LM317 adjustable voltage regulator? Useless pictures...

Originally Posted by HarveyH42

LM317 adjustable voltage regulator? Useless pictures...

Thanks for the quick response, yes I know the pics were pretty much useless for some reason the digital camera that I use for the internet alot came up missing. I actually removed another one from a power supply to use and had no issue's removing and installing it, I learned from my mistake. Appreciate the help and once I find the camera will post better pics tonight. THANKS!!

I'll bet it's a small bridge rectifier.

Originally Posted by longshot21771

I am just starting to learn more about electronics and am a late bloomer, always been interested but never took the initiative to learn like now since my job requires more repairing of certain items. Anyways I am working on a computer power supply and I removed this part and broke the end of of it and I have no clue what it is can anyone tell me so I can get another one for the power supply? The only markings on it is an M with square around it and the number 4 in one corner and 3171 one row and s ( or 5 ) 87 under that. There are supposed to be 4 prongs but I broke one accidentally. Any help would be appreciated. Here is the link to the pictures pics - Windows Live Sorry about the bad quality I only had my cell available at the time. It is small part and square shaped with one side beveled and 2 prongs that connect to the power supply board on each side.

Difficult and useless to guess unless you provide a clear picture ? . Keep it inverted on your scanner glass. Then cover it with white paper and then you may post here .

in a computer power supply?

Yes, but I think you're right - looks more like an optocoupler. I've seen small bridges in there as part of a secondary supply running the regulator or standby voltage, but that fuzzy image looks more like a 4-pin optocoupler.

I'm betting it is a Monsanto opto-coupler.
Al

Originally Posted by Boncuk

To me it looks like a very ancient thyristor.

It has only three pins, so it can't possibly be an optocoupler or a bridge rectifier.

It originally had 4 pins, on is broken off. I missed that part of the description as well.

It's a contrary ratchetating frammerjammitz. Made Yugoslower.

Originally Posted by duffy

Yes, but I think you're right - looks more like an optocoupler. I've seen small bridges in there as part of a secondary supply running the regulator or standby voltage, but that fuzzy image looks more like a 4-pin optocoupler.

That is exactly what it looks like except it is black, and it did come from a pc power supply. I took it to a electronics guy and he said it was a optocoupler, found one just like in your pic here out of another power supply and it worked like a charm. Thanks to everyone for you help. Another question how do you test them??