Power supply voltage

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  1. #1
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    Power supply voltage

    Ok i live in the UK. I am just wondering, without having to risk a power supply and a trip to the USA.

    I already know that if 240 volts goes into a power supply set to 115 volts the power supply will blow and break.

    What happens if 115 volts goes into a power supply set to 240 volts??


  2. #2

    Mad Fanny

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    Re: Power supply voltage

    I would've said the appliance would short circuit, but that's with the fuse. I don't think anything would go wrong, it might just overheat because there's more voltage than the appliance can handle.

  3. #3
    Proficient Member FuschiaSilver is offline
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    Re: Power supply voltage

    won't start-up i think or high chances damaging ur com/laptop

  4. #4
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    Re: Power supply voltage

    Oh so the same thing then as a 240 volt current going into the power supply witch is set to 115v?
    Please note some power supplies can change there voltage though a little red switch at the back of the power supply near where the plug goes into it.

  5. #5
    Alpha Member Mazo is offline
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    Re: Power supply voltage

    Either flip the switch, or if your PC doesn't have one you'll have to get some sort of transformer.

  6. #6
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    Re: Power supply voltage

    Quote Originally Posted by Mazo View Post
    Either flip the switch, or if your PC doesn't have one you'll have to get some sort of transformer.
    Eeek dont wanna touch that switch, my mate did it on a old computer and it make me jump when he switched it on, as it made a bit of a loud pop.
    So even though there isnt enough volts going though it will still go pop?

  7. #7

    Mad Fanny

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    Re: Power supply voltage

    Wait... does your PC run on a voltage of 115V? Mains voltage is 240V, so it should be fine.

  8. #8
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    Re: Power supply voltage

    yer my power supply is at 195-240 it doesn't have a voltage switch. an i live in the UK. I was all just wondering what happens if 115v goes into a power supply set to 240v, now i no that the same thing happens if its other way round. (psu set to 115v connected to mains at 240v).

  9. #9

    Mad Fanny

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    Re: Power supply voltage

    It should work fine. The 240V is a cap for appliances to run off mains voltage, your PC should work fine.

  10. #10
    Browncoat Robert is offline
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    Re: Power supply voltage

    Get a transformer. Stepup or stepdown depending on which way you are converting it.

    Same way you can use a 12v car battery with a converter and a stepup transformer to run 240v appliances in your car.

    Just don't hook them straight up, you're going to break something (unless designed as such). Also running long term on transformers tends to burn out whatever you are using pretty fast. If you want something to run correctly on a power system get something that is designed to do so.

  11. #11
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    Re: Power supply voltage

    No no am fine, i was only wondering, if you set a PSU to 240 volts when there 115 volt current from the mains what will happen. For an example a computer PSU.

  12. #12
    Browncoat Robert is offline
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    Re: Power supply voltage

    Quote Originally Posted by Enter Name View Post
    No no am fine, i was only wondering, if you set a PSU to 240 volts when there 115 volt current from the mains what will happen. For an example a computer PSU.
    You'd most likely break it. A PSU gives off lines of voltage at say +5v etc which are also smoothed of spikes. Reducing the voltage that it has will either dig into the 5v making it say 4v thus fking with all the chips in the PC or mess with the smoothing thus if the power supply has spikes in it (ie people switching on other things) they will mess with the chips.

    All in all, just don't do it. If it works (which I very much doubt) it will most likely completely destroy your PC. And I very much doubt your insurance will cover you for. Best case scenario would be it just doesn't boot up.

  13. #13
    Alpha Member Mazo is offline
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    Re: Power supply voltage

    If something is rated to run at 240v it is rated to run at 240v. Changing that causes problems. As Robert said, voltage spikes. If you have too little or too much voltage things can go very, very wrong.

  14. #14
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    Re: Power supply voltage

    I get it all now. Thank you :)
    No am not going to mess around with it. Never going to play with that kind of voltage.



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