USB ports not working after installing fan controller

[Caspase]

Hello!

I've just installed an NZXT sentry Mix fan controller. After finalizing the instalation I tried starting up the computer and if shut itself down after about a second. I smelled something burnt and decided to exchange the 2 molex connectors that powered the fan controller.

This time around, everything was working great, except that my USB ports were not working anymore. I can't connect my peripherals to any of my 12 usb ports, both front panel, and motherboard. I checked the usb cable from the front panel and it is connected.

Any ideas?

 

[RCoon]

Smelled like burning + USB ports dont work
Ignoring those blindingly obvious symptoms, check your BIOS to make sure USB ports are enabled etc.
From the obvious, sounds like your USB controller chip melted (new MoBo job)
Or maybe the power to your motherboard from the PSU is faulty and isnt powering up certain aspects of your Mobo.

 

[Caspase]

I don't have any PS2 peripherals lying around, it might be a bit difficult to access BIOS, but I'll try and get one.

But how can a bloody faulty 4 pin molex connected to a fan controller burn the usb controller in under one second? Damn, that's just bad luck... Does warranty cover this by any chance?

So, before just buying a new mobo, what are the other possibilities besides BIOS and PSU?

If I were to buy a pci-e usb controller it would work right?

 

[AsRock]

I'd RMA the mobo and tell them the USB ports just dont work then get in touch with NZXT and tell them what their fan controller did to your motherboard and what they willing to do about the the problem the fan controller has coursed.

I be interested to hear what NZXT say about it and how far they willing to back their product up and if they will back up the costs what their fan controller has made.

EDIT: A addon USB contrller should work fine.

 

[de.das.dude]

how exactly did you install it? we must rule out all possible errors.

USB ports have an over current protection to them.

 

[Olias_of_Sunhillo]

But how can a bloody faulty 4 pin molex connected to a fan controller burn the usb controller in under one second? Damn, that's just bad luck... Does warranty cover this by any chance?

Any electrical cross-over (see below) will be virtually instant, burning circuits within milliseconds not seconds.

This is an odd one the fan controller uses 12v and USB by and large uses 5v, so if somehow 12 and 5 got crossed it is possible it's fried the 5v voltage circuitry of the USB, but I somehow doubt this. Do you have other issues? Do you have issues with HDD's the drive motors are 12v but the controller circuits are 5v?

Checking the controller on the Interweb I see there are no USB on the device (a first thought of mine in case one of the pins was grounded) and with no connection between 12 and 5 I cannot see that the controller has caused your issue.

 

[Caspase]

It seems my hdd is also not working, but the ssd is! I am on the mobile, when I get home i Will answer all your questions. Thanks

 

[Caspase]

Ok. Here we go.

I openned the case, inserted the controller into the bay. Passed the wires through the slot to the back of the case. Connected all the fans to the respective 3 pins. Cut out the side of one adapter so that a PWM fan could work with it. Connected the 2x 4 pin Molex straight from the PSU. Connected the pc. All light started and faded after not even a second.

I smelled something burnt.

Disconnected both molex and started the pc. It started. I put in one molex. It started. Put the second one. Did not start. Disconnected the second and everything works.

Then I noticed my mouse didn't have the leds turned on. My keyboard would not work either.

Tried every usb port possible, none would work. In the home screen, software installed in the HDD drive did not have their respective icons.

Disconnected the one molex connected. Started the pc. USB ports not working either with on or off.

BTW, regarding cross currents, the first time I think I made a mistake and connected a molex that powers the case's front panels and fans.

 

[Olias_of_Sunhillo]

Cut out the side of one adapter so that a PWM fan could work with it

Think I have it the PWM has 12v for the fan Motor and 5v for the reporting/controlling, it seems that the 12v circuit has shot down the Pulse Width Modulation pin or the Sense pin, to understand this check here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_control , technical I know but you will get the drift, not having a 5v pin on the molex is a clue to this.

