Power Supply Failure?

[PismoGuy]

I have a Shuttle SK41G SFF that has been working for several years. Yesterday when I attempted to power on, absolutely nothing happens; no lights, no action. Using an ohmeter, I confirmed that the power switch is closing when pushed, so I am suspecting the power supply may have gone south. Can anyone suggest an easy way to test a power supply external to the computer? Any help would be appreciated. I don't have another supply to substitute in the computer.
Thanks

 

[DogFaceMonk]

Professional techs have devices (which btw, cost more than a new power supply anyway) that can be used to power up a power supply with no Mobo attached and rate the voltages and health of the power supply. If you don't have any IT professional friends, though and you do suspect the power supply, you're kinda out of luck on using a basic multimeter for the job. That being said, I'm not 100% sure from your description that it isn't bad memory or CPU or motherboard (or even just a connection between power switch or power supply and mobo coming loose) that is causing your problem.

 

[amdskip]

On the ATX connector, use a couple inch long piece of wire to connect the green wire to any black (ground) and have a case fan hooked up as a load on the power supply. This will turn the power supply on and tell you if it is completely dead, etc.

 

[PismoGuy]

Thanks. I'll try to see if there is any life in it at all. I assume these supplies don't like to work into no load.

 

[jadinolf]

I have found that a power supply tester is a smart investment for anyone who repairs his/her computer. I got mine at newegg for about 7 bucks.

 

[PismoGuy]

I took suggestion of jadinolf and got a functional tester from Newegg. Their usual outstanding service got it to me this afternoon (9/21). The supply is stone dead. These things are in a very compact package (SFF)and I wonder if they get more heat stress as a result. Anyone else had difficulty with these small computers?