In a cautionary tale of consumer pitfalls, a Reddit user found themselves on the wrong end of a disconcerting discovery when opening their newly acquired 500-watt power supply. Instead of the expected components, a conspicuous steel box greeted the unsuspecting buyer, containing nothing but a plastic bag filled with iron filings. The incident, shared on a Reddit thread and reported by Tom’s Hardware, raises concerns about the integrity and safety of the purchased product.
Discussion among Reddit users speculated that the added weight of the steel box might be an attempt to deceive buyers into thinking the power supply is of higher quality, a misguided belief that associates weight with value. However, a closer examination of the power supply unit (PSU) revealed even more alarming issues. The original Chinese brand was concealed with an English “Equites” label sticker, raising questions about the product’s authenticity.
Further scrutiny by the community exposed the PSU’s lack of crucial safety features, including input and output protection, as well as overcurrent protection. Additionally, the actual output fell significantly short of the advertised 500 watts. The absence of regulatory or inspection labels added another layer of concern. A Reddit user under the username /u/Hattix advised against using the PSU, humorously suggesting it was best suited for pairing with salt, a stake, and a lawyer.
Fortunately, the original poster disclosed that they had no intention of using the compromised power supply for their build. They had purchased it as part of a bundle with a NAS case and wisely decided to inspect the unit, uncovering its dubious contents. The incident serves as a stark reminder that cutting corners on essential components may have dire consequences, emphasizing the importance of diligence when making hardware purchases to ensure both value and safety.
