can i use my pc if case is electrified?

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JAKMACK

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May 8, 2014
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I recieve a touch current while my PC is plugged into the wall jack with obviously no ground, all i need to know definitely is if this current i can feel in my case has the potential to damage my expensive computer components.
Will reversing the polarity of my powerstrip into the walljack send this energy somewhere else?
Any ghetto ways of removing current without spending money on electricians.
 
Solution
you can damage the computer and yourself, only an UPS will offer you some protection it will burn the UPS before the PC, but its not ideal having no ground in the house at all.
Or use this kind of fuse, 40A max (lower the better), it is very sensitive and will turn off the house power each time there is a ground discharge.

https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ilumitec.es%2Fmedia%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct%2Fcache%2F1%2Fimage%2F650x%2F040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f%2FA%2F9%2FA9R60225_2.jpg&f=1
You are mad that we are not giving you an answer to a problem that could kill you. The answer is that this could kill you. If the neutrals at the main panel are not bonded to a proper ground and there is no ground at the plugs then all you'll get if you rig up a ground to the case is a massive ground fault with a lot of current leaking to ground through the case. It's still dangerous, it can still kill you.

If your life isn't worth more than playing a few video games I guess that's your call but don't expect us to help you end it.

Calling the site a joke, your question is a joke. A sad sad joke that I'm sorry you have to ask but fix it right or unplug the damn thing.
 



The best answer to this problem is to use an isolation transformer between the AC line input to your computer and the wall plug. Then you can tie your computer chassis or whatever is giving you a shock to a good earth ground.

An isolation transformer has a 1-to-1 turns ration. That means for a 115VAC line input voltage you will have an isolated 115VAC output for your computer but isolated from the AC line input to the transformer. Most likely you have a 230VAC line so that would be the required isolation transformer.
 


 
You can dig a hole in ground place and roll 5m of wire in it and extend other end to apartment through like window or something. buy normal 1 meter extension cord and strip outer plastic protection to reach 3 wires in midsection of cord. Strip insulation from yellow (ground) wire. Attach wire from window to yellow (ground) wire. Plug the cord in wall socket and PC on the other end.
Viola !

The other problem is if 25 year old motherboard or cables leak current to outer PC case which touches it somewhere. Ground wire will not solve that problem.
 
I had the same thing about 20 or so yrs ago. The earth wire had come out of the power point, the stereo and computer were plugged into

Only noticed when I brushed my arm against it, one day. The whole case was live.

I felt a tingle. Obviously it wasn't enough to kill me, otherwise I wouldn't be here now

It didnt affect the pc in any way. It didnt crash or anything.

BUT I got a free replacement CPU from Intel anyway.

NOT only did this fry the control board on my washing machine (I had to replace it, it's still going today), it also killed the fridge (which had to be replaced at my cost - I was flatting then, it wasn't my house).

And it also killed the dvd player in the stereo, (it could no longer read dvd's, but everything else on it was fine).

I think this was because all of them were on the same circuit.

The fridge and the washing machine weren't plugged into the same power point as the stereo and the PC

So it may not damage your computer, but whatever is on the same circuit may get fried. If you dont fix it

 


NO! Don't just earth things willy nilly. Your mains supply could be in one of the few countries that "float" the supply and this makes for "fairly safe" system tho' I much prefer OUR earthed system!

If YOUR gear is earthed a fault could put others on the same phase at risk. The fact that you have reversible sockets makes me think you ARE floating. Get a lekky in.

Dave. UK
 


Please no. This is unbelievably dangerous and won't necessarily fix the problem.

Plus yellow is either unspecified or a phase colour in many countries.

@OP, please state which country you're in. I'm sure it's been asked several times.
 
So just to be clear, the wall socket has 3 holes, right? And the IEC plug, that goes into your PSU, is of the C13 type, right? Can you confirm, that the other end of your lead has 3 pins? And if it indeed has 3 pins, that the middle one (earth) isn't plastic?
 


Especially if he's in a 240 volt country!