[SOLVED] I can feel electricity when touching PC case screws ...

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AWindowsUser

AWindowsUser

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Jun 21, 2020
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Hello.
I've noticed that if I touch my PC case (only noticed when touching case screws) with a leg or an arm (not hands/fingers because I don't feel it then), I can feel some electricity. It's not a shock, it just feels weird.

Is this happening because the socket (or house) isn't grounded?

electrical-sockets-around-the-world.jpg

I'm pretty sure I have a Type C socket (others are Type F, but I doubt my house is grounded anyway)

I'm mainly asking because I don't really want to check the entire PC, so this is why I think it's a grounding problem ...
 
Solution
makkem
Due to the way the circuit is implemented in most power supplies there will be some leakage to ground which is taken care of by having the power supply connected to ground.
So,yes the problem is solved and there is really nothing to fix.
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The only reason you'd feel electrocuted is due to the fact that the wall socket(or your entire house for that matter) lacks grounding. I'd ask you to also list your specs like so:
Please include/list your specs like so:
CPU:
Mo;herboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
GPU:
PSU:
OS:

You shouldn't be on a Type C socket outlet when dealing with a computer, rather any other socket with a grounding on it.
 
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Lutfij said:
Specs:
CPU: Ryzen 5 3600
Mo;herboard: MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX
Ram: RAM DDR4 16GB Kit (2x 8) PC4-25600 3200MT/s CL16 SR x8 1.35V Crucial BX Sport LT
SSD/HDD: SSD 250GB 2.5" SATA3 3D TLC, 7mm, CRUCIAL MX500 and a SSHD
GPU: Nvidia (Asus) 1060 GTX 6 Gb
PSU: BE QUIET! STRAIGHT POWER 11 550W (BN281) 80Plus Gold modular ATX
OS: Windows 10
Click to expand...

What are the risks of using Type C sockets (it's the only one in my room). And I'm pretty sure that the entire house isn't grounded even though there are Type F sockets ...
 
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makkem said:
Hi
Your power supply really needs a ground for the surge protection to work correctly.
Is there any way you could connect a wire from a case screw to a water pipe ?
Click to expand...
Like, it's technically possible, but I don't know if that would work ...
My main concern is, is that happening because of the grounding issue (so does that mean anyone that doesn't have a grounded house, would have that issue?) or because of some other stuff in PC ...
 
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AWindowsUser said:
Like, it's technically possible, but I don't know if that would work ...
My main concern is, is that happening because of the grounding issue (so does that mean anyone that doesn't have a grounded house, would have that issue?) or because of some other stuff in PC ...
Click to expand...
Hi
Providing your water pipes are metal then it should work.
It is very common for ungrounded PC cases to give mild electric shocks so it is not just your computer that has a problem.
 
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makkem said:
Hi
Providing your water pipes are metal then it should work.
It is very common for ungrounded PC cases to give mild electric shocks so it is not just your computer that has a problem.
Click to expand...
Okay, so, if I turn the computer off and disconnect it from electricity, the screwdriver's light still turns on (but I cant feel electricity)
 
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AWindowsUser said:
Okay, so, if I turn the computer off and disconnect it from electricity, the screwdriver's light still turns on (but I cant feel electricity)
Click to expand...
Hi
I assume the screwdriver is a mains tester with a neon bulb.
What you are doing is draining the capacitors in the power supply which store electricity for a surprisingly long time,if you wait long enough for the capacitors to discharge the light will no longer illuminate.
 
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makkem said:
Hi
I assume the screwdriver is a mains tester with a neon bulb.
What you are doing is draining the capacitors in the power supply which store electricity for a surprisingly long time,if you wait long enough for the capacitors to discharge the light will no longer illuminate.
Click to expand...
Okay, update:
Basically, we fixed the socket now and it's Type F now (the previous one also almost fell out of the wall), but I'm using another one now (which we changed, too). We have zero and phase (and apparently grounding, too, but in my socket, grounding is connected to zero I guess). When I connect it now, I don't feel any electricity and the neon bulb doesn't light up ...

My main concern is ... is this problem now solved or is my case still leaking electricity, but electricity goes through grounding (is there something I should fix?)?
 
