(i don't really know muuuuch about psu design other than watching component max ratings and probing with a multimeter, i have never used an oscilloscope because i'm not rich enough to own one)

@troubleMoney you're right that does get main (s voltage)

@pettancow this whole psu is a design atrocity

@squirrel Eek, that bad? D:

@pettancow china!

@squirrel So it goes. I imagine the caps probably aren't even capable of their listed rating, either.

@pettancow probably not!

@squirrel speaking of oscilloscopes, I've seen these around https://www.banggood.com/DSO138-DIY-Digital-Oscilloscope-Kit-SMD-Soldered-13803K-Version-With-Transparent-Acrylic-Housing-p-1051616.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN

No idea if they're any good but might be worth a punt if you're ever in massive need of an oscilloscope

@troubleMoney we have something similar at the lab.. it's not super great

maybe this newer model could be a little better but i wouldn't hold my breath

@squirrel ah, shame

probably be better than nothing though and sod paying hundreds of pounds for a fancy one I'm going to use for 20 minutes once in a blue moon

@troubleMoney i mean fair but if it doesn't do the right job it doesn't matter how long or often you use it for :p and the good ones start at us$1000

@squirrel that's a very fair point, I'd be using it for "hey, is that a signally thing coming out of there? OOOH WAVY LINES! IT'S A SIGNAL!" because quite frankly I don't understand electronics any deeper than that

And oh, a grand for a good one... yeah, I'll add that to the list of reasons I don't have one

@squirrel I'd give it a shot if you've got the capacitors easily available

@troubleMoney i think so yeah because i bought a bunch to try and recap that broken pvm

@troubleMoney but the thing is idk if new caps are just gonna blow again because the rest of the psu is bad

@squirrel I'd say give it a try anyway, if it works with the new caps then you've saved a lot of effort, if it doesn't then you're out a few caps at most

@troubleMoney my worry is more like

i've already had another specimen of this very psu (it outputs a single molex plug, meant to power a drive externally) explode in my paws before

i cracked this one open with my bare paws after it was failing to power up a hard drive and found the bulged caps

i don't wanna destroy drives cause the psu powering them explodes again ^^;