Any electicians here?

[FrozenCanadian]

I have an APC power bar (surge protector whatever) thats 10 years old.

It has a light showing improper wiring of the plug it connected to. The light has always been on since none of my plugs are grounded.

However, for the last month and a half the light has been off, meaning the plug is grounded all of a sudden.

I figured the Power bar (surge protector) had gone bad since it is 10 years old. So I bought a Belkin surge/power thing with a light to indicate ground, and with my comp or monitor plugged in the socket is grounded without them plugged in its not.

I also thought my power supply was bad since I'm probably pushing it too much (HP power supply and added a 7600GS and TV Tuner) but the monitor alone makes the whole socket grounded.

Also when I stress the computer like playing Heroes 5 at 1680x1050 on my 22" acer you can here crackling / sizzling; However just web browsing and watching tv is fine.

I've tried 4 different sockets in 4 different rooms and its all the same. My questions are

1) Was there a surge and it F'd my comp and monitor
2) Can a monitor or comp ground an entire circuit
3) Do I need a new power supply for the comp and replace the monitor.

I can take pics of the bars and lights if that will help.

 

[ComputerWizKid]

How old is the place where you live? (Breakers or Fuses) and one or two devices cannot ground an entire circuit but it can trick the cheap "wiring Fault" LED circuit to light. I would go to your local home center and get a 3 light outlet tester http://www.nemmar.com/images/i02/home-inspector-tool-1799-580232.jpg It looks like that and it also test GFCI Outlets the one without the black button is cheaper (No GFCI Tester) but thats the only image I could find to show you that will tell you more and does the LED come back on if you unplug the computer or monitor or both? and where is this Cracking/sizziling noise coming from? if the PSU I say replace it Hope I helped Feel free to post here or PM me if you have any more electrical questions

 

[Iron Woode]

so the house receptacles are not grounded?

you can buy a plug tester to tell you if it is not wired correctly.

if none of the receptacles are grounded I would definitely start upgrading the wiring for the safety of the house.

 

[FrozenCanadian]

Sorry for not responding for so long.

No my plugs are not grounded.
I have 5 rooms and 4 fuses (no breakers).

I haven't been back because my computer blew up, along with my fridge and air conditioner. My landlord is replacing some of the outlets this month, and giving me 2 more independent circuits. I've had to use the Internet at friends houses lately and that doesn't give me much time online.

 

[eplebnista]

That's scary. :shocked: Thankfully all it did was fry some appliances. Luckily it did not start a fire and burn the place up while you were sleeping. :beer:

 

[Rubycon]

Grounding is *essential* for surge (VSP) devices to work properly AND your personal safety! Get this fixed without delay. If you're unsure of the wiring practices retain the services of a competent electrician.

 

[mobobuff]

Get the house grounded for Pete's sake (who is this Pete, anyway?)

I have an evolved hatred of ungrounded houses from when I worked for DirecTV. All equipment including the receivers has to be grounded. Our warehouse didn't supply recepticle ground adapters, I had to buy my own and keep a few of them stocked in my van. When I didn't have any I had to cut the ground prong off of all the plugs with a pair of knipex. I ended up doing that a lot, actually... I was a bad bad boy. Any surges on those circuits and those receivers would've been toast.