Troubleshoot your Xbox 360 Power Supply when the power supply light is red

Sometimes, the light on your Xbox 360 power supply might turn red. In this article, we'll help you determine how to resolve this problem.

When you use your Xbox 360 console, the power supply light changes to red. See a picture of the red light on the power supply in Figure 1.

This problem occurs when the external power supply has detected a fault. The power supply has several built-in safeguards to help prevent damage to either the console or to the power supply. The power supply will turn off if one of the following conditions is true:

• There is too much current.
• The voltage is too high.
• The temperature of the power supply is too high.

When any of these conditions are true, the light on the power supply turns red.

Here are some steps that you can use to try to fix the problem.

Step 1: Make sure that the power supply is cool

The red light might indicate that the power supply is too hot or that it has overheated. Follow these steps if the power supply light is red:

1. Make sure that your Xbox 360 console is turned off.
2. Disconnect your Xbox 360 Power Supply from your Xbox 360 console and from the wall outlet. For more information about how to disconnect the Xbox 360 power supply, view the following article:
   906205  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906205/ ) How to connect and disconnect the Xbox 360 power supply
3. Let the power supply cool for two hours in a well-ventilated space. Do not connect the Xbox 360 power supply to the console or to the wall outlet during this time.
4. After the power supply has cooled for two hours, reconnect the Xbox 360 Power Supply to the console and to the wall outlet.

If cooling the power supply does not resolve the problem or if the problem persists, use the steps in the next section.

Step 2: Make sure that the power supply is plugged in correctly

Make sure that the power supply is directly plugged into a working wall outlet. You may have problems with the power supply if you use an extension cord or a power strip if the extension cord or the power strip is faulty or cannot supply the required power to the console.

If the power supply is still not working as expected, use the steps in the next section.

Step 3: Plug the power supply into a different wall outlet

To eliminate the possibility that the wall outlet you are using is faulty or that there is a blown fuse, plug the power cord into a different wall outlet in a different area of your place of residence.

If this does not resolve the problem, use the steps in the next section.

Step 4: Try another Xbox 360 Power Cord and Xbox 360 Power Supply

If you have a different Xbox 360 Power Cord and Xbox 360 Power Supply, try to use them to test the console. If the console turns on when you use a different power cord and power supply, you need to replace the faulty power cord and power supply. If the console does not turn on, the issue may be with the console itself.

If this does not resolve the problem, use the steps in the next section

Step 5: Obtain a replacement Xbox 360 Power Supply

If the steps in this article did not resolve the issue and the Xbox 360 Power Supply light continues illuminate red, you need to obtain a replacement power supply.

To contact Xbox Customer Support to get a replacement power supply or power cord, visit the following Web site:

• http://www.xbox.com/support/contact (http://www.xbox.com/support/contact)

Note Use of an unofficial, unauthorized, or third-party power supply might invalidate your warranty.

The power supply has several built-in safeguards to help prevent damage to either your Xbox 360 console or the power supply itself. The power supply will automatically turn off if either the current flow, the voltage, or the temperature is too high. When the power supply turns off for any of these reasons, the light on the power supply will turn from green (normal) to orange or to red, or the light will turn off. When the power supply light is green, the power supply is working correctly.

To help the power supply work correctly, always try to use the following best practices:

• Do not block any ventilation openings in the power supply.
• Do not put the power supply on a bed, on a sofa, or on any other soft surface that may block ventilation openings.
• Do not put the power supply in a confined space, such as a bookcase, a rack, or a stereo cabinet, unless the space is well ventilated.
• Do not put the power supply on a stereo speaker, an amplifier, or a heat source such as a radiator or a heat register.
• Do not use an unlicensed accessory, such as a non-Microsoft replacement power supply or any accessory that plugs in between the Xbox 360 console and the power supply.
• Plug the power supply directly into a working wall outlet. You might have problems if you use an extension cord or a power strip, if the extension cord or the power strip is faulty or cannot supply the required power to the console.
• If you are not sure about the reliability of an AC power outlet, power circuit, or power cabling, do not use it. Contact an electrician.

The following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles provide additional information about the different issues that you may have encountered.