SMPS or commonly called power supply unit (PSU) is one of the vital parts of a computer system. Any surge or power spike from the mains enters the PSU first and may damage it. If you have a little knowledge about assembling the PC, you can pull the SMPS out and check it yourself that whether it is working or not. Sometimes the SMPS is OK and the fault is either in the motherboard or some other part of the computer. So here comes the role of a power supply tester to test the PSU of the PC. Among the various SMPS testers, here is a list of some best and easy to use power supply testers.
Top PSU Tester Reviews
HDE PSU Tester
This power supply tester from HDE is an easy to use compact tool that comes with a backlit LCD display to show the output voltages. The tester can check all the vital voltages necessary to run a computer. It can check +5 VSB(stand-by voltage), +12 Volts, +3.3V, and +5V. You need not to use batteries to turn it on since it can be powered by 20-pin or 24-pin power connector of SMPS. Apart from ATX supplies, this HDE tester is compatible to test both ITX and BTX power units. It has durable plastic ports to let you check FDD, SATA, DVD-ROM, IDE HDD supply, Dual-CPU, and PCI-express supplies. Economically priced, this is a must-have gadget for tech enthusiast or IT hardware engineers.
CoolMax Computer PSU Tester
This is one the basic and easy to run tester. It indicates the bugs or errors in the computer supply through LED blinking and sound. So even a novice can come to know the condition of the SMPS without any hassles. Just connect the 24 PIN connector at the input of the tester and it will give an alarm if the power good signal is either too low or high. If the PSU is ok, an LED light will glow and will give a short beep and if the power supply is faulty, the tester will neither give a beep and nor any light will blink. Buy it for simple operation.
Dr. Power Power Supply Tester
This testing tool from Thermaltake is a useful and handy to test ATX power supplies. Apart from the accuracy of results, the best selling point of this PSU checker is its large LCD display. Weighing under 5 pounds, it is ergonomically designed to hold in hands without causing any fatigue even after using it for long durations. It can check the output voltages that include+5V, +12V, +3.3V, -12V, 5VSB, and P.G (power-good). It is equipped with built-in alarms to notify you of over-voltage, low voltage, no-voltage, and unusual PG voltage. Besides 24-pin connector, it has connectors like 4/8 pin, 6/8 PIN PCI-E, SATA, and Molex. Buy it and check any unstable Switched Mode Power Supply.
Insten ATX Power supply Tester
This is another tool to keep the PSU healthy to prevent any electrical damage to the motherboard or other computer parts. The input source consists of 20-PIN and 24-PIN connector. It is capable to test floppy drive voltages, Hard disk drive and SATA connectors. For testing the output voltages this computer supply tester is equipped with high-quality plastic connectors that include 4/8-PIN, 6 PIN, floppy -4-PIN and SATA. You cannot test the IDE hard drive with this device, though. For ease of use, the tester has green LED lights to show the various voltages that include +3.3V, -12V, PG, +5VSB, +12V, -5V, +5V.
Instructions to Use a PSU Tester
- Unplug the computer from the main source that means removing the power cable from the backside of the PSU of the PC.
- Now open the cabinet cover. Remove the screws or the plastic latch lock depending upon the type of the cabinet.
- After opening the PC cover, now carefully disconnect all the power connectors from the motherboard and other peripheral parts. Just disconnect only the connectors that are coming from the SMPS, not the other cables from the motherboard.
- Now take the 24-pin/20-in power supply connector and 4/6/8 pin ATX power connector and plug it into the power supply tester.
- Next Turn on the power of the computer that means re-plug the power cable back to the SMPS.
- Now, turn on the PSU tester switch and check any beeps or LED error.
- Next, plug in the other peripheral connector ONE-BY ONE in the tester and note down the readings. Make sure the voltage readings are well-below the prescribed tolerance levels as mentioned on the PSU.
So, this ends our guide on power supply testers and how to use them. The list consists of only the best of the PSU testers with high ratings and positive customer reviews. Let us know if you are using some other PC power supply tester not mentioned here.
i have a tester like the one at the top of this page HDE PSU Tester, and one of the things it does not tell you is what LLL stands for on the display, any ideas please