Should Power Supply come on if plugged to power but not...

My computer seems to have gone completely dead. I thought it was likely the power supply.

I just received another one, used. To test, I plugged it into the wall, not installed in the computer or hooked to anything. Dead.

I presume it should come on. Am I correct, meaning, I got a dead power supply shipped to me?

 

Most PSUs have an indicator light to show when the are alive and receiving mains power. If you can see the indicator light and it is not on then most likely no power is reaching the PSU.

Have you tried more than one mains outlet and with more than one cable between outlet and PSU?

John

 

If I remember correctly a PSU is designed NOT to power up if not connected to anything. You can trick it by connecting 2 of the pins, but I don't remember how to do it

Edit - see here - http://aphnetworks.com/tutorials/psu_paperclip_trick

 

Do not consider trying to test a notebook PSU with a paperclip. You will probably short something.

I've got several different notebook PSUs and they all have lights which come on when plugged in to the mains. Modern PSUs are, however, designed to minimise their power consumption when plugged in and on standby.

John

 

Lol, yeah, I wasn't thinking there, we are in a notebook forum..... A notebook PSU should work when plugged into the wall, but not the notebook. I just tested mine with a multimeter and that is the case.