Can pc power supplies be refurbished?

[Jim Kuhn]

Can power supplies be rebuilt by computer shops? If so, what is the approximate cost and are they reliable? Thanks for any advice you may offer.

Thank you,

Jim Kuhn
Catfish4u
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[d-baggery]

I'm not sure that they can, however you should be able to obtain a new one for like $35. I will assume you have sentimental attachment though.

[baronzeus]

yeah, they can. but people really suggest shying away from cheap/refurb power supplies because if something goes wrong, it destroys your computer. just spend 40 or 50 bucks at newegg or something for a good power supply (i havent built a computer in a year but i remember enermax and sparkle are pretty g ood names).

[Jim Kuhn]

I have had poor luck with my emachines overheating and the power supply giving out. Is there anything I can do with these emachines to minimize the overheating or blowing out the power supplies? Should I replace with the exact same power supply or does this matter much? Thanks alot for the suggestions!

Thank you,

Jim Kuhn
Catfish4u
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[d-baggery]

Jim,

No, you should replace your power supply with a better one. By better, I mean anything but eMachines. Your motherboard is likely ATX, which is what power supply you'll need. Actual power output will not make a difference for the casual user, but I will suggest something like 350w just to be safe. I would be highly suprised if you burnt out a decent $40 power supply from newegg (etc) within even 2 years.

[dankus]

most computer shops will not refurb a bad power supply.

the components within are very, very dangerous, so you would be better, like others said, to buy a new power supply.

[newb1]

The PSU is the virtual heart of your computer. It interacts with almost all of the equipment in the box, it's well worth spending the money and getting a decent one.
Would you buy a super car and put a lawnmower engine in it ?

[Guthrie]

If a computer repair shop charges just $60 per hour for labor, plus parts, how much refurb could they possibly do to a power supply that would make it a better deal than a brand new one, with warranty, for $30?

Toss that sucker.

[CORed]

I once saw a web site that had some instructions on how to repair power supplies. Apparently some of the common failures involve fairly cheap components. However, unless you know what you are doing, it\\\'s pretty hazardous. Power supplies contain some fairly large capacitors charged to high voltages, which means that if you are not careful, you can get zapped pretty hard even by an unplugged power supply. As another poster pointed out, it\\\'s pretty well impossible for a computer shop to profitably repair a power supply for less money than a new one costs. As for repairing them yourself, unless you really enjoy that sort of thing and know how to avoid the hazards, it\\\'s probably not worth the time or the risk to do it yourself, either.