Burning PowerSupply question

[FlpDaMattress]

Hello everyone, I am presently taking a java class at my school, or at least have been until two days ago. there is a very strong chlorine like smell emanating from the lab and i've been wondering if it's the smell of a burning power supply. if you have ever experienced a dead/burning power supply before please tell me about it (what did it look & smell like). (dell optiplex 750's if memory serves me right)

[Enderman]

No they do not smell like chlorine, they smell like burning electronics.

[Coaxialgamer]

can't help you much . last time i had a psu die it just shut off , no signs whatsoever .

[STRMfrmXMN]

2 minutes ago, iannorton24 said:

Hello everyone, I am presently taking a java class at my school, or at least have been until two days ago. there is a very strong chlorine like smell emanating from the lab and i've been wondering if it's the smell of a burning power supply. if you have ever experienced a dead/burning power supply before please tell me about it (what did it look & smell like). (dell optiplex 750's if memory serves me right)

I can guarantee you that a server PSU in a Dell machine is not likely to be catching fire anytime soon, but if you ever have issues with the system booting up fully (like it crashes by the time Windows starts loading up) or the system freezes up when under intense load then you can assume the PSU is dying.

 

I'm not sure what a burning PSU smells like as even my old shitty PSUs that have died have gone peacefully enough and not sparked or the like. I'd wager a bet that something else in the lab is reeking of chlorine, perhaps a janitorial closet or something?

[Energycore]

I've not burned a whole PSU, but I have burned enough PCB to know that it smells like burnt plastic, not chlorine.

[corrado33]

6 minutes ago, Enderman said:

No they do not smell like chlorine, they smell like burning electronics.

Agreed. 

 

Burning electronics/shorted electronics have a VERY distinct smell. The ONLY way to describe it is "burning electronics" or "electronics smoke." It really smells like nothing else. It definitely does not smell like chlorine.

[FlpDaMattress]

8 minutes ago, STRMfrmXMN said:

I can guarantee you that a server PSU in a Dell machine is not likely to be catching fire anytime soon, but if you ever have issues with the system booting up fully (like it crashes by the time Windows starts loading up) or the system freezes up when under intense load then you can assume the PSU is dying.

 

I'm not sure what a burning PSU smells like as even my old shitty PSUs that have died have gone peacefully enough and not sparked or the like. I'd wager a bet that something else in the lab is reeking of chlorine, perhaps a janitorial closet or something?

Well i know there isn't a janitorial closet in this hall so i guess it will remain a mystery (annoying part is we can't use it at all and i desperately need to finish a grade) also, we don't know what pc (if it is one) is making the smell and we don't put them under more than 20% cpu usage or turn them off (bad to do but it's not my desktop)