220/240 volts versus 110 volts

[Dougie Quinn]

hi All,
a couple of friends of mine were out for a drink and went over thew quota. on returning to the house they were on the computer and one of them flicked a switch at the back which has brought down 220/240 volts to 110 volts. My question is has he done irreputable damage or not .
thanks in advance.





have an enjoyable day.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

More likely than not I'm afraid.

Has anyone returned the switch and seen what it will do now? Does it do ANYTHING ie. spin fans, BIOS beep etc?

As to the extent of the problem, you will have to take it a step at a time, checking the power supply alone at first confirming or replacing as nesseccary, then moving on to the next in line. Mobo then VGA etc...

[Paul Komski]

Not advisable but no more than an ESB "brown out" - when all the lights just glow orange. Going the other way would be a catastrophe.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Paul,
In my case, being in the USA, setting the switch to 230 volts would cause my system to be 'half' powered. I this case, taking 230 volts and putting it through a system set up to accept 120 volts IS catastrophic usually.

[Paul Komski]

Deepest apologies - completely the wrong way round - even with Irish electricity. :(

[mjc]

If he is the absoultely luckiest sod alive then the fuses in the power supply would have blown first and everything else would be fine...if that didn't happen, before scrapping the machine i would try a new power supply.