ITPS and Voltage drop issues

**Wiredwrx** · 04-08-2004, 09:00 PM

Hi Everyone,

I have read about 30 or so threads about the ITPS and PW series power supply.

I have a problem,

Setup:
New Optima Red Top
SuperMicro MB
Pentium 3, 900 (I think it is 900mhz)
256 Ram
2 laptop HD
1 Laptop CD Rom
USB Touch Screen
ITPS
PW60C

O.K. Basically got everything installed last night, and it worked fine. With the car running, I had no problems, I was even able to install the Touch drivers from the CD Rom.

This morning, got into the car, and the computer just reboots and reboots.

Turned off the Car heater, and it improved, but when it got into windows, it crashes and reboots again. Not sure if it is the PS resetting, or something else.

Sat in once place, it reboots over and over.

I checked the voltage in the car, and it never drops below 13 volts, except maybe for a brief moment when an accessory if turned on, or the engine fans kick in.

I then checked voltages everywhere I could find a place.

The power wires leading to the ITPS have about 13.6 to 14 volts. However, once those wires are plugged into the ITPS, and the ITPS switches on, the voltage on the power wires drops to somewhere around 12 volts to 12.3 volts. It then slowly rises to 13.3 or so.

I guess it is possible that my alternator is bad, but I checked, and it is outputing about 14 volts, give or take a little.

I even tried jumpin some voltage/amperage from my "hi" power wires (The "low power wires are 14 gauge, and the hi power is 8 gauge), and the voltage still dropped once it was plugged into the ITPS. Anyone think it is a bad ITPS? What can I do to stabilize the voltage, and keep the thing from rebooting??

I have heard about bypassing the ITPS regulator, and want to do that, but I can't find the ITPS manual/instructions.

Anyone know what I need to jumper, maybe with a pic. Also, does anyone NOT think my problem is ITPS Voltage regulation?

Thanx
Michael
myellin@speedoptions.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**LESLIEx317537** · 04-08-2004, 10:16 PM

Well if you think the PIII is 900mhz then that raises some flags for me.

What is your ram speed set at? 100mhz or 133mhz FSB?
Cas settings? 2-2-2 or 3-3-3 Or 5/7 or 7/9?

I hope your not overclocking that to 900

.

1 more thing...

WHat are you using for your motherboard? Is the PS 60watts enough? <-- not enough watts...??? SuperMicro Motherboard? I have SuperMicro older Tower server case and most of the baords I knew back then used alot more than 100watts.

I think the pIII 900mhz uses 60watts alone. I think you should just get a Opus.

**Wiredwrx** · 04-09-2004, 12:13 PM

Hey Les,

Thanx for the response.

Just a couple of things,

First, when I run the computer, using the ITPS and the PW PS, off of a 20 amp PS that I have at home, it works fine. I am reluctant to believe that the PW PS can't supply enough current. I will, howevver,, check it once again.

I am also looking up the information about current draw on the MB, just to be sure. You can see the manuel here http://www.supermicro.com/manuals/mo...0/MNL-0617.pdf

I have the PIIISCD version.

I am not overclocking. It is a car computer, I see no reason to push it. Also, I was very happt with the P2 500 I used before this, and when my brother got a new comuter, I figured I would jack his old one, and make use of the parts. I may be switching back if this doesn't work.

I do not know what the RAM speed, and what is CAS. (NOOB question, I know)

Well, if this doesn't work,. I will certainly try the OPUS. All I want is to get this to work.

Thanx
Michael

**arkadiyp** · 04-09-2004, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Wiredwrx

The power wires leading to the ITPS have about 13.6 to 14 volts. However, once those wires are plugged into the ITPS, and the ITPS switches on, the voltage on the power wires drops to somewhere around 12 volts to 12.3 volts. It then slowly rises to 13.3 or so.

If the output of ITPS is 12.3 and then raises, then something is wrong with ITPS. I do not own one, but from what I read on this board ITPS is good as a shutdown controller, but is a royal pain when it comes to regulating voltage. If the voltage continues to raise, I would assume that the reboots are caused by your PSU going into protection mode.

**Wiredwrx** · 04-09-2004, 12:31 PM

Hi,

Thanx for the thought. I will contact the person I got it from, and see what he thinks. In the meantime, anyone on here that has an ITPS that is easy to get to, can you please test it for me. Can you just check the power wires leading into the ITPS from the battery, and see if the voltage drops when the ITPS kicks on. I am also gonna move the computer to under the hood, and test it closer to the battery, to see if it is possibly my wiring, or the wires themselves, although I tend to doubt it, because even when using the 8 gauge wire, the voltage dropped, and rebooted.

Thanx
Michael

**arkadiyp** · 04-09-2004, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by Wiredwrx

Hi,

Thanx for the thought. I will contact the person I got it from, and see what he thinks. In the meantime, anyone on here that has an ITPS that is easy to get to, can you please test it for me. Can you just check the power wires leading into the ITPS from the battery, and see if the voltage drops when the ITPS kicks on. I am also gonna move the computer to under the hood, and test it closer to the battery, to see if it is possibly my wiring, or the wires themselves, although I tend to doubt it, because even when using the 8 gauge wire, the voltage dropped, and rebooted.

Thanx
Michael

Hold on, I think I might have misunderstood something here. Where are you measuring voltage on the input to ITPS or output ITPS? As long as you have stable ~12v on the output you are fine.

**Wiredwrx** · 04-09-2004, 01:11 PM

Well, maybe I should measure there, but if I remember correctly, I was seeing about 11 volts there. The problem, I think, is that the voltage on the power wires leading to the ITPS are as follows

13.6-14 volts when the car is running
13.6-14 when the fans, AC, anything, is on
when I attach the wires to the ITPS, and the ITPS kicks on, the voltage on the supply wires drops to somewhere near 12 volts. It then eventually stabilizes and rises to about 13.3.

Sorry if my post was confusing.

Thanx
Michael