Water leaked into the PSU and caused a loud explosion.
Water leaked into the PSU and caused a loud explosion.
I received almost the full amount of water into my PSU and there was a loud noise followed by power loss in the house. I replaced the PSU and connected it all up, but pressing the power button didn’t work. Could it be that my motherboard is damaged? Are there any checks I should do before investing more money? I’ve taken everything out from the machine and reinserted the CPU, GPU, etc., without success. The old PSU was an EVGA 750 Gq, 80+ Gold 750W, a decent model, but it didn’t have any protection features. The new PSU is an Evga 750 Bq, 80+ Bronze 750W, semi-modular. Any advice or tips would be appreciated.
You're right to double-check. It's wise to confirm that water only affected the PSU, not the motherboard or GPU.
It was a real hit when the side panel was missing and the dust blew right into the fan blades. I’m not sure if anyone nearby has an LGA1151 setup.
It seems like a robust circuit breaker or GFP that shuts down the entire board. It could have been placed anywhere, and the significant voltages in SM PSU cables might have arced to the output lines (especially if they got wet). I’d imagine seeing some kind of scorching—just like a faint pencil mark—when you open the old PSU. This could help trace where the current went and give hints about what failed. The pin layout for identifying different power rails is available at the provided link. I’d also test connecting the green pin to the black pin and checking if any power remains, which might reveal more about the damage. *Handle with care: use rubber gloves, work on a solid surface, or ask someone experienced to assist.*
The circuit breaker went off, then I turned it back on after safely unplugging everything. I wasn’t very comfortable opening it up or risking a shock, so I just asked for help. Thanks for the tip!
Z170 is currently quite affordable. I even have a few extra on hand. You should be able to get it for about £50.