STUDENT DATE PERFORMED

SECTION/ GROUP RATING

Activity No. 1
Testing the AT/ATX Power Supply

Purpose
The purpose of this activity is to be able to test the output voltages of an AT/ATX
power supply using a digital multi-meter. The student should be able to identify the
output voltages of the different color of wires in an AT/ATX power supply.

Recommended Readings/ References

Upgrading and Repairing PC’s, 8th ed. Chapter 8- The Power Supply

Materials
• 1 unit AT power supply (or 1 unit AT PC System)
• 1 unit ATX power supply (or 1 unit ATX PC System)
• 1 unit Digital Multi-meter
• 1 PC Tools Kit

Procedure
A. Testing the AT Power Supply Output voltages.
1. Prepare the power supply module or the AT PC class system unit so that
you can access easily the molex, berg, and P8 & P9 connector.
2. Check the connections on the power switch as shown in the figure below.
CAUTION: Wrong
connections of wires may cause
an explosion of a power supply
due to a short circuit on the power
lines.
 3. Connect the power plug to the power supply’s socket and plug it to the
wall outlet.
4. Switch on the power supply’s power switch.
5. Set the multi-tester to 50 volts DC. In case of reading an output voltage
lesser than 10 volts, you can set the multitester to lower voltage level for
precision.
6. Read the output voltage of each of the connector (the molex, the berg, and
P8 & P9).
7. Record the data in the table below.

Color
Red Yellow Black Blue Orange White
Connectors
Molex
Berg
P8
P9

8. Label the color of each wire in an AT power supply’s P8 & P9, molex,
and berg connectors.

B. Testing the ATX Power Supply Output voltages (Do the same procedure as in
testing an AT power supply)
1. Connect the power cable to the power supply’s socket and plug it to the
wall outlet.
 2. Switch on the power supply’s power switch.
3. Set the tester to 50 volts DC. In case of reading an output voltage lesser
than 10 volts, you can set the multitester to lower voltage level for
precision.
4. Read the output voltage of each of the connectors (the molex, the berg,
and P1).
5. Record the data in the table below.

Color
Yellow

Orange

Violet
White

Green
Black

Gray
Blue
Red

Connectors

Molex
Berg
P1

Review Questions
1. What is back probing? How it is done?

2. What are there negative and positive voltages in a power supply’s output
voltage?
 3. What is the Power_Good Signal?

4. What are the differences between an AT and an ATX power supply?

5. What does the power supply’s power rating indicate?

Observation

Conclusion