Pots on Sparkle 400 question

Tismedt · 11-17-02, 12:52 AM

I was cleaning out the dust bunnies from my main rig and decided to open the psu and blow it out. I noticed the pots right away and have always been a bit dissapointed bt the 12v and 5v readings in MBM. So I broke out the multi meter and started to adjust to up the voltage and with a new digital meter I cant get the 12v above 11.6 because the psu shuts down. The 5v will go over 6 v. When I check the v w/ a old analog meter the 12v is at 12. So I guess my question is WTF? I tried the digital multi on 2 other psu and got readings of 11.97 on a 300w ever and 12.11 on a 400w compusa so I dont think its the multimeter. Hope this makes sense to you guys. If not ask for clearification and I'll do the best I can.

BTW I havent had any problems running my 1700 @1607 1.8vcore for the last 2 months.

larrymoencurly · 11-17-02, 03:47 AM

What kind of loads are you using while adjusting the voltages? I have a PSU that won't go above 11.4V if the +5V and +3.3V aren't loaded down enough, and even with a 466 MHz Celeron it won't go above 11.8V. On one PSU, either the +5V or +12V will go way high when turned off, like +18V, if there's no load. I was told that the factory sets the voltages with heavy loads connected, and then the voltages are tested at light and full load.

Tismedt · 11-17-02, 11:02 AM

I had zero load during testing. I suppose I could hook up several fans for a 12v load. I have a 120 and lots of 80's. As for 5v the psu is not in a case and I dont have a mobo thats not in a case to test on the bench yet. I bought a K7S5A here in the classifieds the other day and it should be here soon. I can wait until then to test with a 5v load. Thanks for the response and I'll try it with a load. I'll post back with the results.

larrymoencurly · 11-17-02, 05:57 PM

I think it's a bad idea to adjust the voltages without a realistic load because voltages from a switching PSU can rise with the load, up to a point, and I once had the +5.0V exceed +5.5V, even though it wasn't supposed to go above 5.25%. The overvoltage protection circuit doesn't usually kick in until the voltage goes really high, like >6V for the +5.0V line and >4V for the +3.3V.

I don't think that a few fans will provide anything close to a realistic load, and I would rather load each output to half its rated max with jumbo resistors.

Tismedt · 11-17-02, 10:30 PM

I'm not that knowledgeable about risistors and such. Do you know of a site that has a guide to doing this kind of adjustment? I will be using a mobo w/ a duron 1.2, 6.4 5400 hdd, gf2mx 64mg, 256 pc 2100 and a DVD-Rom (my test bench setup). Will that be a sufficient(sp) load?

Tismedt · 11-18-02, 10:45 PM

Just a bump to see if anyone else has any input. >>>>Crosses fingers and hopes for a miricle

The Spyder · 11-18-02, 11:34 PM

well....... chances are if you tweak it wrond while connected you will loose something~ but all of my sparkels and my friends have ALWAYS been low on the 12v side~! like 11.91 is what i have now......

Tismedt · 11-20-02, 12:02 AM

Thats kind of what I was thinking. I sure dont want to fry anything. It seems strange though that the 12v is 11.6 at best with a multimeter. The way I read it you think I should'nt do any adjusting while hooked to a mobo. DO you know of any other way to but a load on a psu?

Tismedt · 11-22-02, 07:09 PM

I will be working on this tonight. Does anyone have any suggestions. I dont think I will try it under load via my mobo but who knows.

