Question PC popped and tripped breaker when it was off.

[RTXDAVIE]

I was asleep and was woken by a loud pop/snapping sound coming from my PC.

I thought nothing of it and woke up to the breaker for the socket tripped.

I turned the breaker back on and tired to turn the PC on witch then made a snapping noise and I seen a flash from behind the PC and the breaker tripped for the socket again.

Does anyone know what's going on, I've never heard of a PC popping while it was off.

Now I'm concerned about plugging my PC into anything in case the PSU is at fault

But still can't get over how the pop/snapping noise and breaker tripped happened while the PC was off.

I've plugged a kettle into both sockets and turned it in and the socket seems to output power fine.

The PSU is a coupe of years old and is gold standard Corsair.

Would it be better to just replace the motherboard and PSU or is there anything I can do to narrow down what caused this?

 

[beyondlogic]

I was asleep and was woken by a loud pop/snapping sound coming from my PC.

I thought nothing of it and woke up to the breaker for the socket tripped.

I turned the breaker back on and tired to turn the PC on witch then made a snapping noise and I seen a flash from behind the PC and the breaker tripped for the socket again.

Does anyone know what's going on, I've never heard of a PC popping while it was off.

Now I'm concerned about plugging my PC into anything in case the PSU is at fault

But still can't get over how the pop/snapping noise and breaker tripped happened while the PC was off.

I've plugged a kettle into both sockets and turned it in and the socket seems to output power fine.

The PSU is a coupe of years old and is gold standard Corsair.

Would it be better to just replace the motherboard and PSU or is there anything I can do to narrow down what caused this?

pretty sure the psu is buggered if your hearing a popping noise then saw a flashing do not turn on that psu and computer again.

1. you can cause a fire
2. it will take other components with it ( if it already hasn't)

i would remove the pc from power turn psu off.

and hold the power button with the pc unplugged from the wall.

this is to remove all electric from the motherboard gpu etc.

then ground yourself and remove the psu. and check all components on the board and card for any blown capacitors on the board and card

 

[RTXDAVIE]

pretty sure the psu is buggered if your hearing a popping noise then saw a flashing do not turn on that psu and computer again.

1. you can cause a fire
2. it will take other components with it ( if it already hasn't)

i would remove the pc from power turn psu off.

and hold the power button with the pc unplugged from the wall.

this is to remove all electric from the motherboard gpu etc.

then ground yourself and remove the psu. and check all components on the board and card for any blown capacitors on the board and card

Yeah its for sure not getting turned back on.
I'm just confused as to how it happens in the first place I'd understand if the PC was powered on and it tripped but the initial pop and tripped breaker was when the PC was off.

 

[beyondlogic]

Yeah its for sure not getting turned back on.
I'm just confused as to how it happens in the first place I'd understand if the PC was powered on and it tripped but the initial pop and tripped breaker was when the PC was off.

was it really turned off or in sleep mode ? another thing to get just to be safe is a socket tester make sure its wired properly.

other thing is even if the pc is off. if the switch on the back isnt turned of properly power will be able to still run threw the motherboard so if for some ungodly reason your house gets hit by a spike it may take out the system.

also never plug a pc into a extension cord. you should plug them into a surge protector though

 

[RTXDAVIE]

was it really turned off or in sleep mode ? another thing to get just to be safe is a socket tester make sure its wired properly.

other thing is even if the pc is off. if the switch on the back isnt turned of properly power will be able to still run threw the motherboard so if for some ungodly reason your house gets hit by a spike it may take out the system.

also never plug a pc into a extension cord. you should plug them into a surge protector though

The PC was plugged into a multi yes and it was turned off only through windows but it was powered down.
You're probs right it may have been a surge.
It's just confusing because it tripped when it was definitely off and then tripped again when I tried to turn it on so it's threw me off.
I'll check the socket for sure and defs not turning the PC back on.
Hopefully it's not took most of the PC with it I have a good setup.

 

[beyondlogic]

The PC was plugged into a multi yes and it was turned off only through windows but it was powered down.
You're probs right it may have been a surge.
It's just confusing because it tripped when it was definitely off and then tripped again when I tried to turn it on so it's threw me off.
I'll check the socket for sure and defs not turning the PC back on.
Hopefully it's not took most of the PC with it I have a good setup.

even powered down unless the physical button on the back of the psu is turned off it will allow electric to flow directly into the system. you may get lucky and the board and psu may be gone but gpu and ram and cpu may be alright

only way to test would be another psu.

but i would inspect the board for swollen or blown caps.

what model was the corsair psu ? ill check if theres been any dodgy batches or recalls.

 

[RTXDAVIE]

even powered down unless the physical button on the back of the psu is turned off it will allow electric to flow directly into the system. you may get lucky and the board and psu may be gone but gpu and ram and cpu may be alright

only way to test would be another psu.

but i would inspect the board for swollen or blown caps.

what model was the corsair psu ? ill check if theres been any dodgy batches or recalls.

