Is This a Blown Capacitor?

[lando4commando]

Hi,

I found this capacitor that looks leaky when I opened up my PSU because my PC would not start. Is it blown? Do I need a new PSU?

Thanks, Landon

 

[cpuwaiy]

It is not a good sign when you see dried fluid under a capacitor.  

[lando4commando]

Just now, cpuwaiy said:

It is not a good sign when you see dried fluid under a capacitor.  

So do I need a new PSU?

[KenjiUmino]

1 minute ago, cpuwaiy said:

It is not a good sign when you see dried fluid under a capacitor.  

is it dried fluid or is it glue ?

[Enderman]

Can you take a less blurry picture from a bit farther away?

It might be glue, sometimes it gets applied on top of components in power supplies.

If it was blown the top would be bulging.

[seon123]

Just now, KenjiUmino said:

is it dried fluid or is it glue ?

Don't make someone touch close to a potentially charged capacitor

[spwath]

nah, i don't think that's a blown cap

[TheRandomness]

A blown capacitor would have the top bulged and usually split open.

[KenjiUmino]

3 minutes ago, seon123 said:

Don't make someone touch close to a potentially charged capacitor

wasn't my intention

 

but it looks like contacts are not accessible from this side of the PCB either way. 

[knightslugger]

that looks like charred resin or plastic. they should never get so hot as to burn anything.

[iamdarkyoshi]

Thats the glue used to hold them in place. The main filter caps in those supplies like never fail.

[Stefan Payne]

13 hours ago, lando4commando said:

Hi,

I found this capacitor that looks leaky when I opened up my PSU because my PC would not start. Is it blown? Do I need a new PSU?

Thanks, Landon

Looks more like shitty glue

13 hours ago, lando4commando said:

So do I need a new PSU?

Yes of course!
Because the one you have is utter garbage - a Wonder it didn't kill something yet.

 

A blown capacitor would have the top bulged and usually split open.

Usually yes.

But its also possible that the seal fails, especially with Age.

Its just some rubbery stuff where the rubber can harden and leak the electrolyte through the buttom.

[AskTJ]

If your going to be opening up your PSU, you have a big chance of electrocuting yourself, even if its off. Remember that.

 

About the PSU.

As a precaution, I would definitely look into getting a new PSU. Other people have stated that this could be some glue or plastic, but with a PSU being such a critical component, I wouldn't take the risk. Use this calculator and insert all your system specifications into it. I suggest adding on another 50-150 watts to have some headroom when you upgrade. Having a power supply with 1200 watts and your pc only needs 400, will not impact the performance. The PSU will draw how much it needs from the wall. I also recommend you go for something higher than a 80+ bronze. A 80+ rating is a guide to let consumers' know how many watts from the wall is transferred into your computer, meaning the efficiency from watts from the wall to your pc. Having a PSU with no 80+ rating isn't bad, it just means the PSU is inefficient, and is often cheap, meaning its manufactured with cheap capacitors, meaning a high risk of a short or overvoltage to your parts. Main points. - 1. Buy a new PSU. 2. 50-150 watts headroom when buying a PSU. 3. 80+ bronze, at the very least.

 

Good luck man ✌

[Guest]

21 hours ago, lando4commando said:

Hi,

I found this capacitor that looks leaky when I opened up my PSU because my PC would not start. Is it blown? Do I need a new PSU?

Thanks, Landon

 

PC doesn't start.   PSU is OBVIOUSLY a piece of crap because it uses crappy capacitors (leaking or not).  So just buy a NON FIRE HAZARD PSU and call it a day.  Hopefully it solved your "PC doesn't start" issue.