You seem to have blown the PSU's 5v Circuit, the solution remove the PWM fan (install it back to the motherboard) and replace the PSU sorry but seems the only way.

For the pin-out check here http://www.setiusa.us/showthread.php?2480-PWM-Fan-Pinouts-Industry-Standard-amp-Dell-configurations and you will see that it has crossed.

 

[Caspase]

How can I test this? What does that have to do with the SDD working and the HDD not?

 

[de.das.dude]

something went wrong .terribly wrong. why did you cut the side of one adaptae before testing if everything works!
corsair has a lot of protective devices on their PSUS, so i doubt if its reallt the PSu.


also, why did you neec to connect more than one molex to the fan controller? it has only one input.
you may have fried the controller as well.

 

[Caspase]

the fan controller needs 2 4 pins molex to power it. It has 6 channels of 50w each. So 300 W total...

 

[Olias_of_Sunhillo]

I think that an SSD works at 3.3v (conformation please) so that would explain it, as to testing a multimeter is the way, or a different power supply if you can borrow one.

Hope that helps

Olias

 

[Caspase]

I will try to do that. According to this my HDD is dead too?

 

[Olias_of_Sunhillo]

No I don't think so. By the way have you tried installing the PWM back to the motherboard and rebooting this might just work as you will have removed the problem from within the Fan Controller. 1 Word of caution the Fan itself is likely to be the source of the burnt smell if that is the case don't reconnect it to anything! This would possibly mess up the motherboards PWM circuit - smell the fan (I know kinky huh!) if this is the case do not reconnect it.
If you can connect a 3 pin fan in it's place do.

Sorry for your trouble

 

[Caspase]

The fan controller is working fine. The PWM fan removed does not alter anything, but then again, having the whole controller disconnected did not either, so it was a long shot. The thing is, it only has 2 pins (the fan controller)... Those 2 pins would be 12V only wouldn't it? I've been reading your links...

 

[Olias_of_Sunhillo]

Yes absolutely and these work on your controller from just under 5v to just under 12v meaning that some fans won't work at the lowest slider setting they (the type that don't work) need between 6 and 7 volts to start spinning.

3 pin fans report RPM on the 3rd cable 4 pin PWN do the same and add control on the 4th cable.

 

[Caspase]

But how can cross current occur when the 2 pins connected are 12V?

 

[Olias_of_Sunhillo]

As i mentioned above you will have connected the 12v to he PWM or sense cables.

In trying to analyse your problem (without having it here in front of me) I can only assume this is what has gone wrong -

1 computer went wrong after installing Fan Controller
2 you have modded one of the connectors
3 5v seems to missing

I agree with de.das.dude in that most if not all PSU's will re-set, although the USB has over current protection it cannot deal with that much over-volt, try putting 3.2v through your new Haswell (the 5 to 12v equivalent) - won't last too long!

Test with new or borrowed supply or multimeter as I said

 

[Caspase]

But there is a slight dent that prevents me from doing that, I am pretty sure it was not the wrong pin, but I will check it out

 

[de.das.dude]

the thing is, why did the USB get affected at all.

 

[Olias_of_Sunhillo]

the thing is, why did the USB get affected at all

It seems that it is all the 5v not just the USB. If the power supply 5v has gone then the issue may well be elsewhere. I really would need to see it here to look for cable snags etc I would agree that if the problem occurred when a shorted Fan was re-connected to the motherboard then 12v would short back through to the 5v circuit but it seems that is not the case - as I said in my OP it is an odd one

 

[Caspase]

I am not sure if it is related but both my system fan mobo pins are not working. Yet the cpu fan is... And the hdd is spinning but it is not recognized. I Will borrow a psu tomorrow...

 

[Radical_Edward]

Remove the fan controller and test with a different PSU.

 

[drdeathx]

Test the PSU also........ with a multi meter. check 12v and 5v.