Overclockaholics Forums - SS problem and solution.

Got all excited to spend the evening tweaking OS/CPU/RAM for some SB benching fun later this weekend.

Flipped on the SS and it triggered the GFI. :ohcrap:

Grumbling to myself about crappy current protection getting in the way of awesomeness, I tried resetting the switch with no juice.

:flaminmad:

Got heavy extension cord to a new outlet and settled in to troubleshoot.

1) Monitor works fine.
2) GFI triggered every time I plugged in the SS - even to a surge protector powered OFF.
3) Remembered that the yahoo who built my SS wired the switch so that OFF means ON and ON means OFF. I can say whatever I want about the builder. I have no idea who he or she is - I bought it 3rd hand. :moon:
4) No good. GFI triggers no matter what.

:argh:

Take off the casing and find this:

Attachment 5445
Attachment 5446

A bracket welded to the compressor was pressed up tight against those contacts and shorting the power plug.

:scared:

I couldn't get the casing back together without that short happening (tried several times) so I externalized the whole plug and it fired up like a champ when I switched it "OFF" :rofl

Attachment 5447

Temporary fix. But I'm relieved I don't have to figure out where to send this sucker for repairs.

Moral of the story?

Mod your hardware! It teaches you valuable troubleshooting skills you can use in real life. ;)