Can Speakers blow the Power Unit in a PC?

flashnazia

JasX wrote: »

what kind of company are you talking about

-small independent? Small
-large company?
-online retailer?

did they sell you a custom PC they built themselves as a one off? or was it a pretty standard Dell/HP/other big brand offering? Standard - can't see a company name on it so not mainstream like Dell etc.

how much is the invoice and what exactly are they charging you for (eg £XX for PSU, £YY for labour -did you take it to him or did he come out to visit you?) Its under £100. Don't want to say exactly as they might be reading!

did you get any explicit gurantee's with the unit or just standard manufacturers warranties? Standard

did the same guy supply the speakers or did you buy them separately/add them yourself? Not supplied with PC

The picture supplied is similar but not the same. The adapter is one rigid small unit about 6cm long. There is no cord between male and female end.

Am not trying to get out of paying if it was the speakers (or the connection). I just thought it sounded like an odd explanation especially as the other tech from same company told me the PSUs on that cheapo unit were always failing!

The other thing I forgot to mention is, the PSU failed while the PC was off. In other words it blew even though the PC was off, overnight. (we have anti-surge extentions so it can't be that.)
So, its not like I was blasting music (as if) and it blew (if that makes any difference).

Steve66260

Hi Flash
My 10pence worth... I think your set-up is that the power adaptor for your speakers sits between the tower power cable and the tower itself. A problem with this adaptor could cause intermittent surges and spikes to your CPU. The surge protecter can't see these surges so it cant protect against them. The power supply in your PC may not be one that can cope with such 'dirty' electricity, but that doesn't mean it isn't fit for purpose as many electronic appliances around a typical house can't either. Electricity is meant to be 'clean' it is the speaker adaptor that is (maybe) making it dirty. The sales man could have a point unless he also supplied the speakers with the PC as part of a package. You may then be able to claim that the package is at fault.

Switching the front power button on most PCs does not actually switch off the power. It is a bit like the stand-by button on a TV. The power button needs power to work, and the PSU is therefore on all the time the PC is plugged in to the (dirty) power. Your speakers (and possibly printer, scanner etc) are also on all the time unless you switch off at the wall socket.

JasX

Hmmmm, I'm slightly suspicious of £100 PSU changeout job

A less than 1 year old PSU should certainly be within the manufacturers warranty, it'll be perfectly possibly to return any failed PSU direct to the manufacturer for a free replacement.

A good high spec PSU will cost about £80, if you have an £80 PSU I'd expect it to be robust and reliable even if your speaker adapter were 'a little' loose with its connection. An £80 PSU from a reputable manufacturer failed within 1 year would be replaced for free by them without any quibble (they would assess it not the small company, he's in no position of authority to make firm decisions regarding the manufacturers warranty validity).

If he's supplied you with an £80 PSU and charged you £20odd to fit thats a reasonable charge to fit it but he's probably getting the replacement PSU for free and charging you for it. I'd be unhappy.

If he's fitted a cheap £20-25 PSU charging you £100 for it is completly ripping you off -if you can read off the back/pop open the side and tell what make and model of PSU it is we can tell you what its worth.

gtg now but if you can tell what kind of PSU you have fitted someone else should be able to pickup assessing if you've been ripped off. Fitting a PSU is a trivial job, for a smalll outfit can't begrudge them £20 for fitting one for you, little more, especially if they've charged you for a new PSU and are getting a free warranty replacement.

might justify a slightly higher bill if they came to you rather than you taking it to their shop.

what did happen to thge old failed PSU?

Hammyman

flashnazia wrote: »

The other thing I forgot to mention is, the PSU failed while the PC was off. In other words it blew even though the PC was off, overnight. (we have anti-surge extentions so it can't be that.)
So, its not like I was blasting music (as if) and it blew (if that makes any difference).

Unless the PC was switched off at the wall socket, it was technically in standby, not fully off. The PSU would have still been running.

Anti-surge extensions don't really do a lot.

Basically, the weight of the power cable on the socket has caused the pins to splay resulting in an intermittent connection. The rapid nature of the connection and disconnection and resulting current and voltage spiking has stuffed the PSU.

A new PSU is £30.

flashnazia

Thanks for all your replies.

Because of the doubt, I've decided not to challenge this.

They came out really quickly and did the job well. Not charging me much anyway. The PSU is under 20 quid, the rest is VAT and call-out.
Cost not exactly £100, more like between £50 and £100.

Thanks again.

JasX

flashnazia wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies.

Because of the doubt, I've decided not to challenge this.

They came out really quickly and did the job well. Not charging me much anyway. The PSU is under 20 quid, the rest is VAT and call-out.
Cost not exactly £100, more like between £50 and £100.

Thanks again.

kk, if they came out to you (I did specifically ask earlier) that's probably a reasonable bill.

A PSU is very easy to order and fit yourself if you ever have similar issues again...

posting about problems here first before calling people out might help you save money in future too