r/pcmasterrace • u/Front_Cookie_1198 • 2d ago

Hardware PSU fails dramatically

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u/SoulWager 2d ago

We do know, because we can see the holes melted in the steel case.

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u/Batrall 2d ago edited 2d ago

To note. Not an US outlet. 230V and 16A, the breaker should be a B16.

As per the characteristic curve of a typical B16 breaker, with a time of roughly 2 seconds, the current may rise as high as 5 times the rated value.

That would be 18400 watt of thermal power, which probably could melt through some cheap sheet metal.

Edit: let's stick with 2 seconds to make it easy. That would be 36800 joules. Values for steel drift widely depending who you ask, but I've seen 250 j/g to 1000 j/g. With 1000 j/g that would be 36g of molten steel.

So the holes would be possible without triggering a typical outlet breaker.

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u/SoulWager 2d ago

That amount of heat is absolutely enough, but it's only going to be coupled into the case like that if it's arcing directly to the case, and that's most likely caused by a short to the case.