Testing PSU with a Multimeter: tips & tricks

1. Plug in your PSU: Make sure that your PSU is properly connected to a power source.
2. Set your multimeter: Switch your multimeter to the direct current voltage (DCV) setting, usually represented by a solid and dotted line above a ‘V’ on the dial.
3. Test the PSU: This is done by touching the multimeter probes to the power supply unit terminals.
   • Method 1 (Using the connectors): If your PSU has yellow and black connectors (generally the case for a computer PSU), you should touch one probe (doesn’t matter which) to a yellow connector and the other probe to a black connector. The yellow wire carries 12V and the black wire is a ground.
   • Method 2 (Using the terminals): If you have access to the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals of the PSU, you can also touch the red probe to the positive terminal and the black probe to the negative terminal.
4. Read the multimeter: Once the probes are connected, check the reading on your multimeter.
   • If the multimeter shows a reading around 12V (allowing for a variance of ±0.5V), this means that your PSU is functioning correctly.
   • If the multimeter reads close to 0V, then there’s likely a problem with the PSU and it needs to be repaired or replaced.

If you have determined that your PSU is not working correctly, and you’re unable to fix the issue, you may need to return the PSU for repair or replacement, depending on your warranty status and the manufacturer’s policies. In this case, you would create a repair ticket and follow the given procedures to return the PSU.