[megaimg]

Need some help, I just got a Octane but does not do anything. Sound like is the PSU, anything that I can check or repair...According to diagnostic, when the PSU is connected to AC, I must see a LED on it...where is located...

If is the PSU, any schematics or ideas of any common failures in this units PSU...according to other members, their is not way to tested on the bench...

[Raion]

Hey Megaimg,

As I said in your introductory thread, you can't bench-test these as that was never a method released. You can't apply a sufficient load because of the specialized connections and HV it uses.

That being said, Weblacky knows a lot about SGI PSUs from taking them apart and repairing them.

The only LEDs that may be potentially here are on the front plane. Remove the front cover by squeezing the two tabs at the top and pull forward, the front hinges off. You will then see a diagnostic LED panel on the bottom right -- but AFAIK it's usually off if not turned on, and we're not reaching even the turn-on stage.

There's two possibilities, and the first is more likely:

PSU Failure

Frontplane failure. This one is very rare though.

[weblacky]

Yo,
I've not gotten to Octane PSUs in my rebuilding (yet) but I have several dead Octane PSUs so they are on the short list. You'll need to be patient on that front, they are like 3rd in line (after Tezro and my Fuel PSU...assuming my Fuel even starts with ATX adapter :-).

Yes, Octane PSUs have been failing recently however MOST fail in a predictable manner called the "click of death". You unplug the Octane and PSU, you insert the PSU (unplugged) into the Octane, you place your ear close to the octane's rear, and plug in the PSU, you should hear a faint "click", if you do this is the PSU protection kicking in after a voltage or current failure (but since it's protecting itself...it still has a brain, which good).

Octane PSUs don't have a bench-start routine right now and even if they did (unlike modern ATX PC PSUs) they require a minimum load on the low voltage rails (what Raion on was saying) to stabilizing the power output, so even if you did bench-start them...it may show odd readings without a connector and DC load tester on it (a setup to test the PSU).

If you hear the click I'm talking about there is a good chance another (working PSU) will start the system (no 100% guarantee). If you don't, that just means it's another form of failure.

Used Octane PSUs are going for fairly cheap these days on eBay and other sources (under $200). To answer any follow-up questions: NO you cannot use a PC PSU (ATX), no rebuild services are currently available for Octane PSUs (but soon maybe from me), you should keep the dead PSU because as I sell PSUs I want a dead one as a core charge, and finally either eBay or via the marketplace forums on SGI enthusiast sites are going to be the place to buy another Octane PSU...yes it will be just as old and used as yours, so it may not last too long (anyone's guess). It would be enough to test your Octane further, but moving forward rebuild PSUs are going to be a thing for prolonged SGI ownership.

SGIs are not inherently unreliable (they used to cost a lot and weren't cheaply made), but the PSUs were not made by SGI, they are from third party companies and were intended to be swapped out by SGI, so they weren't made to that standard. Once you get a working PSU you have a good chance (as much as any of us) of having a working system or a working system with some minor issues you may have to track down (bad RAM, bad graphics, etc...).

So please remain calm, this process will take you a while due to rarity and scarcity of the hardware. There isn't an overnight fix, but there is a fix.

I would just start looking on eBay for an Octane PSU and when one comes up, consider buying it. You can also advertise for an Octane PSU here on this site. Please make sure you post info on your current PSU as Octane had two models of PSU and you may require one over the other for some reasons, assuming your old PSU worked, getting that same model would likely be a good first-start.

Good luck and take your time, just trust in the process, like any speciality hardware there are ups and down but everything has a solution of some sort, keep reading and watching and find the parts you need to test your setup.

Be aware that prices are rising so try to get the parts sooner than later.

Also, to be upfront, given situations like yours, rebuilt PSUs will be pricey to start, you should consider buying a working/used one to make sure your hardware works before investing in any future rebuilt PSUs as the purpose of a rebuild is to extend the lifespan of a working system. Testing of a possibly broken or shorted system should be done with a cheaper/used PSU for verification. Afterwards you can look for better (long term) options.

Also, you're new to SGIs so it can be forgiven, SGI purposely and very tenaciously protected their intellectual property, no technical information beyond what's published in techpubs EVER got out of SGI or its partners. So when people ask for schematics...it's basically like asking Microsoft for your their source code. So it gives us a sad chuckle when people ask...no, truly, we are on our own, we're lucky the current holder of the SGI IP doesn't bother us.

[vishnu]

There are fuses on the power supply circuit board, they're socketed, so if you have an ohmmeter I'd check those first...

[weblacky]

There are fuses on the power supply circuit board, they're socketed, so if you have an ohmmeter I'd check those first...

Yeah...but if a fuse goes...there's a reason.  In a PSU , if the fuse goes it MEANS there is a literal short in the PSU HV...all the time.  PSU fuses don't "just go".  I strongly recommend against opening the PSU and trying to replace the fuses, the wrong fuses will just blow slower and allow the transformer windings to be ruined/burnt up or the like.  The vast majority of PSU failures I've repaired didn't even blow the fuses!  That should tell you how catastrophic "a failure" a fuse blow represents in a PSU.  No, seriously, no.  Bigger chance of ruining a PSU beyond repair.