Thanks mate.
And I'm sure it's a TX750M that's in there.
It's funny because I was saying the other day it's time I upgraded my CPU and I'm gonna get that some extra ram a new case etc so I'm gutted it's happened right in the cuso of that but it's not all lost, I have the cash there.
But man what a joke, I got that gold standard PSU for a reason haha

 

[beyondlogic]

Thanks mate.
And I'm sure it's a TX750M that's in there.
It's funny because I was saying the other day it's time I upgraded my CPU and I'm gonna get that some extra ram a new case etc so I'm gutted it's happened right in the cuso of that but it's not all lost, I have the cash there.
But man what a joke, I got that gold standard PSU for a reason haha

yeah i know plenty of psus of gold standard fail ( build pcs it can be random)
ive had 2 of the corsair of that model fail after removing the board it was sloppy soldering work in the factory.

personally i use seasonic focus and

(thermaltake Toughpower GF3) only 2 brands ive had zero issues with ​

i say the thermaltake toughpower gf3 line the most as its made by a company called channel well technology.

there better then corsairs great wall power supplys.

seasonic makes there own brand inhouse.

 

[Ralston18]

If the circuit breaker is tripping then there is a short somewhere.

And as I follow and understand the postings I would suspect the outlet/socket as the culprit.

Likely just a loose connection in the outlet. However, that needs to be verified as other things could be amiss.

Power strips, extension cables, etc. all often being problematic due to poor quality and/or age. Or overloaded.

Get a qualified electrician in to test and inspect the breaker, the wiring, and the socket/outlet.

Otherwise new PSU's etc. may simple get zapped to no gain or direct benefits.

Or even worse things start to happen and thus it all ends badly.

 

[Moonstick2]

Yes, unless the power switch was physically off, there's still mains voltage across some of the components inside the PSU.

We once had a washing machine, off but plugged in at the wall with the socket switched on (UK) and a capacitor let go resulting in smoke and a massive stink.

Good PSUs normally have 5 - 10 year warranty, so you should be able to get it replaced?

If the circuit breaker is tripping then there is a short somewhere.

And as I follow and understand the postings I would suspect the outlet/socket as the culprit.

The PSU went bang, tripping the breaker for the socket. OP reset the breaker, then tried to turn on the PC with the PSU that went bang. The PSU went bang some more, the breaker tripped again. A kettle in the same socket works fine.

I'd say it was the PSU that was the problem.

 

[Ralston18]

No disagreement per se.

However; I would not expect large, sudden spikes in a tea kettle's power demands.

And the physical fit and feel of the tea kettle's plug could make a difference within the outlet.

Plus the history of breaker trips, bangs, current spikes, flashes, etc. could cause (or be causing) damage elsewhere in the circuit.

Hopefully the PSU is the problem as that can be easily tested and resolved with another PSU.

With or without a warranty.

In any case, I would still have the electrical system checked.

 

[hedwar2011]

I agree with everything else that has been said but also wanted to mention that most small kitchen appliances (like your tea kettle) have a fuse built into the plug that will pop and fry if something goes wrong. You see it ALOT with Christmas lights via a panel on the plug itself where you can replace it.

 

[Moonstick2]

However; I would not expect large, sudden spikes in a tea kettle's power demands.

...

Plus the history of breaker trips, bangs, current spikes, flashes, etc. could cause (or be causing) damage elsewhere in the circuit.

The PC was off, so it wasn't making any power demands at all.

There's no history. This PSU went pop twice, once sitting there connected to the mains but otherwise doing nothing, once when OP turned it on after something inside had gone bang. That's all. No other electrical issues we've been told about.

If an electrical device makes a pop noise and trips a breaker, I'd be more surprised if it didn't do it a second time.

 

[bill001g]

I agree with everything else that has been said but also wanted to mention that most small kitchen appliances (like your tea kettle) have a fuse built into the plug that will pop and fry if something goes wrong. You see it ALOT with Christmas lights via a panel on the plug itself where you can replace it.

This depends on the country you live in. There are almost no fuse or circuit breakers in the cords themselves in the USA

 

[Ralston18]

"No other electrical issues we've been told about."

And I will add "know about".

The issues that are not known about are the issues that should be of concern.

Somewhere electricity is trying to find its' way to ground/earth.

The next path that it finds (some perfect storm of circumstances) may not be via a circuit breaker.

Plus circuit breakers can and do fail. Hopefully tripping prematurely as they age being best case failure.

As for history: all history starts somewhere.... Too often ignored.

 

[hedwar2011]

This depends on the country you live in. There are almost no fuse or circuit breakers in the cords themselves in the USA

I live in the USA and I've seen it several times recently. Granted, it might be something that has been phased out.