Dave, my main power switch / breaker (on rear of PC) is popping when the PC is left on for 1 - 2 days. Turning it OFF then back ON and then pressing the power button on the front panel returns the system to full functionality. There is no scandisk to indicate an improper shutdown. Any suggestions appreciated!

To answer this question, I went straight to the source, to Jerrold Foutz of Power Supply Design Tips and a generally superb chap. Here’s his best shot at answering your question:

I don’t answer questions about PC power supplies because as a power supply
circuit designer I need a schematic and a meaningful parts list as a
starting point. Schematics for PCs, and especially their power supplies,
are almost impossible to come by (it is highly competitive and no one
wants their competitor to have this information), and if you get one, the
parts list is mostly proprietary part numbers and there is no way to find
data on the part and learn its characteristics.

Having said that, here are a few observations…

[Continue reading about troubleshooting Windows PC power supplies   (help desk!)]