How to Replace the Fan on a Power Supply

The fan on the power supply in a mini tower case does not want to start by itself.  If I take a pencil and give it a push, it seems to run okay until I shut it off again.

It looks like I have to open the power supply case to get at the fan.  But the case has a warning that it should not be opened.  I realize there are components in there that are charged.  How dangerous is it for someone who has never opened one of these things to get in there and remove the fan?  Is it something I should take into a technician?  

Thanks for any help on this.
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GeneMAsked:
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JustobrienConnect With a Mentor Commented:
OK, try this :

As a rule, don't mess around with anything that you don't need to touch - the capacitors in a power supply are dangerous, and can kill you if you discharge them accidentally.  So if you're unsure then yes, take it to a technician or (and this may be cheaper) buy a new Power Supply Unit.

That said, if you still want to do the job then disconnect the power supply unit from everything, especially the mains(!) and leave it standing for 2 or 3 days minimum - I usually leave a PSU standing for a week unless I have a damn good reason and this way the capacitors should lose most of their stored power.  There are ways to speed up the process by discharging the capacitors by hand, but don't try messing around with them.

When you're ready, use an insulated screwdriver to undo the screws holding the power supply together - some of the screws may be under the warning labels - and lift off the top cover.  The fan itself is usually held in place with 4 screws, 1 in each corner, and you need to remove these to remove the old fan.  The fan usually draws its power from 2 exposed pins on the circuit board which it plugs into and covers - this can be pulled off because it shouldn't be soldered on - but take note of which one the red wire connects to.

The replacement fan goes in the same way - screw it back into place and connect its power cable the same way around as the old one, then replace the top cover and screw into place.  Replace the power supply back into the case and reconnect it.  It may be worth plugging it back into the mains ONLY at first and turning it on, because if something does go wrong, you don't want to blow your motherboard and drives.  If that works then disconnect from the mains, replace all cables to drives, motherboard etc and you're ready to roll.

Like I said earlier  If you're at all unsure about doing this then get a technician to do it for you - they've got the training, and hopefully they're insured.....
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juggernautCommented:
well when we changed our fan in the power supply we did'nt have a problem we replaced and did'nt have a problem
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GeneMAuthor Commented:
Juggernaut, thanks for your answer.  But I was hoping for a little bit more information than you gave me.  Is it dangerous?  What should I look for in there and avoid touching?  Is there a way to discharge whatever is holding the charge?   I can get the power supply out of the frame (on top) without disconnecting anything.  Should I disconnect everything and get the power supply completely away from the frame before I try to open the case?  Is it easy to get the fan off once the power supply is off the case?  Does the fan have 'plug in' connectors for its power, or are the connections soldered?

Just a little bit more information would be appreciated.
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GeneMAuthor Commented:
Thanks Justobrien.  This is just the information I needed to make a decision.  I will check the cost of a new power supply.  I will also get an estimate from a technician.  I will then take the cheapest route.  I cannot afford to be without my computer for very long.
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