I have just finished upgrading my computer from an old beige case to a new TT Tsunami Dream case, and have added a TT Big Typhoon Cooler to help with some high temps. I am now finding that with the colder dry air, there is an increased amount of electricity being generated in my home and pc. This is in the form of static electricity, and with a nice new shiny aluminum case, i have encountered the problem of shocking the case w/ a mild charge that i am carrying and having the pc shut down.

What fixes are there to this problem, or what can i do to avoid shocking this system again. I have already startted trying to ground myself on something before going near the case or touching anything, but i still find there is always a slight charge when i touch any part of the case.

I NEED ANY HELP I CAN GET..... the last thing i want to do is damage this machine after all the upgrades i have recently put in.

Quote: Originally Posted by WooDWoRkeR420 I have just finished upgrading my computer from an old beige case to a new TT Tsunami Dream case, and have added a TT Big Typhoon Cooler to help with some high temps. I am now finding that with the colder dry air, there is an increased amount of electricity being generated in my home and pc. This is in the form of static electricity, and with a nice new shiny aluminum case, i have encountered the problem of shocking the case w/ a mild charge that i am carrying and having the pc shut down. What fixes are there to this problem, or what can i do to avoid shocking this system again. I have already startted trying to ground myself on something before going near the case or touching anything, but i still find there is always a slight charge when i touch any part of the case. I NEED ANY HELP I CAN GET..... the last thing i want to do is damage this machine after all the upgrades i have recently put in.

Are you sure this is STATIC electricity, and not a leakage from one of the components? Any static build up would normally be discharged through the original wiring designed with the components. Swap out the PSU and retest.......look for any loose wiring or wires with damaged insulation.

While you're at it, check the outlet in the wall with one of those cheap yellow polarity test units from Home Depot, or in your case Canadian Tire should have them.
I'm not saying that it's impossible for static elecricity to be the culprit, but I would think that it would be lower on the suspicion list ..........

Quote: Originally Posted by prime-evil Are you sure this is STATIC electricity, and not a leakage from one of the components? Any static build up would normally be discharged through the original wiring designed with the components. Swap out the PSU and retest.......look for any loose wiring or wires with damaged insulation. While you're at it, check the outlet in the wall with one of those cheap yellow polarity test units from Home Depot, or in your case Canadian Tire should have them. I'm not saying that it's impossible for static elecricity to be the culprit, but I would think that it would be lower on the suspicion list ..........

I dont think that it is a wiring issue with the power supply, b/c the electrical charge would be noticible from the first flip of the switch, but i am finding that it takes a min or two to get a charge. I think that it is mostly an issue with the static that i am carrying myself, which would be a result of the COLD & DRY air we have had, and i just am not grounding out before touching the case, but all the fans in the machine i am sure are adding to the charge in the air and room.

Quote: Originally Posted by WooDWoRkeR420 I dont think that it is a wiring issue with the power supply, b/c the electrical charge would be noticible from the first flip of the switch, but i am finding that it takes a min or two to get a charge. I think that it is mostly an issue with the static that i am carrying myself, which would be a result of the COLD & DRY air we have had, and i just am not grounding out before touching the case, but all the fans in the machine i am sure are adding to the charge in the air and room.

Which is why I thought you should check the outlet in the wall to see if the polarity is correct and that the third prong is grounded correctly. In any properly wired and constructed appliance be it a toaster, TV, or a computer , the wiring is designed for stray charges to go back to ground, ultimately though the third prong to Earth ground. No one should feel any stray electric charge handling any appliance, be it static or otherwise. Whether, the stray charge is static, or a defective component, the home electrical system is designed so that you should not feel it. A fuse should blow, or a circuit should shut down.

In static electricity, you feel it when you touch a door knob after dragging your feet on the carpet because the door knob is not grounded. You can waste a computer component with a static charge because there is an absence of ground, that's why you wear the wristband and connect the clip to ground.

Something is not grounded. The ground in the PSU might be defective.

Now maybe I am misunderstanding....maybe you meant that you are not personally feeling the charge but you are emitting a charge when you approach the computer and touch that case. If that's what's happening, the case is not grounded properly back to Earth ground. I've got that case and being aluminum with the PSU screwed into the back panel it should be carrying any stray charge through the PSU to ground. Again, through the third prong.

At least that's my understanding of these things................let's see what some of the other members think.

BTW, you have two identical threads running...you should try to delete the other one.

Quote: Now maybe I am misunderstanding....maybe you meant that you are not personally feeling the charge but you are emitting a charge when you approach the computer and touch that case. If that's what's happening, the case is not grounded properly back to Earth ground. I've got that case and being aluminum with the PSU screwed into the back panel it should be carrying any stray charge through the PSU to ground.

My thoughts exactly... proper grounding should take care of this... too often have I seen wall sockets
with grounding pin(s) which weren't truly connected to the "ground"..

TDR

Aside from checking the PSU and cord, check the wall outlet with this:

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Hmm... uh oh. I'm sorta having the same issue. My usb jump drive has shut my PC down twice the last two times I've tried to use it... but I'm not sure it's static, otherwise my drive would've fried. And my fan controller shutsdown/restarts my PC sometimes when switching between fan speeds... crap.

Then it seems to be the right time to follow Prime Evil's suggestion & put your "grounded" wall socket to the test!

On a side note.... I'm pretty interested in such a device myself... but I have to buy it locally because
in Europe whe not only have different amps/voltage but "twin" grounded sockets & plugs as well...

I think I'll drop by the local 'electronics shop tommorrow...

Nice suggestion, Prime Evil!

TDR