Static electricity

[The Green Bean]

I just swiched rooms and now whenever I plug my computer in, the whole computer becomes charged and gives shocks. I immidieately tuen it off. Earthing problem or PSU? Problem with a computer component or from the mains? Ive other stuff plugged in and have never noticed a problem. Nothing draws as much power but it maybe the mains? I tried changing the computer cables without luck.

 

[The Green Bean]

bump

 

[mauiblue]

Sounds like a grounding issue. I would be very afraid in using the computer until you have the issue resolved. I just can't understand how just switching rooms caused this issue. You say it is static electricity but could it be that the computer got bumped during the move? Maybe something got loose? I would try to backup all my important data before all is lost. Good luck.

 

[The Green Bean]

Originally posted by: mauiblue
Sounds like a grounding issue. I would be very afraid in using the computer until you have the issue resolved. I just can't understand how just switching rooms caused this issue. You say it is static electricity but could it be that the computer got bumped during the move? Maybe something got loose? I would try to backup all my important data before all is lost. Good luck.

Last night, I moved the computer to a different part in the room into a different socket. No problems there. I moved it back and again the same problem. I moved it slightly a few metres and the intensity of the current was reduced significantly. I left it on for a few minutes and the problem gradually went away. I plugged it into a UPS and I can't notice anything now.

however, I plugged in my mx1000 mouse and I think I may have felt a light shock. Which seems to be gone now I think. My mx1000 has died RIP. It won't charge. When I put it on the dock, it goes red and then all the three lights light up (and stay light up, showing full battery) and when I remove it, no light, no activity (I tried turning it on and off)...stupid PC stuff Next time Ill buy a dell, or maybe a mac.

It may burn my components but whats the worst that could happen? Burn me? kill my sperm?

 

[Mokmo418]

You killed a mouse and you wonder why ? That computer is dangerous in that outlet! Have it checked (outlet first, computer second)

And yes it will kill your sperm or mutate it and make your children listen to flute all daaay long

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, That's probably not static electricity. Most likely your AC Outlet is not grounded. The setup is dangerous. Get the Outlet checked out and fixed.

Good Luck, Jim

 

[The Green Bean]

Well, I dont think that killed my mouse. It was dead before I put it to charge in the new room socket (IE when I turned it on to use it). Infact it may have been the mouse adapter causing problems in the first place. I took it out and I have not noticed any more shocks. It will be wiser to get the place checked though.
I called the electrician. He sad he had grounded the sockets. He will check them again tommorrow.

 

[The Green Bean]

sadly, most of the sockets are 2 prong ones, and the 3 prong ones are often not grounded. In 7 years, Ive had 3 electrical fires (one was major). We do need to get rewiring done pretty soon since most of the wires are about 25 years old. Plus, below my room, there is a swimmng pool pump system which has mystriously stopped working. Electricty sometimes running at half the voltage, and power loss about 5-6 times a day does not help.

Coming back to the shock I was feeling may also have been becuase of bad wiring inside the computer. I have 5 (molexless) wires plugged into a single molex (mostly for fans) and some open wire may have been touching the case. This has too many variables. Its not giving me shocks anymore and the electrician (who doesnt know jack balls and electric wiring) will come the "check and fix"

 

[SparkyJJO]

There is no way a molex from your PSU caused the shock by touching the case. First off the 12v line isn't enough to shock you and secondly it would have tripped the PSU short protection.

I can just about guarantee that the problem is your house wiring. If you've had electrical fires and other power problems you need to get that fixed ASAP. I wouldn't trust ANY electronic device with wiring that is like that. It's expensive but it is worth redoing the wiring then having to rebuild the whole house due to a fire.

 

[The Green Bean]

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
There is no way a molex from your PSU caused the shock by touching the case. First off the 12v line isn't enough to shock you and secondly it would have tripped the PSU short protection.

I can just about guarantee that the problem is your house wiring. If you've had electrical fires and other power problems you need to get that fixed ASAP. I wouldn't trust ANY electronic device with wiring that is like that. It's expensive but it is worth redoing the wiring then having to rebuild the whole house due to a fire.

The last time there was a fire in an AC, they replaced the circuit breakers which were said the be of the wrong rating. The new room im talking about, is in the plot opposite my house with just 2 rooms and a swimming pool. It has a seperate mains connections (as well as a connection with the generator in the main house). The room has been wired by what I would call a novice electrician without much planning. This is only a temperary solution for a few years till a house is built on the plot (planned within 5 years).

I was using a two prong AC connector when I was getting the shocks. Now im using a 3 prong one through a UPS. No shocks. I tried using the 2 prong one just to verify the problem but even that hasnt given any problems.

And the PSU im currently using is a low quality generic one.

 

[Zepper]

You have to get one of those cheap outlet testers to check the outlet you're using for your PC equipment to make sure the polarity isn't reversed and that the ground is good. Never use a 3 to 2 prong AC adapter on computer equipment unless the ground wire on it is actually grounded and the polarity is correct (IOW, tests OK with the outlet tester mentioned above). The outlet you use must be grounded - run a heavy-duty 3-wire extension cord to a grounded outlet if necessary. Don't compromise on the AC power to your PC.

Sounds like you have serious wiring problems.

.bh.

 

[The Green Bean]

the electrcian came today. he said erverything as fine.

 

[Geomagick]

2 prong ac sockets don't have polarity.

Unless the US has gone DC since I last visited.

 

[Zepper]

All two prong AC outlets should be polarized by now (at least in the US) one slot (for neutral, white wire) is wider than the other. If you still have 2-prong outlets in your house that are not polarized (both slots the same size), then you should replace them being sure to connect neutral to the wide slot, and hot (should be black wire) to the narrow slot. Many items used in the home now have polarized plugs that won't fit in the non-polarized outlets.

