Did you accidentally harm your computer by connecting a live wire to the power supply?
Did you accidentally harm your computer by connecting a live wire to the power supply?
I've been using my PC for a while now. I didn't fully secure the power cable to the PSU. Recently, I moved it around and it wouldn't turn on. While trying to fix it, I tugged the cable and heard a loud pop. Then the motherboard lights came on. I think this happened because the cable was live. It was plugged into an active PSU connected to a power outlet, and the switch was also in the 'on' position. After restarting it, it worked normally, but I pushed the cord further in. Today, an IT person told me my PC is definitely damaged from this short circuit. He warned that it could cause power surges affecting the motherboard and other parts. He said it might be fine now, but depending on how much damage there was, problems like random BSODs or reduced component life could occur later. Should I be concerned?
Avoid doing this repeatedly for the socket connections, though a single occurrence seems improbable to have led to harm.
Identifying your PC issues without visible problems is careless and frustrating. The PSU surge was likely an internal fault, but a good PSU should handle such situations. If replacement was necessary, the problem would probably be the power supply unit itself. Could you tell me what model you're using?
The arcs occurred since the wire is live, but you’re right to note that before connection, a small gap could let electricity jump, which likely caused the noise. It’s also possible the sound came from a safety feature in one of the power supplies triggering due to an arc, though it seems more like an arc itself. The PSU probably isn’t damaged, but it wouldn’t do this again.
The sound likely came from a gap in the power cable near the live conductor and the power supply input. It shouldn’t harm your computer.
Only one port works consistently with any device I use—whether it's a 65W USB C charger or a 230W power brick. The sound is quite noticeable, almost like a popping noise. It seems the large capacitors charge rapidly, briefly triggering a short circuit. Updated July 9, 2024 by DreamCat04 (spelling error corrected).
No, that cord definitely doesn't connect directly to the motherboard. There are several parts in the power supply that direct the electricity before it reaches the system. These layers of safeguards are in place to prevent issues like this from damaging a computer. (Manufacturers design PSUs with this protection in mind. Sure, a $150 PSU isn't inexpensive, but the high-end PC it powers is significantly more valuable.)