Static Electricity Computer Question

I know this isn't a computer forum but some of you guys are smart like that. I had my friend build me a HTPC a couple months ago. Any time i touch the front of the case to plug something into the USB port, or touch the power button, I get a shock and the computer restarts. I don't know if its caused by a short or what, but I know static electricity is pretty damaging to computer parts - is there any risk of this damaging my machine?

Originally Posted by VMan

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is there any risk of this damaging my machine?
Probably not, but it's possible. It's definitely not grounded properly though, either via the plug outlet in the wall or a bad power supply used in the computer.

STOP what you're doing for now. You can fry your computer.

That's not static electricity. Your friend screwed up something significantly when he built it. Loose contact inside, not grounded, etc. Shut that **** down, get your drive to someone competent, and back up your files.

I bet that wouldn't happen with a Mac.

Definitely not grounded somehow. I remember there was a grounding problem in our house 15 years ago and whenever I'd touch the case on my dad's 386, I would get these pulses up and down my arm that would temporarily paralyze my arm, it was pretty slick. Same thing happened at Costco once when trying to turn on a fan on display except it was frighteningly stronger.

So yeah, you should get someone to look at that. I'd be worried about frying your peripherals too since those are powered by usb.

Originally Posted by HomerJ

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STOP what you're doing for now. You can fry your computer.

Originally Posted by Arethusa

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That's not static electricity. Your friend screwed up something significantly when he built it. Loose contact inside, not grounded, etc. Shut that **** down, get your drive to someone competent, and back up your files.

+1.

Eh? It's not that dangerous for his computer assuming everything is braced and screwed in properly (it's more dangerous for him actually). As I mentioned above, it could also be your power outlet in your wall that's not grounded properly as well.

Originally Posted by tiecollector

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...get these pulses up and down my arm that would temporarily paralyze my arm, it was pretty slick...
Um, you do realize you were being electrocuted, don't you?

Probably the best thing to do is to buy an outlet wiring tester -- a little device just larger than a three-prong plug that has lights that indicate if the outlet has been wired properly. That will limit the cause to the house or the computer's wiring. If it is the computer it's probably a ground in the power supply -- someone here might know more about how they are wired than I.

~ Huntsman

Don't lick it.

Do not pee on your computer.

It sounds like the wiring is bad inside the case. I heard your story about how the thing was put together. If it were me I'd get a new case and take it to a shop to have them put the guts into the new case correctly.

I don't know that this has anything to do with outlet grounding. A lot of computers are plugged into non-grounded outlets and they don't do this. I have seen a rare case where a crappy computer case was designed so that a USB plug in the front could short 5V USB power to the case ground and reboot the computer. This may be similar to what's happening to you.

OTOH, it may be a very staticky environment. In the aforementioned case, it was on a thickly carpeted area with one of those uberstatic office chair mats and I was getting shocked on everything around, not just the computer.

Anyway, I'd replace the case, and have your house wiring checked for safety's sake.

Originally Posted by Dakota rube

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Um, you do realize you were being electrocuted, don't you?

Yup, and it explains a lot.

Originally Posted by j

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Do not pee on your computer.



This is excellent advice. Even if your computer won't electrocute you.