[gatorback]

I have an RT-N16 that has stopped working. When plugged in, the LEDs flashed briefly and it seems to non-functional. This device sits behind a medical grade UPS and no other devices experienced a failure.

Observation: I have a spare RT-N16 and it is in service. The failed router's power supply variance is an order of magnitude greater than the good router:

Good Router Power Source Max=12.32 Min=11.24 Avg=12.28 Range 0.06V
Failed Router Power Source Max=12.4 Min=11.6 Avg=11.9 Range 0.8V

Attempts to power the bad router with the good power source results in the same observation: brief LED activity then darkness.

Question 1: Is the large DC voltage variance in the power supply a cause or symptom of the router's failure?

Question 2: If the DC voltage is the cause, what is the router's most likely failure mode?

[ddaniel51]

Q1 The ps could still be in tolerance considering they are inexpensive supplys to start with. Best way would be to look at it with a scope to make sure noise and ripple are not present.

Q2 Hard to tell as excessive current draw from a failing router could stress the supply and skew it a bit. Your measured voltages are not off enough to cause the router grief since it regulates the 12vdc down to 5vdc and perhaps 3.3vdc. If the supply developed a lot of noise or high ripple that could stress the power system in the router.

Either way if the supply is questionable just toss it. Not worth chancing it on something else.

Dave

[gatorback]

Replaced one of the slightly bulging capacitors and the LEDS are working. Web and SSH access are working again. Hopefully, the capacitor was the only problem. Replaced capacitor as shown here:

[redhawk0]

Yeah...these power wall-warts are not regulated so some variation is expected when plugged in vs. unplugged...the regulation takes place on the mobo of the router. The cap you changed (nice pic...BTW ) is one of the power supply caps that helps smooth out the input power to make it useful for the router.

redhawk