11-17-02, 12:52 AM	Thread Starter #1
Tismedt Shadow ÒÓ's after me!!! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Suisun City Ca. I love this Town	Pots on Sparkle 400 question I was cleaning out the dust bunnies from my main rig and decided to open the psu and blow it out. I noticed the pots right away and have always been a bit dissapointed bt the 12v and 5v readings in MBM. So I broke out the multi meter and started to adjust to up the voltage and with a new digital meter I cant get the 12v above 11.6 because the psu shuts down. The 5v will go over 6 v. When I check the v w/ a old analog meter the 12v is at 12. So I guess my question is WTF? I tried the digital multi on 2 other psu and got readings of 11.97 on a 300w ever and 12.11 on a 400w compusa so I dont think its the multimeter. Hope this makes sense to you guys. If not ask for clearification and I'll do the best I can. BTW I havent had any problems running my 1700 @1607 1.8vcore for the last 2 months.
	QUOTE Thanks

11-17-02, 03:47 AM	#2
larrymoencurly Member Join Date: Jul 2002	What kind of loads are you using while adjusting the voltages? I have a PSU that won't go above 11.4V if the +5V and +3.3V aren't loaded down enough, and even with a 466 MHz Celeron it won't go above 11.8V. On one PSU, either the +5V or +12V will go way high when turned off, like +18V, if there's no load. I was told that the factory sets the voltages with heavy loads connected, and then the voltages are tested at light and full load.
	QUOTE Thanks

11-17-02, 11:02 AM	Thread Starter #3
Tismedt Shadow ÒÓ's after me!!! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Suisun City Ca. I love this Town	I had zero load during testing. I suppose I could hook up several fans for a 12v load. I have a 120 and lots of 80's. As for 5v the psu is not in a case and I dont have a mobo thats not in a case to test on the bench yet. I bought a K7S5A here in the classifieds the other day and it should be here soon. I can wait until then to test with a 5v load. Thanks for the response and I'll try it with a load. I'll post back with the results.
	QUOTE Thanks

11-17-02, 05:57 PM	#4
larrymoencurly Member Join Date: Jul 2002	I think it's a bad idea to adjust the voltages without a realistic load because voltages from a switching PSU can rise with the load, up to a point, and I once had the +5.0V exceed +5.5V, even though it wasn't supposed to go above 5.25%. The overvoltage protection circuit doesn't usually kick in until the voltage goes really high, like >6V for the +5.0V line and >4V for the +3.3V. I don't think that a few fans will provide anything close to a realistic load, and I would rather load each output to half its rated max with jumbo resistors.
	QUOTE Thanks

11-17-02, 10:30 PM	Thread Starter #5
Tismedt Shadow ÒÓ's after me!!! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Suisun City Ca. I love this Town	I'm not that knowledgeable about risistors and such. Do you know of a site that has a guide to doing this kind of adjustment? I will be using a mobo w/ a duron 1.2, 6.4 5400 hdd, gf2mx 64mg, 256 pc 2100 and a DVD-Rom (my test bench setup). Will that be a sufficient(sp) load?
	QUOTE Thanks

Pots on Sparkle 400 question

Internet Services

Website Development

Tech Hardware

11-18-02, 10:45 PM	Thread Starter #6
Tismedt Shadow ÒÓ's after me!!! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Suisun City Ca. I love this Town	Just a bump to see if anyone else has any input. >>>>Crosses fingers and hopes for a miricle
	QUOTE Thanks

11-18-02, 11:34 PM	#7
The Spyder Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Oregon	well....... chances are if you tweak it wrond while connected you will loose something~ but all of my sparkels and my friends have ALWAYS been low on the 12v side~! like 11.91 is what i have now......
	QUOTE Thanks

11-20-02, 12:02 AM	Thread Starter #8
Tismedt Shadow ÒÓ's after me!!! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Suisun City Ca. I love this Town	Thats kind of what I was thinking. I sure dont want to fry anything. It seems strange though that the 12v is 11.6 at best with a multimeter. The way I read it you think I should'nt do any adjusting while hooked to a mobo. DO you know of any other way to but a load on a psu?
	QUOTE Thanks

11-22-02, 07:09 PM	Thread Starter #9
Tismedt Shadow ÒÓ's after me!!! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Suisun City Ca. I love this Town	I will be working on this tonight. Does anyone have any suggestions. I dont think I will try it under load via my mobo but who knows.
	QUOTE Thanks

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search