Can This Cause Damage?

[Mike Soda]

This is the second time it's has happened so I already know it's going to be impossible to simply never do it again. Sometimes I forget to also turn my EVGA G2 550W's rear switch off after shutting down my PC. It's orientation even after owning for several months isn't a clear sign when reaching back either. So as a result just now I once again switched it off, thinking that direction was on & then proceeded to tap my MasterCase Pro 3's front power button. For a split second I saw everything light up then go dark. In my opinion this means that it tried to power on with the residual power that was left in the PSU but then couldn't continue. Realizing what happened, AGAIN, I flipped the rear switch the other way & powered on normally. Nothing appears to be out of sorts yet but I have to ask, has this or could it after future occurrences permanently damage any of my components?

 

P.S: Simply trying harder to remember doesn't work, if anything then I forget more often.

[Crunchy Dragon]

I've never had any problems with it. And to be honest, there's no reason I'm aware of to turn off the PSU after a shutdown unless you're transporting it or something similar

[Jaxder]

Whenever I'm elbow deep in a computer, I always do this to make sure the system is as drained of power as possible to both protect myself and to protect the system (of course I also use a grounding strap).

 

I don't think it should cause damage, but I dunno. This IS my first comment and I could just be a dog behind a keyboard and screen.

[Anghammarad]

No this usually doesn't damage your components. 

 

You'll hear from many technicians that by doing that they make sure that there is no power left in the system, before they do any work on it. 

 

The other question is, why do you use that switch? To save on the power bill? Or is there a problem with the power where you live that this might safe your machine once a short while every now and then?

[Cyracus]

no, doesn't hurt anything, not even sure why you think you need to flip the switch on the power supply every time...

[Mike Soda]

4 minutes ago, Jaxder said:

Whenever I'm elbow deep in a computer, I always do this to make sure the system is as drained of power as possible to both protect myself and to protect the system (of course I also use a grounding strap).

 

I don't think it should cause damage, but I dunno. This IS my first comment and I could just be a dog behind a keyboard and screen.

 

4 minutes ago, Anghammarad said:

No this usually doesn't damage your components. 

 

You'll hear from many technicians that by doing that they make sure that there is no power left in the system, before they do any work on it. 

 

The other question is, why do you use that switch? To save on the power bill? Or is there a problem with the power where you live that this might safe your machine once a short while every now and then?

 

5 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

I've never had any problems with it. And to be honest, there's no reason I'm aware of to turn off the PSU after a shutdown unless you're transporting it or something similar

Thank you all so much, I always usually switch the PSU itself off because at night I also turn my UPS off. So I figured I'd better cut power in order for fear damage could come to the PSU (even when the PC is off) if I turned my UPS off first. Also just for longevity as a whole, unless y'all think these rear switches weren't meant to be flipped several times a day.

Edited October 27, 2017 by Mike Soda
removed an extra "off"

[Cyracus]

1 minute ago, Mike Soda said:

Thank you all so much, I always usually switch the PSU itself off because at night I also turn my UPS off. So I figured I'd better cut power in order for fear damage could come to the PSU (even when the PC is off) if I turned off my UPS off first. Also just for longevity as a whole, unless y'all think these rear switches weren't meant to be flipped several times a day.

won't harm anything by flipping that switch when your pc is off, just doesn't really matter unless power is super unstable, and since you have a UPS even that shouldn't be a concern

[Anghammarad]

1 minute ago, Mike Soda said:

 

 

Thank you all so much, I always usually switch the PSU itself off because at night I also turn my UPS off. So I figured I'd better cut power in order for fear damage could come to the PSU (even when the PC is off) if I turned off my UPS off first. Also just for longevity as a whole, unless y'all think these rear switches weren't meant to be flipped several times a day.

you already have a UPS in front of your PC, then you really don't need to switch both of. I would keep both switched on, ok shut down the computer the usual way.

 

For the switch on the PSU, there are enough good PSU out in the wild that don't have an off switch. Those are mostly for convenience.

[Jaxder]

4 minutes ago, Mike Soda said:

Thank you all so much, I always usually switch the PSU itself off because at night I also turn my UPS off. So I figured I'd better cut power in order for fear damage could come to the PSU (even when the PC is off) if I turned my UPS off first. Also just for longevity as a whole, unless y'all think these rear switches weren't meant to be flipped several times a day.

Is this for your desktop machine? If so, why do you have a UPS? Unclean power in your area?

[flibberdipper]

5 minutes ago, Jaxder said:

Is this for your desktop machine? If so, why do you have a UPS? Unclean power in your area?

You always ask why people have a UPS until you actually get one because they are real ass-savers. It's really nice to have at least 10 minutes on battery to do last-minute crap if the power goes out/browns out, or even to flip off your PC and plug your phone into it if you need a quick emergency charge. Another really nice bonus is if the voltage fluctuates (i.e. during a wind storm) and the UPS will help fill in the gaps.

[Jaxder]

Just now, tmcclelland455 said:

You always ask why people have a UPS until you actually get one because they are real ass-savers. It's really nice to have at least 10 minutes on battery to do last-minute crap if the power goes out/browns out, or even to flip off your PC and plug your phone into it if you need a quick emergency charge. Another really nice bonus is if the voltage fluctuates (i.e. during a wind storm) and the UPS will help fill in the gaps.

Oh I totally agree with you. I have one attached to my Unraid box. I was just curious about what they use it for.

[Mike Soda]

20 minutes ago, Cyracus said:

won't harm anything by flipping that switch when your pc is off, just doesn't really matter unless power is super unstable, and since you have a UPS even that shouldn't be a concern

 

19 minutes ago, Anghammarad said:

you already have a UPS in front of your PC, then you really don't need to switch both of. I would keep both switched on, ok shut down the computer the usual way.

 

For the switch on the PSU, there are enough good PSU out in the wild that don't have an off switch. Those are mostly for convenience.

 

17 minutes ago, Jaxder said:

Is this for your desktop machine? If so, why do you have a UPS? Unclean power in your area?

Thank you all again & I may just start doing that but yeah this is my desktop PC. Yes power can be unstable here during storm season or whenever they're working on the nearby roads/highways. Had a Back-UPS Network 40 but upgraded to an SMC1000 by APC. I hope someday they make Lithium-ion 3000VA UPS's that're the same size as my 1000VA model or even smaller.

[KenjiUmino]

1 hour ago, Mike Soda said:

So as a result just now I once again switched it off, thinking that direction was on & then proceeded to tap my MasterCase Pro 3's front power button. For a split second I saw everything light up then go dark.

i do this on purpose every time i change RAM, CPU or PCI cards.

 

basically anything that is directly attached to the mainboard. (rarely do it when i only want to change minor things like harddrives or fans) 

 

i switch off the PSU or pull the power cable, then push the power button once again to drain the mainboard and other components of any possible remaining charge, then i start working on the hardware. i believe that prevents me from accidently shorting something.