smithyandco Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 I've done some Googling on this and haven't come back with any useful results. The basics are... I have (possible had) a working computer freshly rebuilt into a nice new ITX case. Fully tested and working to perfection. Some of the cooling solutions I used were UV reactive so I bought a branded UV cold cathode tube kit designed for PCs (used molex 4 pin for the power). I plugged this kit in, switched on the PC and nothing happened... I then realised I'd not switched the lights on via the included in-line switch and I switched them on. They lit up, but there was a horrible whine which I thought would be the inverter then after 2-3 seconds the PSU went "POP!" blowing a fuse in the process. I removed the lights and tried to turn the PC on again and it went "POP!" again only louder and blew another fuse. Now I believe the lights have caused a short which has blown the PSU (and hopefully nothing else). I've tried them on a cheapo 12v PSU and it blew that straight away. I've tried them on a 5Ah 12V battery and it melted the wires on the DIY battery to molex adaptor I made so definitely faulty. My question is this: Where do I stand with the seller (a registered UK business)? Am I entitled to claim for a new PSU from this seller caused by the faulty kit?It was a branded PSU, but budget wattage (450W for an ITX setup drawing 250W peak) that cost about £70.What happens if it's damaged other components? Can I claim for those as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidrick Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 They could claim you damaged it while fitting. I wouldn't have thought you'd have much of a chance at all. Can you claim on home insurance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluliz Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 I'd say you were standing next to a pile of broken computer components. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidrick Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 I'd say you were standing next to a pile of broken computer components. http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/1801096-badum_tish_super.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwwd Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 I'd guess it's down to the discretion of the seller. You can obviously contact them with what's happened, and they may be thankful for the information and sort you out financially. Or equally they could turn around and tell you to f*ck yourself. It's worth opening correspondence with them first though and you might get lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithyandco Posted December 10, 2012 Author Share Posted December 10, 2012 Thought as much... It's an idiot proof kit (unless you take wire cutters to it) so incorrect fitting is impossible when unmodified. Looks like the bank account is going to be the cost of a PSU lighter this month... As far as components go... My main concern is the shiny new bargain SSD I fitted, the rest is recycled from an old ITX desktop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidrick Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 I can send you a unit from a spare work PC to tide you over until next month if money is tight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Did you buy them as a consumer or a business? It makes a big difference to your rights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwwd Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 You could quote the Sales of Goods Act 1979: Clicky I did that with GameStation when my 4 year old PS3 died and they replaced it for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithyandco Posted December 10, 2012 Author Share Posted December 10, 2012 I can send you a unit from a spare work PC to tide you over until next month if money is tight. Thanks Sidrick, that's a very kind gesture.Money is tight (always is a Christmas) but the PC is just a bedroom one, not a necessity... it can wait until after Christmas to be fixed Did you buy them as a consumer or a business? It makes a big difference to your rights.Consumer so I'm covered under the SoGA and DSR... although it would be hard to prove the kit caused the problem without taking the whole lot to them in person and watching it blow up one of their PSUs. You could quote the Sales of Goods Act 1979: Clicky I did that with GameStation when my 4 year old PS3 died and they replaced it for free.I've politely quoted a few lines from that to them... Mainly that their terms and conditions (including not accepting liability) cannot contravene the SoGA. Basically explained that I'm not looking to make a quick buck, just trying to return the PC to it's pre-lighting kit state and that I would even accept a suitable second hand PSU that's laying around their office as a replacement to settle the matter (as long as the PSU is the only thing damaged). It's free to try... and if you don't ask you don't get. I'll update this with whatever response I get Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Just make sure you are very polite when you contact the seller, works wonders, not quoting the riot act first time around Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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