Blown Power Cable

[Rhotis]

So quick hits,  Heard a pop,  PC died.  During TS noticed the power cable itself had a split in it at the 3 prong male end.  Put a new cable on and PC works.  

 

So the PC works but Im concerned what could have caused this.  THe surge protector never waivered.  Monitor,  speakers and phone charger are on that strip and they never blinked.  I did not have to reset the surge protector  (APC true surge protector not a simple power strip,  forget the rating).  

 

The cable was rather old,  a good 3-5 years older than the PC which I built 3 years ago.  

PC specs in question

 

i7 5820k

Asus X99-A USB 3.1

EVGA GTX 970

Corsair low profile memory

2 samsung evo 850 SSDs

EVGA 650w gold rated PSU

Corsair H115i cooler

 

My big concern is should I be worried about the PSU.  

 

Heart sank when I heard that pop.  I recently bought a Noctua NH-14 with 2011 kit to switch back to air cooling as I have had a few nightmares in the last few months about the AIO loop leaking (its fine).  Had not gotten around to switching to the Noctua and I was sure my procrastination just did me in lol.  

 

Any thoughts on what would cause that power cable to split and blow out like that would be appreciated

[Bombastinator]

Things I would do if this happened to me:

 

1: Replace my power strip with a new decent one.  Don’t pay bottom dollar.  Get one with childproof ports and leave them closed when I’m not using them

 

2: think hard about replacing my PSU.  Maybe do it just on principal, but probably get the same brand.

[Rhotis]

3 minutes ago, Bombastinator said:

Things I would do if this happened to me:

 

1: Replace my power strip with a new decent one.  Don’t pay bottom dollar.  Get one with childproof ports and leave them closed when I’m not using them

 

2: think hard about replacing my PSU.  Maybe do it just on principal, but probably get the same brand.

Thanks for the reply

 

Yeah,  the Surge strip will prolly be replaced.  It is a decent one though.  Its an actual APC branded surge protector that I forget the stats on it but I remember the rating was pretty high.  I dont know I can trust it to stay going though so it will be replaced.

 

PSU -  Little harder money wise to pony up.  Not been my month.  My car caught on fire as I pulled into a parking lot beginning of year.  So far,  it seems 2020 has something against me lol.  

[TempestCatto]

How thick was the cable? What gauge was it? I had this happen to me with a really expensive anti static vac. The power cord (same kind for a pc) was so thin and cheaply made. Must have been at least 18GA. If your power cable was a shit one, it's possible that you pulled more power than it was capable of handling. Was it the one that came with your PSU?

 

Your PSU and components are likely fine. But I would think hard about replacing the PSU out of principal. I think everything else on your surge protector is likely fine.

 

 

[Bombastinator]

Re: it’s a decent one

Not any more it isn’t.  Those things have a fuse in them.  They’re good for one(1) event like what just happened.  It should have blown but it didn’t.  I like your blown cord more than your power strip.

 

re: PSU 

I like your PSU.  It may have saved your computer.  It is a worthy thing.  It may have been injured beyond repair.  I am less impressed with your power strip.

 

breaking at the male end is where they’re supposed to break.  It’s a built in weak point.