Trouble shooting | Connectors
Requirements | Initial power on | Care | Troubleshooting
Uninterruptible power supply

Electrical

Basic electrical requirements

Correct Voltage
- In New Zealand this should be set to 240V. Other countries may use 110V.
Clean power source.
- Check what other devices connected to the same circuit by switching off the mains switches until the circuit the PC is on is isolated (use a portable light or tester, not the PC to test!).
  Check what other devices also depend on this circuit.
- Photocopiers should not be connected to the same circuit as a PC.
- If you have power spikes or surges a suppressor or power conditioner should be used.
Interference
- If interference occurs with other devices, such as a television, connect to an outlet on a separate circuit.

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Initial power on

When switching on you computer and peripherals it is important that the devices such as the system unit, printer, vdu and so on are turned on in the correct order.

As a general rule the system unit is the last device to be switched on.

VDU: Should always be turned on before the system unit.
Printers: Check your manual but it is usual for a laser printer to be switched on before the system unit. Switching on the printer when the computer is running risks blowing the I/O port (which may mean a new motherboard!).
ZIP drive: If you have a Zip drive it is recommended that it is switched on just after the system unit, but before Windows loads. If it is plugged into the secondary power outlet on the PC (commonly used to connect the vdu) it will be started correctly.

Care

Uninterruptible power supply.
Surge protector

Troubleshooting

Check:

Power Outlet

Cables between power outlet and PC system unit (includes multi-boxes etc)
Cables between system components checked
Correct Voltage for the country is important. Generally one of 240V (eg NZ) or 110V(eg. Europe). Note that this should be checked when first setting up your PC.

Note:

Power should always be turned off when working inside the PC, i.e. adding expansion boards.
An antistatic mat should be used when expansion boards are being handled.