Old P3 PSU

[Steyr69]

Hi Folks,

I got this industrial PC connected to a machine.
It appears to have an old P3 psu.
20 pins.

There are 2 motion cards fixed on the PCI slots on the mobo.
Apparently, these 2 cards control the motion of the platen in the machine.
Recently, the PC cannot be booted up and the service chap diagnosed the PSU died.
Fair enough, we gave him a 20 pin PSU (2 in fact) and he fixed up and the PC booted up.
Now, after he hooked up the PC to the machine....run the program...
There appears to be some config error.
He claims the PSU is not giving enough stabilise power to the cards...thus causing the start up program to have error.
I had been looking at the old die PSU and it appears very ordinary.
The service chap had since find some excuse that he is looking for a suitable PSU. Until he find one, the machine cant be up.

Any folks here dealing with industrial PC can advise on his diagnosis?

 

[wtfh4x]

Can't you just try with a regular 20+4 pin PSU?

 

[Alternative X]

Can't you just try with a regular 20+4 pin PSU?

It would be a better idea to find a PSU with more wattage on the 5V rails as ancient PSUs usually have more wattage on the 5V rail and using a modern PSU may overload the 5V rail due to the stronger 5V power draw from the ancient system.

 

[commach]

Hi Folks,

I got this industrial PC connected to a machine.
It appears to have an old P3 psu.
20 pins.

There are 2 motion cards fixed on the PCI slots on the mobo.
Apparently, these 2 cards control the motion of the platen in the machine.
Recently, the PC cannot be booted up and the service chap diagnosed the PSU died.
Fair enough, we gave him a 20 pin PSU (2 in fact) and he fixed up and the PC booted up.
Now, after he hooked up the PC to the machine....run the program...
There appears to be some config error.
He claims the PSU is not giving enough stabilise power to the cards...thus causing the start up program to have error.
I had been looking at the old die PSU and it appears very ordinary.
The service chap had since find some excuse that he is looking for a suitable PSU. Until he find one, the machine cant be up.

Any folks here dealing with industrial PC can advise on his diagnosis?

Can elaborate on the purpose and function of the industrial machine and the brand of the PC attached to it? Dell and Compaq are using a proprietary 20 pins ATX connector thus off the shelve PSU might not work or can even kill the motheboard.

By right, there isn't any special requirement for PCI card except for the required -5V (white wire) on the ATX 20 pins connector which is a standard during the P3 era. Now, almost non of the PSU manufacturer fabricate PSU with the -5V anymore. If unforturnately the PCI cards needed the -5V, you will need to find a replacement PSU with the -5V (white wire) or repair the faulty PSU.

 

[Steyr69]

Thanks commach! I thought all psus are about the same.
Looks like the service chap is right.
There is no brand to the pc.
And apparently it was assembled in uk. So the psu is some brand which is unheard of.
The machine is actually an xray machine. For checking pcb solder joints.
Looks like might hv to repair the old psu.

 

[commach]

I guess the control cards are using the RS232 interface which required the present of the -5volts for the servo motor to define the logic0 and logic1 signal in servo motor driver board.

The service chap is probably half right, If he know about the -5V requirement, he won't even bother to test the new PSU without the -5volts rail. If you are not able to find an replacement PSU with the -5volts rail, repair the faulty PSU is the easier way IMHO.

If all else failed, you can pass the PSU to me, I might be able to repair the dead PSU.

 

[t258jgn]

Tech Dynamic has SunMoon SM5500 Tester to test the psu.
They might be able to help you

 

[Steyr69]

I guess the control cards are using the RS232 interface which required the present of the -5volts for the servo motor to define the logic0 and logic1 signal in servo motor driver board.

The service chap is probably half right, If he know about the -5V requirement, he won't even bother to test the new PSU without the -5volts rail. If you are not able to find an replacement PSU with the -5volts rail, repair the faulty PSU is the easier way IMHO.

If all else failed, you can pass the PSU to me, I might be able to repair the dead PSU.

Thanks.....for the concise explanation.
I just want to make sure the service chap is not smoking me.
Next week another senior chap is coming down to look at it.
I will discuss with him whats the best approach.