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

[Grimmkyun5]

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?

 

[R_1]

literally push the wire into the dirt in your yard, earth. no messing with boxes, wire out window into dirt.

 

[tsnor]

with 2 weeks left, i'd jsut not worry.

For other people reading this forum, the problem with the cheater is that the polarity of the hot and neutral wire is sometimes reversed, or does not even exist for really old 2 prong. This means the outside of the lamp socket can be hot instead of a center prong. The fix is to use a GFCI power strip instead of the one you have. This keeps you from frying if the PC case gets energized cause they wired the hot/ground wrong and there's a short.

Using a GFCI will not prevent surges from hurting your PC, surge protectors need ground. But it will keep you from frying if there is an electrical problem.

All that said, with 2 weeks to go, I think your fine. If the new place has the same problem post or PM me.

 

[tsnor]

literally push the wire into the dirt in your yard, earth. no messing with boxes, wire out window into dirt.

Just NO.

There are many approaches, running a wire through the room out the window is not one of them.

 

[Grimmkyun5]

Yeah, moving on the 29th so I can't be tearing into the walls and replacing outlets etc. there's no risk to running my PC though on this surge protector I have, right? I just got a brand new surge protector last night, the one I linked in earlier messages. But the sparking I see when plugging it in when the strip is on isn't going to cause problems with my PC or damage it by using it from this last month until the end of July? I appreciate your feedback, tsnor. Running a wire from the ground tab all the way out my window from a back part of the room down from the 2nd story window is not feasible. Staying at friends til I move into new place so j doubt they want that wire oddly out of their window too, haha.

 

[tsnor]

"..I just got a brand new surge protector last night, the one I linked in earlier messages. But the sparking I see when plugging it in when the strip is on isn't going to cause problems with my PC.." Do you see the sparking with the new power strip ? Where exactly are the sparks ?

I was thinking the sparks were only on the old power strip, and were caused by the power strip not contacting the plug very well -- old worn bent fingers in the power strip. If its sparking with the new power strip thats interesting. If you plug it in with the power strip off, then turn the strip on do you see sparks ? Try this with the room dark.

Aside: the reason you would be arcing across the contact as you are plugging in the power supply is "inrush current" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inrush_current The PSU is filling its capacitors and its transformer is pulling 10X to 30X normal current for a very short time. The ATX spec used for your power supply allows 50A at 230V and 100A at 115V. 100A is a huge amount of current -- that why breakers don't pop immediately, your PC is pulling 100A from a 15A circuit for just a short time. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/psu-test-equipment,2657-3.html

 

[Grimmkyun5]

I haven't seen the sparks with new strip because I've plugged stuff in only while the strip was off. I use an EVGA Supernova 650w P2. 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? Also I only see sparking as its plugged in with the psu switch set to on (PC is off of course) and only at the metal prongs on the plug itself. Never sparking at any other time or any other place other than the plug itself only plugging in.

 

[tsnor]

"...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.

 

[Grimmkyun5]

Yeah, as I insert the plug into the socket on the surge protector I can only see it on the metal prongs as its being inserted. I do see it a bit inside of the socket but it's coming from the prongs itself. Nothing else as far as I can tell. I assume the reason it's only as prevalent and noticeable on my ps4/PSU for my PC is because they have a much higher inrush current/draw as opposed to my tv/chromecast. Though I have noticed my girlfriends laptop charger doesn't spark at all when inserted. Either way though. As long as it doesn't hurt anything or isn't a sign of a bad, failing, or damaged component I'm happy.