It took 3 blown power supplies before I learned to check the outlet voltage first

I kept blaming the hardware when my client's PCs would just die after a few months. Finally I grabbed my multimeter and checked the wall outlet in their office off Elm Street. Dude was getting 145V coming through because the wiring in that old building is completely shot. I had swapped out three different PSUs on the same machine over six months before I figured it out. Now I always test the line before I even open my tool bag. Any other techs run into crazy voltage issues that made you look bad at first?

2 comments

2 Comments

king.derek27d ago

Walk into a restaurant kitchen once and kept losing fryers. Three brand new units dead in two months. Turns out the building was built in the 50s and had aluminum wiring that was basically falling apart at the junctions. Voltage was swinging between 90 and 140 depending on what else was running. Had to get an electrician in to rewire the whole circuit before that place could keep anything running. Now I always carry a basic outlet tester and a multimeter in my bag. Saves me from looking like an idiot and blaming good hardware for bad power.

laura_wright27d ago

Unless you're running a full welding shop off the same circuit, most kitchens have plenty of overhead for a few fryers. Sounds more like the electrician sold you a whole rewire and you bought it hook, line, and sinker.