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Due to the way the circuit is implemented in most power supplies there will be some leakage to ground which is taken care of by having the power supply connected to ground.
So,yes the problem is solved and there is really nothing to fix.
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
Solution
makkem said:
Due to the way the circuit is implemented in most power supplies there will be some leakage to ground which is taken care of by having the power supply connected to ground.
So,yes the problem is solved and there is really nothing to fix.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your help!
I'm only worried about grounding wire being connected to the neutral one directly in the socket (not sure, but I think that's called "Bridging"). Will that be fine?
 
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Well that would not be allowed where I am in the UK,as the neutral would be connected to ground at the point at which the supply enters the building,normally the meter but regulations may be different for you.
Since there will be only two wires to that socket it is probably the only practical way to do it.
It is not inherently dangerous as it has been connected using the fixed wiring in the socket but is not best practice.
 
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makkem said:
Well that would not be allowed where I am in the UK,as the neutral would be connected to ground at the point at which the supply enters the building,normally the meter but regulations may be different for you.
Since there will be only two wires to that socket it is probably the only practical way to do it.
It is not inherently dangerous as it has been connected using the fixed wiring in the socket but is not best practice.
Click to expand...
Well, it's not allowed here either after some research ... But it's the only option.
 
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makkem said:
Well that would not be allowed where I am in the UK,as the neutral would be connected to ground at the point at which the supply enters the building,normally the meter but regulations may be different for you.
Since there will be only two wires to that socket it is probably the only practical way to do it.
It is not inherently dangerous as it has been connected using the fixed wiring in the socket but is not best practice.
Click to expand...
Sorry for reviving this thread, but I can still feel electricity (I didn't in the beginning), Do you know what's going on? Is it PC's itself fault or did something happen to the bridge in the outlet?
 
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get a mains socket tester similar to this one on the link , prices vary , you simply plug them into the wall socket and the combination of light will show any problem with the mains.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/megger-mst210-socket-tester/9550P?kpid=9550P

One other thought ! you say you dont get a shock off your hands only your leg , do you move about a lot whilst gaming and what surface is your pc on , you could be building up static in your body whilst moving around and ... leg on screw is making an earth point ..... i have my pc desk stood on strips of wooden click floor panels .
 
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MJS WARLORD said:
get a mains socket tester similar to this one on the link , prices vary , you simply plug them into the wall socket and the combination of light will show any problem with the mains.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/megger-mst210-socket-tester/9550P?kpid=9550P

One other thought ! you say you dont get a shock off your hands only your leg , do you move about a lot whilst gaming and what surface is your pc on , you could be building up static in your body whilst moving around and ... leg on screw is making an earth point ..... i have my pc desk stood on strips of wooden click floor panels .
Click to expand...
Thanks for your help!
I have a Schuko (Type F) socket.
My PC is on a wooden surface (a maybe 4 cm wooden board) because I didn't want it to be on the floor.
I can't feel electricity if I touch it with fingers for example, but i can with my leg or arm. + I don't always feel it and it's not always the same (sometimes I can feel it more, and sometimes barely)
 
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AWindowsUser said:
They were never grounded. The outlet I'm using has a bridge where the ground is connected to the neutral wire but I don't know why can I still feel the electricity.
Click to expand...
Because that's not an Earth ground.

What you have is what's called a "Bootleg Ground" that allows old houses to pass inspection because the testers like the one @MJS WARLORD is suggested can't detect this as not an Earth ground.

This has been put on the books as "illegal" (not just "not up to code", but "illegal") in Germany as of 1973 and in Finland as of 1979.
 
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jonnyguru said:
Because that's not an Earth ground.

What you have is what's called a "Bootleg Ground" that allows old houses to pass inspection because the testers like the one @MJS WARLORD is suggested can't detect this as not an Earth ground.

This has been put on the books as "illegal" (not just "not up to code", but "illegal") in Germany as of 1973 and in Finland as of 1979.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but I thought it should solve the issue ...
I know it's illegal (even here, but I'm not in Germany or Finland), I really wish it was upgraded but that is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
 
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