A friends Computer keeps powering off completely every 10, sometimes 20 minutes. We can even make it power off by opening the CD draw,usually it just powers off at random. After cutting out, the power button won't work, and has to be left for about 30 seconds. I suspected the PSU so I have taken the PC to my house and tried it, but It behaves perfectly. I can't re-produce the problem! Could it be the Household mains supply? If so, what is the lowest voltage reading below which I'll know there's a problem? HELP David

Well at first I was going to say a heating problem or a power supply problem. But taking it a different house puts a different spin on it. Use a good digital volt meter and check the voltage at the wall for each house. There can be a 5 volt fluctuation, and sometimes even more. It should be nominally 115 volts in the USA. Different times of the day it can vary more. (Air conditioners, etc) If it drops below say 90 volts, you will probably have problems. Contact the electric company. It still could be a heating problem, tho. HTH

You will have to try another outlet at his house. There might be to much load on the one he was using.

Also, back to the heating issue, what type of room is it kept in? Is it hot, humid? Also, when you say you are hooking it up at your place, do you have as much still "hooked" up as he does, as in the same amount of components drawing power from the PSU as he does? Do you have the case open at your house? Just some things to consider.

I agree with PC Bob, except around here average voltage at the wall is about 121 volts. I have seen drops in voltage during peak times to 103 volts. Below this I start seeing brownouts and other manifestations. Additionally, I have seen 60Hz electricity drop to 48Hz very breifly, but this can cause massive problems, even destroy your electronics if not properly protected. This is generally when you are powered by diesel generators or even hydro electric generators when they switch or startup. People think electricity is static and consistant, and it really couldn't be farther from the truth. J. j e r u v y a t y a h o o d o t c o m