dude: you don't have to mount the PSU in the box yet. What I mean is put the case back on the PSU and plug it in and see if your computer stays on. I'm not saying have the case on indefinitly. Just put it on to verify that the problem occurs when the PSU is out of the metal surrounding. If you still have the problem then you know that is doesn't matter if there is a metal case around the PSU. If the problem get fixed by doing this then you have to figure out a way to mimic the metal surrounds of the PSU while in the Nintendo.
mmonnin said If the problem was not having the case on, then why would it stay on at school?
At school, it is possible that they have some sort of line conditioner, especially if this was in your computer lab.
Would it be possible to use a circuit in your house where nothing else is on that particular circuit breaker? The circuit for your dryer should work IF you know how to tap off just ONE LEG of the dual 120V line. If you don't know exactly what I'm talking about, then don't try it!!!
A better solution would be to find the circuit for your bedroom (or wherever you are setting this up) and unplugging everything running off this breaker. Kill the breaker, then use a small table lamp to make sure you get them all. (Older houses, in particular, often have funky wiring - my parents house has one bedroom on the second floor on the same circuit as the kitchen & dining room). Make sure you have all electronic devices in the house unplugged (this will make you real popular with your family, but assure them it's only temporary for testing purposes; if you're a really nice guy you'll reset the time on their VCR's:D ).
The goal is to eliminate any electrical interference, which has at least a chance of getting you back in business. If it works, you'll just have to figure out a way to shield things internally.
MicroMan's idea of just using a spare PS externally for troubleshooting purposes is what I would try first.
Think of it like this. When you have bad air to breath you get sick. Same with power supplies. If it has an unclean power source, such as line voltage (and yes it's very unclean) then the supply will act up. Grounding techniques take care of that, but since you removed a ground it's now breathing bad air. Now, with that in mind, at school you had a UPS on it or some thing that went inbetween the PSU and the wall outlet. That device cleans up the line voltage. In fact the PSU can back feed into the line. It's called a harmonic. I know it's very technical, but there is a reason there is a mettal case around the PSU. Oh, and I might be mistaken but the heatsinks on the PSU are hot. SO if you touch them you'll get a little poke. I think you should get a screw and nut and fasen the green wire to one of the PSU mounting holes. If the metal case touched it then so can the green wire. Trust me dude. In the words of that crazy guy from water boy "You can doooo It"
The circuits in our house spread across rooms and I am not totally sure which break is which. It would be hard to get a circuit by itself and I dont know how to do the 120V thing so I am not going to try that.
mmonnin said The circuits in our house spread across rooms and I am not totally sure which break is which. It would be hard to get a circuit by itself and I dont know how to do the 120V thing so I am not going to try that.
You're wise to leave the dryer circuit alone. As for a breaker, if it wouldn't be an inconvenience for you family, you could just turn off anything in the house which didn't like having the power cut to it (like TV's, and other electronic equipment), then trip the breaker. Once you find out which breaker controls the area where the computer is plugged in, just make sure everything else on that circuit is disconnected. Assuming you don't have any floating grounds, that will give you clean juice all the way back to the breaker panel.
Comments
At school, it is possible that they have some sort of line conditioner, especially if this was in your computer lab.
Would it be possible to use a circuit in your house where nothing else is on that particular circuit breaker? The circuit for your dryer should work IF you know how to tap off just ONE LEG of the dual 120V line. If you don't know exactly what I'm talking about, then don't try it!!!
A better solution would be to find the circuit for your bedroom (or wherever you are setting this up) and unplugging everything running off this breaker. Kill the breaker, then use a small table lamp to make sure you get them all. (Older houses, in particular, often have funky wiring - my parents house has one bedroom on the second floor on the same circuit as the kitchen & dining room). Make sure you have all electronic devices in the house unplugged (this will make you real popular with your family, but assure them it's only temporary for testing purposes; if you're a really nice guy you'll reset the time on their VCR's:D ).
The goal is to eliminate any electrical interference, which has at least a chance of getting you back in business. If it works, you'll just have to figure out a way to shield things internally.
MicroMan's idea of just using a spare PS externally for troubleshooting purposes is what I would try first.
Prof
(Call me "Sparky"):p
You're wise to leave the dryer circuit alone. As for a breaker, if it wouldn't be an inconvenience for you family, you could just turn off anything in the house which didn't like having the power cut to it (like TV's, and other electronic equipment), then trip the breaker. Once you find out which breaker controls the area where the computer is plugged in, just make sure everything else on that circuit is disconnected. Assuming you don't have any floating grounds, that will give you clean juice all the way back to the breaker panel.
Prof