RM750i PSU tripping current protection breaker on connection to grid

[PlushyDestroyer69]

Hello dear Corsair & fellow forum lurkers.

 

I've had my RM750i PSU for years now. I believe it has been purchased used, around 2016-2018.

Currently, when it gets connected to electricity (through connecting the cable or a switch on a distribution panel), it is reliably tripping the closest circuit breaker (fuse) in the buildings electric installation.

I don't remember it being an issue at the time of purchase, although, at the time, the computer used to stay constantly connected to the house electric installation.

But, for 4 years now I've been moving quite frequently & it has become a standard issue, where connecting the computer to power, means a trip to reset the fuses. It has become extremely annoying, especially in office environment, where I feel like everyone wants to have me & my machine gone :(

 

I have found quite a few mentions of similar reports Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C, Exhibit D, Exhibit E

So, is it something I can take to a qualified repair shop and have adjusted, or maybe there is a chance for some extended warranty process from Corsair?

 

Cheers :)

[TGAlex]

I had that problem with an older PC 6-7 years back that was tripping the relay. Relay was fine (it's rarely the relay in such cases),  just ended up replacing the breaker. I would remove the PSU and try it onto another socket, using a jumper to power it on. Socket needs to be on another circuit, to rule out a bad breaker. If it trips another breaker, it's likely the PSU, otherwise it has to be the breaker. I have a feeling you have already tried that though.

You can also try another device onto the socket in question, such as a vacuum cleaner, see what that does.

[LeDoyen]

seems to be common in 120V land. It's probably just a dying breaker, or just the fact that maybe people installed breakers with a tripping curve not suited for office use with lots of switch mode power supplies (curve B instead of C).

I'm not familiar with american breakers but if the ones that trip are curve B, it's not really the PSU's fault.

For a brief time, after flicking the PSU switch, it'll draw probably over 30A just charging the primary caps. if the circuit is already loaded a bit, it'd be easy to trip a curve B breaker for example.

[TGAlex]

Question is how no other PC in the office has tripped a breaker. I guess two possible answers assuming the PSU is fine, one nobody else turns their PSU off (which makes sense, I mean normally you don't do that unless you're away for extended periods, and that's the only time I turn it off), or two OP's computer is on a loaded circuit. Either way, my money's on the breaker too.

That said, if it actually is the breaker, but not as in a failing breaker, but rather a breaker type (probably a B), then I'm afraid it won't be easy to get the admin to agree to upgrade to a higher class and I'm not sure it's safe either. You have to see if getting devices off that circuit makes any difference when you power the PSU on, but even that, I'm not sure how easy you can organize with your colleagues. In my case, it was a bad breaker as the circuit isn't loaded at all there's just an LED ceiling light, an A/C which wasn't on all the time, two desktop PC's and a laptop and they were all turned off, and there wasn't a UPS at the time I was looking for a UPS replacement too. Breaker replaced and it was all good. For what it's worth, I went from a Siemens MCB to a Hager MWN.

In any case, definitely try the PSU into another socket if you haven't already done so, making sure it's on a different circuit, just play with the breakers a bit and you'll find out what socket you need to connect it to. In fact, try multiple circuits while you're at it. Just a tiny warning?, uh there is a very high chance that your colleagues' dislike meter against you and your computer will progressively go all the way up, but uh, you could argue it's for the greater good? 🤨