Sparks seen and audible from power cord/surge protector when plugged in or unplugged?

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Grimmkyun5

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Jun 30, 2016
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Just was switching around some of my power cords in my surge protector to make a slightly odd shaped one fit, as I did this I noticed my pcs power cord to PSU would spark visibly and audibly within the outlet. I haven't seen this too much, and it only happens to my pcs power cord when I plug/unplug. Should this be anything to be concerned about or is it just normal?
 
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"...Is a inrush current causing visible sparking as you plug the device in a sign of anything bad then or did you mention it as that's simply a fact about electronics? " Exactly right, Nothing bad. Better power supplies control this better, but all have it. Simply fact of life.

Turning the power strip off when you plug and unplug is a good idea, the switch contacts make a cleaner connection then plugging stuff in.

If you are only seeing sparking when you insert the plug, and only at the metal tips (not in the plug itself, or where the insulated wire leaves the plug) you are good to go.
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I should specify it only sparks at the surge protector and it doesn't do so anywhere outside of the outlet/socket. I have done it while the pcs power supply was set to on, so could that be the culprit and if so does it hurt anything plugging and unplugging with the PC itself turned off but just the PSU switch set to on?
 
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My PC and ps4 are the only devices I have that spark when inserting into the socket. Nothing is bent on either side of the cords or whatever. Could it be a grounding issue? I'm about to pick up a new protector tonight because of this. The one I have used is in fact quite old.
 
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I was just freaked out since it was only my PC and ps4 and I'm always worried about some electrical screwup taking out my whole system and being stuck with nothing to do, and you're sure this is normal? It does crackle a bit as it goes in and no sockets smoke or have any signs of burning. Just getting mixed opinions all over the place, haha. Some say it's normal nothing to worry about, some scream "FIRE RISK, YOULL RUIN EVERYTHING" it's very misleading
 
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if it only happens when you plug in the parts, turn off the switch on the surge before plugging in or unplugging. the fact that it is sparking at all tells me the surge is no longer functioning as a protective device.

if you are worried about the tech get a new surge protector. Surge protectors age and after 18 months or so are just power strips.
you need a new one with full clamping speed, speed the surge can cut power after detecting a surge, to keep things alive and protect the equipment connected, and plan on a new one every 18 months.

 
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Well a PC with a 650w power supply EVGA supernova p2 unit, a smallish tv, a computer monitor, and only sometimes a ps4. Friend uses it sometimes in other room. So that one works, cool. And if I get this and sparks still are seen/heard I can just chock that up to normal electricity jumping excitedly when first plugged in?
 
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When you plug in something, for a few milliseconds you usually have intermittent/weak contact. This will (for a VERY short time) feed some parts of the circuits, and most PSUs have an inductance in the first part of the circuit. When you feed an inductance with electricity and suddenly disconnect it (something that happens multiple times in a few milliseconds when plugging in) the inductance 'wants to keep being fed', and 'tries its hardest to get electricity'.

This causes a small phenomenon which increases the voltage (for a very short time) between the plug and the socket, and given the shirt distance (since it's already half plugged in), this voltage is enough for electricity tu jump through the air into the plug, what you see as "sparks".

This is a simplified explanation of the electrical reason for this to happen, and why I consider it normal. I'm open to differing opinions.
 
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anbello262 has it. small sparks may be normal, in my experience they are rare, plugging something in causes a surge, which is why I always switch off the surge protector to connect or disconnect any devices needing protection. when you switch it on again it is already securely in the circuit. no sparks.
 
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Yeah, so should I replace it then? My protector has a light indicating protection is still working so I don't think it could be all the way worn out as I personally have only used it for a little over a year and we don't get surges but I know we've had it for longer than that. I move out in less than two weeks so I may not worry about it until I actually get into my new place. I've noticed nothing out of the ordinary the entire time I've used the surge protector except the sparks and I only notice that now since I've been having to move my setup around a bit for rearrangements of the place constantly only this week, haha.
 
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The wall socket I have to plug into isn't grounded by the way, so does that have anything to do with it? I mean I know it effectively makes surge protectors not work in case of a surge but since we never get them I'm not worried about them. I'm slightly worried a new protector won't work as nicely as my current one does with an ungrounded outlet for the next two weeks
 
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Like I said we never get surges. The only concern I have is that strange sparking from the surge protector outlet. My surge protection is second priority to that. I unplug my whole setup during storms from the wall outlet but only noticed the sparking when moving plugs around in the rare occasion I do
 
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Look at the surge protector tear-downs that Tom's published. Many of the cheaper ones use a bent piece of metal to catch teh prongs when you plug things in. After you put the plug in several times they do not hold with enough force, so you can get arcs / sparks. I'd get a new powerstrip. http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/684-tripp-lite-isobar-tear-down.html http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/661-power-strip-bar-surge-protection.html etc.

Are you sure that your plug has no ground ? That is not good. Glad you are moving.
 
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I just got https://www.amazon.com/Wire-Cable-PB802126-1000-Joule-Protector/dp/B004CCRABE?tag=viglink20237-20 and so far no issues. and yes. It has no grounding pin slot so I have to use a 3-to-2 cheater plug in order to connect any of my hardware. We never get surges so I'm not concerned with that. Mainly was worried if the sparking had anything to do with it, but I'm pretty sure it's only ionization of the air around the contacts causing it to spark and be seen only during unplugging/plugging back in. And yeah, thank god I'm moving soon. just two weeks of this, thankfully

 
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Yeah, I know what the wire is for. But sadly, I cannot start digging into my electrical box to install a ground as this isn't a place I own, and it's only gonna be me that needs it for the next two weeks I'd be here. I also can say I have absolutely no knowledge on how to do it.
 
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