I like to use commercial grade outlets as they get a tighter grip on your plugs and will last longer before weakening. They are worth the extra money.

.bh.

 

[The Green Bean]

Originally posted by: George Powell
2 prong ac sockets don't have polarity.

Unless the US has gone DC since I last visited.

Im not in the US.

 

[vanvock]

Listen to Zepper, the hot & neutral is often reversed on the outlet.

 

[Zepper]

plugs and jacks are called "polarized" if they can only go together one way. And AC has hot and neutral which could be considered analogous to Pos and Neg in DC. So if you've been wiring a house without concern as to where the hot and neutral lines connected to your outlets and or light fixtures, I suggest you go back and check it carefully... :roll:

.bh.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: The Green Bean

Originally posted by: mauiblue
Sounds like a grounding issue. I would be very afraid in using the computer until you have the issue resolved. I just can't understand how just switching rooms caused this issue. You say it is static electricity but could it be that the computer got bumped during the move? Maybe something got loose? I would try to backup all my important data before all is lost. Good luck.

Last night, I moved the computer to a different part in the room into a different socket. No problems there. I moved it back and again the same problem. I moved it slightly a few metres and the intensity of the current was reduced significantly. I left it on for a few minutes and the problem gradually went away. I plugged it into a UPS and I can't notice anything now.

however, I plugged in my mx1000 mouse and I think I may have felt a light shock. Which seems to be gone now I think. My mx1000 has died RIP. It won't charge. When I put it on the dock, it goes red and then all the three lights light up (and stay light up, showing full battery) and when I remove it, no light, no activity (I tried turning it on and off)...stupid PC stuff Next time Ill buy a dell, or maybe a mac.

It may burn my components but whats the worst that could happen? Burn me? kill my sperm?

so how does your stupidity of continuing to plug anything into a questionable outlet translate into "stupid PC stuff Next time Ill buy a dell, or maybe a mac."? you are the idiot that keeps messing with an outlet that obviously has issues.

and you are using a electrician who you claim doesn't know sh!t about what he does...

you should say "stupid human."

 

[The Green Bean]

Originally posted by: Zepper
plugs and jacks are called "polarized" if they can only go together one way. And AC has hot and neutral which could be considered analogous to Pos and Neg in DC. So if you've been wiring a house without concern as to where the hot and neutral lines connected to your outlets and or light fixtures, I suggest you go back and check it carefully... :roll:

.bh.

The sockets are not polarized.

 

[The Green Bean]

Originally posted by: vanvock
Listen to Zepper, the hot & neutral is often reversed on the outlet.

What difference would it make? Ive never ever had problems before plugging plugs either way on sockets. Im not from the US and things here are very different.

 

[The Green Bean]

This is what I had when I connected directly to the socket

CEE 7/16 (Europlug)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/CEE_7-17_plug.jpg

This two-wire plug is unearthed and has two round, 4 mm pins, which usually converge slightly. It is popularly known as the Europlug and is described in CEE 7/16. This is probably the single most widely used international plug. It will mate with any socket that accepts 4.0 mm round contacts spaced 19 mm apart.

It is commonly used in all countries of Europe except the UK, Ireland, and (former) UK dependencies such as Malta. It is also used in Russia (GOST 7396) and in various parts of the developing world such as India and much of Africa. This plug is generally limited for use in class II applications that require 2.5 A or less. Because it can be inserted in either direction into the socket, it is symmetrical (that is, live and neutral are connected at random). This plug is also defined in Italian standard CEI 23-5.

Then, for connecting with the UPS, I used this

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/G_plug.png

I donot think the socket is earther or polarized. It accepts ANY 2 prong or 3 prong plugs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co...ower_plugs%2C_voltages_and_frequencies
Im from Pakistan. We only normally use tyoe C and D.

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: bob4432

Originally posted by: The Green Bean

Originally posted by: mauiblue
Sounds like a grounding issue. I would be very afraid in using the computer until you have the issue resolved. I just can't understand how just switching rooms caused this issue. You say it is static electricity but could it be that the computer got bumped during the move? Maybe something got loose? I would try to backup all my important data before all is lost. Good luck.

Last night, I moved the computer to a different part in the room into a different socket. No problems there. I moved it back and again the same problem. I moved it slightly a few metres and the intensity of the current was reduced significantly. I left it on for a few minutes and the problem gradually went away. I plugged it into a UPS and I can't notice anything now.

however, I plugged in my mx1000 mouse and I think I may have felt a light shock. Which seems to be gone now I think. My mx1000 has died RIP. It won't charge. When I put it on the dock, it goes red and then all the three lights light up (and stay light up, showing full battery) and when I remove it, no light, no activity (I tried turning it on and off)...stupid PC stuff Next time Ill buy a dell, or maybe a mac.

It may burn my components but whats the worst that could happen? Burn me? kill my sperm?

so how does your stupidity of continuing to plug anything into a questionable outlet translate into "stupid PC stuff Next time Ill buy a dell, or maybe a mac."? you are the idiot that keeps messing with an outlet that obviously has issues.

and you are using a electrician who you claim doesn't know sh!t about what he does...

you should say "stupid human."

I would like to second the comment concerning incompetent electricians. My house is ancient (around 100 years old) and none of the sockets are grounded. They have 3 prongs, but theres no grounding pike or even anything connected to the third prong. This point was reinforced by the red light on my new APC surge protector. However, surprisingly and luckily, there have never been major electrical problems. There use to be two sockets that sparked out or gave out a small shock, but those have been replaced and fine now. Nothing has ever been fried and no fires. So your home's wiring is a death trap that may be due to a lot more than age. This is from a North American experience by the way.