any harm in running a computer power strip without ground?

[DarkManX]

I noticed the power outlet in my friends room does not have the 3rd ground prong, he is useing one of those gray 3-2 prong adaptors, is it safe doing that on a monitor/computer?

 

[Nebor]

The power strip should protect the computer... but i'd prefer to have the outlet protect the power strip... heh.

 

[grant2]

Well you could cause a short & start a fire. But for day-to-day use, there's no problem.

Surge protector is irrelevant to this situation.

 

[lenjack]

I don't see why an ordinary powerstrip would protect the computer.

 

[Zepper]

No it is NOT SAFE unless the ground lug on the adapter is connected to some real ground - the electrical box that the outlet is in might be grounded - and the polarity is right. Computer equipment uses 3-prong grounded cables for good reasons. Among them, draining static charges off the drives as they are spinning.
. Does he even have the polarity right? He could have himself set up for a shock.
. Get a circuit tester (less than $5. at places like Walmart) and show him. And whack him one upside the head for me! I have no use for stupid/ignorant people.
. He probably doesn't have any surge protection either as even that requires a surge protector (not a simple power strip) and a grounded outlet to work properly.

.bh.
:moon:

 

[tcsenter]

Its perfectly safe in terms of a fire or something like that. If its just a power strip, there is no surge protection anyway. If it is a surge protector, not using a connection to ground just turns it into a power strip. Near-device surge protection is only as good as its direct path to earth ground. No direct path to earth ground, no effective surge protection.

 

[ScottMac]

Most power supplies use a ground reference for regulating the power output and conversion. Not presenting a ground reference is a Bad Thing.

There are also safety issues, possibly with the surge strip as much or more than the computer. I used to live in a very old building with marginal wiring and crappy grounds. I plugged in an APC power strip from the three-prong (but poorly grounded) outlet to to feed a lamp, clock radio, and stereo. After a couple days, I noticed a burning smell - it was the APC power strip melting down (it also uses a ground reference, and had none). It melted a hole in the carpet and looked to be on the verge of catching fire. APC doesn't warranty improperly implemented" equipment, and denies liabillity for damages caused by "improperly implemented" equipment.

The entire system needs to be properly grounded; failure to properly ground the system is likely to present some serious safety issues and damage to the computer equipment.

.02

Scott

 

[buleyb]

most 2-3 adapters have a place to wire the ground up yourself...this is what he should be doing.

 

[Whitedog]

With no place for static buildup to go (ground), you risk something shorting out in the PC.

Other than that....

 

[rickon66]

Yes, great harm can happen.

 

[McMadman]

I ran a system like this for awhile, whenever I touched the case I got shocked, I have to wonder if that was the cause that led to my death of my ibm 22gxp.

 

[Renegade23216]

I have been running THREE systems at the same time contantly with power strips that don't have surge protection or anything. Two-hole outlets with a 3-hole adapter for all three comps. After five years, i have YET to witness a single problem. No joke.

 

[OverVolt]

Originally posted by: Azo313
I have been running THREE systems at the same time contantly with power strips that don't have surge protection or anything. Two-hole outlets with a 3-hole adapter for all three comps. After five years, i have YET to witness a single problem. No joke.

The case is probably grounded somehow.