Is it safe when surge protector says "line fault"

[mrscintilla]

I have a tripp lite isobar surge protector and just moved to this new apt. EVERY freaking outlet in this new place makes the isobar's "line fault" light on. Yesterday, it has "line fault,"
and "protection on" lights on and has "line ok" light off.

I was wondering whether it simply means that the apt has no ground wire. And if so, is it still safe to hook up computers, expensive AV equipments to the outlet?

 

[gsaldivar]

I've been computing with ungrounded equipment for years. Just make a habit of wearing rubber shoes whenever you're tinkering around with equipment, and you should be fine.

 

[Bassyhead]

Did you try it in a different location other than your apartment? Perhaps there's something with the wiring there. If the protector checks out fine elsewhere, then you know there's probably something wrong with the wiring in your apartment, otherwise if there's something wrong with the protector you should buy a new one, much cheaper than the equipment it protects. To be sure that the wiring at your apartment is at fault, you can use a tester that plugs into the outlets or do it with a DMM if you have one.

 

[2cpuminimum]

Not particularly safe, no. It probably means that either the ground wire isn't connected, or the two prongs are wired backwards, with the wrong one being grounded. You should bring this to the attention of the owner, as they would be liable for any injury that might occur as a result of a wiring fault.
Related thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...hreadid=1051469&enterthread=y&arctab=y

 

[mrscintilla]

Thx, guys. PG&E is coming out today to diagnose the problem. They mentioned that it may be too high or too low a volt. But I am inclined to believe that it's what you guys said, wrong polarity or no ground. If they don't see it on their end, I'll bug the hell out of the owner. My property management sucks. Not returning phone calls for 2 weeks....

 

[mrscintilla]

The PG&E tech pulled out the tinies plug I've seen. put it in and it outputs "open ground." Looks like I'm in a groundless building. F&*k the electrician that installed the whole thing.
pardon my french.

 

[User1001]

Originally posted by: mrscintilla
The PG&E tech pulled out the tinies plug I've seen. put it in and it outputs "open ground." Looks like I'm in a groundless building. F&*k the electrician that installed the whole thing.
pardon my french.

Isn't that a building code violation?

 

[CrispyFried]

Im pretty sure thats a code violation, maybe it depends on the age of the building. And surge protectors wont give full protection as they usually short the surge to the ground pin.

Sometimes you can use the screw that holds the plate on as a ground but that depends on how the place was wired.

 

[User1001]

call the city inspectors office.

 

[TTM77]

Originally posted by: mrscintilla
I have a tripp lite isobar surge protector and just moved to this new apt. EVERY freaking outlet in this new place makes the isobar's "line fault" light on. Yesterday, it has "line fault,"
and "protection on" lights on and has "line ok" light off.

I was wondering whether it simply means that the apt has no ground wire. And if so, is it still safe to hook up computers, expensive AV equipments to the outlet?

I have similar siduation at my house. I installed the plug that has 3 holes to replace the 2 holes. I forgot where but they said the ground should be mount into the metal of the box. I did that and when plug in that tester, it say my ground is fault. Anyway, the ground is just to releave access power or the extra surge. But, for something like your computer you need to put it behind a UPS.