Hi Robert, Every PC-PSU has a currentlimiter circuit that will shut down the PSU in case of currents (or voltages) that exceed the limits of it's specs by some margin. Most PSU also have a temperature protection that shuts down the PSU in case the driver transitor(s) get too hot. In your case I suspect that one or more of these transitors went bad and that the PSU-temp limit kicks in with everything but the smallest load because they/it are/is already hot when no load is drawn. Once this protection kicks in you will have to switch off the mains power to reset the PSU. So removing the load as you've described will not bring the PSU back to a low-load working mode. IMHO ... Either this is a very "small" PSU or this PSU is defect! Normally a PSU only works with a minimum load of say 0.5 Amp @ 5V So I use an old defunkt harddrive as a minimum load to test the PSU Advise: Work out the maximum load that still lets the PSU "work" and measure the voltages on one of the drive-leads. An old (obsolete) 3.5 floppy drive might be a good test load. The voltage across the black-red connector should be ~+5V and across the yellow-black connector should be ~+12V If things are no longer in this range than consider it a dead PSU Even if these voltages are in this range it may be defect but at least it will not kill off any of your other equipment while trying ....... Consider that opening up the PSU and frolicking around in it may pose a risk to your equipment and to your health........ ;( If you don't know what you are doing get somebody who knows.... or buy a new PSU. After all, they are not that expensive nowadays Or look in a thriftshop for a good second hand. regards Sipke de Wal ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://xgistor.ath.cx ------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: <Demon02554(a)aol.com> To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Sent: Monday, May 14, 2001 4:05 AM Subject: gimpy (not broken) PSU