Could a plugged in device taint the power for the whole room?

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effowe

effowe

Diamond Member
Nov 1, 2004
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I'm not sure if I worded the topic correctly, so let me explain. I have been having strange issues with my computer recently, random blue screens and peripherals going out. I replaced all of the hardware and was still getting strange issues on the new computer. I ended up moving the new PC to my bedroom (was in the computer room before) and did not experience any of the blue screens I had before. After this test, I decided to only plug the essentials in in the computer room, and see if I could bluescreen by plugging in different devices.

There were two things in the room so far that I plugged in which caused my PC to blue screen. My PS2 and my receiver, when plugged into a different strip than the computer, would cause the BSOD after a short amount of time. I have run an extension cord to the living room, and plugged the receiver in out there. My computer has since been working fine, and I am able to use the reciever in the same room as the computer.

Is it possible that these devices could 'ruin' the power in the room, leaving my computer to BSOD? I have been testing this, and it seems to be repeatable with these two devices.
 
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chorb

Golden Member
Oct 7, 2005
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phoenix79 said:
Anything on the same circuit could be affected by noise from one device.
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any noise on the AC line should be filtered out the computer's power supply. it would have to be a huge instantaneous current draw on the same circuit to affect the output of the AC to DC power supply.
 
phoenix79

phoenix79

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Jan 17, 2000
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chorb said:
any noise on the AC line should be filtered out the computer's power supply. it would have to be a huge instantaneous current draw on the same circuit to affect the output of the AC to DC power supply.
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Unless he's got a crappy power supply, like one in ANY OEM machine.
 
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Paperdoc

Platinum Member
Aug 17, 2006
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I would expect that chorb is right. However, your story says that the receiver causes the computer to malfunction when they are plugged in within your computer room (and presumably on the same branch circuit / breaker), but the problem is eliminated when the receiver is powered from a different room via an extension cord. That suggests that the receiver somehow is putting out noise signals that interfere with the computer, but they are NOT just being "broadcast" across the room. They seem to be transmitted somehow using the room's wiring. That is very puzzling. I really doubt that the problem is current draw on the branch circuit causing voltage sags. I don't really have a good explanation for something that should not happen!
 
Juddog

Juddog

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Dec 11, 2006
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I've seen similar things happen before with a cheap lamp I bought from home Depot and a fan. Both messed up anything on the same circuit.
 
effowe

effowe

Diamond Member
Nov 1, 2004
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Paperdoc said:
I would expect that chorb is right. However, your story says that the receiver causes the computer to malfunction when they are plugged in within your computer room (and presumably on the same branch circuit / breaker), but the problem is eliminated when the receiver is powered from a different room via an extension cord. That suggests that the receiver somehow is putting out noise signals that interfere with the computer, but they are NOT just being "broadcast" across the room. They seem to be transmitted somehow using the room's wiring. That is very puzzling. I really doubt that the problem is current draw on the branch circuit causing voltage sags. I don't really have a good explanation for something that should not happen!
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That's what's been so frustrating. I had to troubleshoot this new build trying to get it stable, with this underlying problem that I didn't notice / think about until I moved the computer out of the room. Another strange thing just happened. My receiver is plugged into the living room like I said, but I have a minijack -> rca plugged into my computer. I just turned the dial to switch the receiver to my computer, and my Windows messed up again. The screen froze, but there was no blue screen. I was able to press CTRL-ALT-DEL that took me to the Change User / Task Manager page, but when I went back to Windows there was just a black screen.
 