Plus if you have "click of death" you have working fuses.

[megaimg]

Yo,
I've not gotten to Octane PSUs in my rebuilding (yet) but I have several dead Octane PSUs so they are on the short list.  You'll need to be patient on that front, they are like 3rd in line (after Tezro and my Fuel PSU...assuming my Fuel even starts with ATX adapter :-).

Yes, Octane PSUs have been failing recently however MOST fail in a predictable manner called the "click of death".  You unplug the Octane and PSU, you insert the PSU (unplugged) into the Octane, you place your ear close to the octane's rear, and plug in the PSU, you should hear a faint "click", if you do this is the PSU protection kicking in after a voltage or current failure (but since it's protecting itself...it still has a brain, which good).

Octane PSUs don't have a bench-start routine right now and even if they did (unlike modern ATX PC PSUs) they require a minimum load on the low voltage rails (what Raion on was saying) to stabilizing the power output, so even if you did bench-start them...it may show odd readings without a connector and DC load tester on it (a setup to test the PSU).

If you hear the click I'm talking about there is a good chance another (working PSU) will start the system (no 100% guarantee).  If you don't, that just means it's another form of failure.

Used Octane PSUs are going for fairly cheap these days on eBay and other sources (under $200).  To answer any follow-up questions: NO you cannot use a PC PSU (ATX), no rebuild services are currently available for Octane PSUs (but soon maybe from me), you should keep the dead PSU because as I sell PSUs I want a dead one as a core charge, and finally either eBay or via the marketplace forums on SGI enthusiast sites are going to be the place to buy another Octane PSU...yes it will be just as old and used as yours, so it may not last too long (anyone's guess).  It would be enough to test your Octane further, but moving forward rebuild PSUs are going to be a thing for prolonged SGI ownership.

SGIs are not inherently unreliable (they used to cost a lot and weren't cheaply made), but the PSUs were not made by SGI, they are from third party companies and were intended to be swapped out by SGI, so they weren't made to that standard.  Once you get a working PSU you have a good chance (as much as any of us) of having a working system or a working system with some minor issues you may have to track down (bad RAM, bad graphics, etc...).

So please remain calm, this process will take you a while due to rarity and scarcity of the hardware.  There isn't an overnight fix, but there is a fix.

I would just start looking on eBay for an Octane PSU and when one comes up, consider buying it.  You can also advertise for an Octane PSU here on this site.  Please make sure you post info on your current PSU as Octane had two models of PSU and you may require one over the other for some reasons, assuming your old PSU worked, getting that same model would likely be a good first-start.

Good luck and take your time, just trust in the process, like any speciality hardware there are ups and down but everything has a solution of some sort, keep reading and watching and find the parts you need to test your setup.

Be aware that prices are rising so try to get the parts sooner than later. 

Also, to be upfront, given situations like yours, rebuilt PSUs will be pricey to start, you should consider buying a working/used one to make sure your hardware works before investing in any future rebuilt PSUs as the purpose of a rebuild is to extend the lifespan of a working system. Testing of a possibly broken or shorted system should be done with a cheaper/used PSU for verification.  Afterwards you can look for better (long term) options.

Also, you're new to SGIs so it can be forgiven, SGI purposely and very tenaciously protected their intellectual property, no technical information beyond what's published in techpubs EVER got out of SGI or its partners.  So when people ask for schematics...it's basically like asking Microsoft for your their source code. So it gives us a sad chuckle when people ask...no, truly, we are on our own, we're lucky the current holder of the SGI IP doesn't bother us.

Thanks sir for the good description....Yes the PSU do a click and after that start busing....busing goes away if I unplug it... I open the PSU to do a quick check, specially capacitors but they all look ok...I just have to wait...nothing on ebay.... so let me know when you start working on one....

[weblacky]

Yeah, the "click of death" is the most common and it's likely the over/under voltage/current protection system sensing a blown semiconductor or the like and protecting itself. Since it's so common, I'm hopeful that means it's a common fault to be repaired once discovered (when I get in there).

SGIs all have different varieties of PSUs, some models have ONE model of PSU, some have TWO, some have like FIVE different models of PSU. So the level of research and repair is tougher on some models than others. Octane appears to only have two (I don't remember seeing any revisions), so that won't be too much trouble.

I hoping to get to Octane within 6 months. I'm currently trying to finish Indy Nidec and 1/3rd of Tezro.

[megaimg]

Yeah, the "click of death" is the most common and it's likely the over/under voltage/current protection system sensing a blown semiconductor or the like and protecting itself.  Since it's so common, I'm hopeful that means it's a common fault to be repaired once discovered (when I get in there).

SGIs all have different varieties of PSUs, some models have ONE model of PSU, some have TWO, some have like FIVE different models of PSU.  So the level of research and repair is tougher on some models than others.  Octane appears to only have two (I don't remember seeing any revisions), so that won't be too much trouble.

I hoping to get to Octane within 6 months. I'm currently trying to finish Indy Nidec and 1/3rd of Tezro.

I just Fixed my Octone PSU Click of dead. I will post the Replacement Parts and Capacitors