Issues with smoke in a PC need troubleshooting.
Issues with smoke in a PC need troubleshooting.
Hi everyone,
I'm a new PC builder and I'm facing some issues. I built a few systems before but this time things went wrong. I couldn't understand why my chassis fans wouldn't work when connected to the motherboard. After searching online, I found out that the fan control for my Phantek case also needed to be connected to the power supply unit. That's what I did, and the fans started working right away. However, the cable linking the fan control to the motherboard began smoking and burning. Some of the coating ended up through the CPU fans and out from the back of my case.
What should I do? Is it safe to plug in the PC again without the cable? Should I replace the fan control with a splitter? Are there any other considerations because of my lack of experience? I've attached some pictures for reference. Thanks for your help!
I observed that the 3pin DC fan is connected to the white fan header on the hub. I wonder which fan was originally attached there. I should have connected the hub to the CPU_OPT header instead of CHA_FAN5.
Regarding the wiring details; the manual on page 14 explains that the 4pin goes into the motherboard, while the pin from the hub connects to the PSU's end. It seems you've set it up correctly, though the melted insulation suggests the motherboard wiring might have been incorrect unless the harness for the PWM hub was installed improperly during assembly.
The third image in your post shows whether the wire was bent when it was first installed or if it became bent later. I recommend reaching out to Phanteks support for clarification. If no damage is visible on the PWM hub, you could try using another harness from them for the hub.
This is my second attempt with this case, so it seems more likely the error was on my end instead of the factory's. I'm not sure if forcing the wire onto the motherboard in the wrong way is easy, but I'll check when I get home.
For the third photo: it was bent from the start.
Good advice. I will do that. Thank you