How to Start a SMPS Without a Motherboard

Last Updated: October 25, 2022

Have you ever wondered how to start an SMPS without the motherboard? It might require starting the SMPS without the motherboard, troubleshooting your SMPS or to add an extra SMPS to your system.We can start a SMPS without a motherboard using a Paper Clip. This tutorial shows you how to remove SMPS and test it. If you have already removed your SMPS, skip to step 4.

Things You Should Know

Open your computer's case and remove everything connected to your SMPS first.
You'll need a paperclip to start an SMPS without a motherboard.
The paperclip will act as a bridge and connect the SMPS to itself, so if it does not turn on, your SMPS may be faulty.

Steps

1
Open your computer's casing. Be sure that your computer is completely turned off prior to starting. Remove the screws that are present in the side panel of your computer. You need to remove only one side of the panel.
2
Remove the connections from the SMPS to all the peripherals of your computer. Please note that some connections contains a clip attached to it. Make sure to remove the clips before you remove your connections.

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3
With your SMPS removed, take a paper clip and bent it in a shape of 'U' shape.
4
Find the 24 pin connector from your SMPS (obviously it is the bigger connector from SMPS). Try to locate green and black wire. Please note, that there will be one green wire and many black wires. You can select any black wire you want.
5
Insert one end of the bent paper clip into the green terminal and the other end to the black terminal.
6
Turn on the SMPS with the wire inserted. The SMPS should be running now. If it does not turn ON, insert the paper clip firmly and try once more. If still your SMPS didn't turn ON, your SMPS might be faulty.

Community Q&A

Question

I sprayed Collins near the fan but it is not working now so what next?

Community Answer

Don't spray any liquid or chemical in an SMPS fan; it can be dangerous as it may harm you (electric shock) and it can break the fan (which may be why yours is not working). In your case, the SMPS parts may be now faulty due to contact with liquid. You may need to replace the fan.
Question

Why do I need a green and black pin when starting SMPS?

Community Answer

The green and black pins are needed to check the serviceability of the SMPS without connecting it to the motherboard.
Question

What do I do if I tried this, but it blew up my PSU?

JVz

Community Answer

This is not going to blow up the PSU. I have tried out testing more than 2000 SMPS in this method, but was not successful in blowing out even one PSU so far.