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chorb

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Oct 7, 2005
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effowe said:
That's what's been so frustrating. I had to troubleshoot this new build trying to get it stable, with this underlying problem that I didn't notice / think about until I moved the computer out of the room. Another strange thing just happened. My receiver is plugged into the living room like I said, but I have a minijack -> rca plugged into my computer. I just turned the dial to switch the receiver to my computer, and my Windows messed up again. The screen froze, but there was no blue screen. I was able to press CTRL-ALT-DEL that took me to the Change User / Task Manager page, but when I went back to Windows there was just a black screen.
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that is truly odd. even if there was some ground noise introduced into the PC, the ground bounce would have to be pretty high as it is all digital signals within the computer. does the problem only happen when you have the receiver plugged to the computer via the minijack to rca?
 
effowe

effowe

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Nov 1, 2004
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chorb said:
that is truly odd. even if there was some ground noise introduced into the PC, the ground bounce would have to be pretty high as it is all digital signals within the computer. does the problem only happen when you have the receiver plugged to the computer via the minijack to rca?
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Well I'm still kind of unclear as to what exactly is causing the problems. I'm slowly introducing things into the mix seeing what combinations work, and what causes it to BSOD / lock up. It locked up when the cable was plugged in and I switched to the computer input. I have since unplugged that and am seeing what else plays nice with the setup. I think I should get a UPS for the more expensive devices in this room. I asked earlier in the thread but..

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good reliable UPS that will supply my computer with clean power? I did a little reading and heard APC was good, any thoughts?
 
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chorb

Golden Member
Oct 7, 2005
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effowe said:
Well I'm still kind of unclear as to what exactly is causing the problems. I'm slowly introducing things into the mix seeing what combinations work, and what causes it to BSOD / lock up. It locked up when the cable was plugged in and I switched to the computer input. I have since unplugged that and am seeing what else plays nice with the setup. I think I should get a UPS for the more expensive devices in this room. I asked earlier in the thread but..

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good reliable UPS that will supply my computer with clean power? I did a little reading and heard APC was good, any thoughts?
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A UPC wouldn't really do much for you, I believe most of them dont actually clean the power and only kick in once the main power goes out. What you're talking about is a power conditioner, I dont have much info as far as good brands go, but you may want to look into that if you have no other options.
 
FoBoT

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
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fobot.com
yes
same thing can happen with a network/switch
i had a bad network card that when plugged into my switch messed up the whole LAN
 
MagnusTheBrewer

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
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chorb said:
A UPC wouldn't really do much for you, I believe most of them dont actually clean the power and only kick in once the main power goes out. What you're talking about is a power conditioner, I dont have much info as far as good brands go, but you may want to look into that if you have no other options.
Click to expand...

Actually, the better UPS's do have power conditioning. APC calls it Automatic Voltage Regulation and it works quite well.
 
A

Auggie

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Jul 18, 2003
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I can't tell from the OP and subsequent posts whether or not the new Corsair 750W power supply has been installed and tried yet.af

I'd wait to be really upset until after you've tried the new PSU...
 
effowe

effowe

Diamond Member
Nov 1, 2004
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Auggie said:
I can't tell from the OP and subsequent posts whether or not the new Corsair 750W power supply has been installed and tried yet.af

I'd wait to be really upset until after you've tried the new PSU...
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The new PSU is in there and running fine with just these devices plugged in. I was running a Corsair HX520, which I felt was underpowered which is why I upgraded.
 
JohnOfSheffield

JohnOfSheffield

Lifer
Jun 26, 2007
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chorb said:
A UPC wouldn't really do much for you, I believe most of them dont actually clean the power and only kick in once the main power goes out. What you're talking about is a power conditioner, I dont have much info as far as good brands go, but you may want to look into that if you have no other options.
Click to expand...

Almost all do a pass-through so that will clean it up, if not, the conversion in the Power Supply most certainly will (do people know what capacitors are for these days or is that old school stuff now?)

APC is the brand of choice for many, but basically anything will do just fine.
 
Sea Moose

Sea Moose

Diamond Member
May 12, 2009
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You might be getting induction.

If you have power wires running near sensor wires, somtimes you can cause induction within the sensor wires. This causes false readings. in my line of work we use shielded sensor wires which are earthed at one end to eliminate induction
 
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