherboard powered.
Splitters are used to create additional connections for powering multiple devices in a PC.
The exhaust fan removes warm air from inside the computer case.

Power Supply Issues and Troubleshooting

Symptoms of a failing power supply include system lock-ups, random crashes, and intermittent boot failures.
If a power supply fan does not activate, check if the PC is turned on, and inspect or replace the power supply if necessary.

Protection Mechanisms

Fuses protect circuits by breaking the internal wire when excessive electricity flows.
Ground wires provide a safe path for excess current to minimize electric shock risks.

Maintenance and Safety

Slot covers ensure airflow while preventing dust accumulation inside the components.
The real on/off switch for the power supply is located at the back of the unit.

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