is my power supply dead?

[drmindbender]

okay.
i have a Norco 4220 case.

When I remove all connections from the power supply, the computer starts up. ( dont have it connected to a monitor)

When I insert the ide? connections from the Norco backplane to the power supply, the computer does not boot.
I have 15 hdd connected and it looks like all the "rows" reproduce the problem when connected to the power supply.

so...to me it seems to be the case so far since the problem happens with any set of hdds.

now what? call norco for a new backplane?

new case?

thank you all. making progress and learning.

[dikkiedirk]

What happens when you pull the disks? What PSUs are you using now? Do any fans start? Are there fans directly connected to the PSU and do they start?

[dgaschk]

okay.
i have a Norco 4220 case.

When I remove all connections from the power supply, the computer starts up. ( dont have it connected to a monitor)

When I insert the ide? connections from the Norco backplane to the power supply, the computer does not boot.
I have 15 hdd connected and it looks like all the "rows" reproduce the problem when connected to the power supply.

so...to me it seems to be the case so far since the problem happens with any set of hdds.

now what? call norco for a new backplane?

new case?

thank you all. making progress and learning.

How do you know it's booting correctly with no disks? Try attaching a drive directly to the MB or HBA, bypassing the backplane.

[drmindbender]

The fans start when directly connected to the power supply. I have an entirely new PS installed. Nothing starts when I have the disks/backplanes plugged in the power supply.

I will have to try to connect a disk directly to the mobo.

[dikkiedirk]

Did you install the same type PSU? Do the motherboard and fans start with only backplanes connected without disks?

[drmindbender]

I installed a different brand psu. I will try to disconnect the drives and try to start it. Good ideas. But all the backplanes kill it when connected. Lord help me if more than one drive has died.

[drmindbender]

I pulled all the disk and tried to start it. It will not start if any of the backplanes are connected. Are all 5 backplanes independent or are they connected somehow? I also tested with cables that are know to work (used the one to power the fan assembly). I also tested with the hdd controller cards pulled. It is always when the backplanes are plugged in that the fans and computer will not start up.

[dikkiedirk]

Have't got such a case myself. But are you sure the PSU is compatible?

[Joe L.]

I pulled all the disk and tried to start it. It will not start if any of the backplanes are connected. Are all 5 backplanes independent or are they connected somehow? I also tested with cables that are know to work (used the one to power the fan assembly). I also tested with the hdd controller cards pulled. It is always when the backplanes are plugged in that the fans and computer will not start up.

If the back-planes can be independently plugged in, find out which is preventing the power supply from starting.   (disconnect all but one at a time)

Then, once you know which, If the back-planes can be dis-assembled, you might try removing each in turn looking for stray pieces of metal/wire/screws/hardware/washers, etc.  That's all it would take to short out a power bus.    It is possible that vibration caused something to vibrate/move to where it would short out the back of the back-plane.  (or equally possible a stray  two-year-old decided the slots on the top of the server looked exactly like those on their piggy-bank, and started feeding in pennies...  )

Joe L.

[drmindbender]

They can be plugged in independently. The thing is, plugging in *any* of them prevents the fans from spinning.   

And I do have a 2 year old.