Does my computer case make me feel shocked when I touch it without shoes?
Does my computer case make me feel shocked when I touch it without shoes?
Hi,
When I press the power button on my PC like pushing it to turn it on, I get a shock only when I’m barefoot. But whenever I wear shoes or sit with my feet off the ground, I don’t feel any shock. My main concern is whether this is harmful to the PC parts and how to stop it.
It is referred to as static electricity. The surroundings in the room might be contributing to higher static charges. Likely, the carpet and humidity levels play a role. Excessive or inconsistent humidity can raise the chance of static buildup.
Regarding your components, touching the case outside won’t damage them, but handling the motherboard or other parts isn’t safe even with an ESD wrist strap. It’s advisable to clean or upgrade elsewhere for safety.
Over time, manufacturers have made improvements to reduce susceptibility to static damage. Still, it’s wise to err on the side of caution since many items come in ESD bags.
When you refer to 'shock', do you mean a brief static discharge or a persistent tingle while in contact? If the latter, it's likely due to leakage current from an improperly grounded chassis. Most monitors come with grounded power cords, which should provide earthing through both the PC power cable and the monitor, suggesting the issue might lie elsewhere—such as a faulty power bar, bad outlet, or wiring problems. In this scenario, consulting an electrician could be advisable.
InvalidError :
When you mention 'shock', do you refer to a static shock (a brief zap) or a persistent tingle while in contact? If it's a continuous tingle, it might stem from leakage current due to an improperly grounded chassis. Most monitors come with grounded power cords, so your PC should have proper earthing via both the PSU cable and the monitor. This suggests the issue likely lies elsewhere, such as a faulty power bar, wall outlet, wiring, or site connection. In this scenario, it would be wise to consult an electrician for repair.
after reading your comment I verified that if it's one-time static or continuous static, it turns out it is continuous. It seems some PSU cables not in use are concealed behind the chassis cover and they might be making contact with the chassis. No, the issue lies in current leaking from the mains AC input to the chassis (probably through the PSU's Y-class EMI suppression caps) and the chassis isn't correctly grounded. I've already listed several spots where the path between chassis ground and Earth ground could be broken. Consider using a different power strip or connecting your PC+monitor directly to the wall outlet. If shocks persist, there may be faulty wiring in the walls. Try a different outlet, preferably on another wall in another room. If shocks continue, it could point to a site grounding problem. Regardless, you'll need an electrician to locate and fix the ground fault. This appears to be a building wiring issue, not a PC problem, and poses an electrocution risk since a PSU failure could cause the case to reach dangerous voltages (170-750V AC peak + APFC capacitor voltage) without current restriction.
I removed the PSU from the chassis, connected it to a power source, touched the PSU while my bare feet made contact with the floor and felt the current continuously. I believed the PSU was broken, so I found another one nearby and attempted to test it, but again, the current was noticeable when I touched it. Now I've contacted an electrician to investigate before my PC gets damaged.
InvalidError :
hasangola420 :
After reviewing your feedback, I verified whether it was a one-time static or continuous static. It turns out yes, it is continuous. Could it be that some PSU cables, which aren’t in use, are concealed behind the chassis cover and creating contact with the chassis? No, the issue lies in current leaking from the mains AC input to the chassis—likely through the PSU’s Y-class EMI suppression caps—and the chassis isn’t correctly grounded. I’ve already listed several spots where the path between chassis ground and Earth ground might be interrupted.
Consider using a different power strip or connecting your PC+monitor directly to the wall outlet. If shocks persist, it may indicate faulty wiring in the walls. Try plugging into another outlet, preferably on a different wall in another room. If the problem continues, it could point to a grounding issue. In any case, you’ll need an electrician to locate and fix the ground fault. This appears to be a building wiring concern rather than a PC fault, and it poses an electrocution risk since a PSU failure could cause the case to reach dangerous voltages (170-750V AC peak + APFC capacitor voltage) without current restriction.
I removed the PSU from the chassis, connected it to a power outlet, touched the PSU while my bare feet made contact, and felt the current continuously. I assumed the PSU was defective, so I tried another one and tested it again—still sensing the continuous current. Therefore, I contacted an electrician to investigate before risking damage to my PC.
It doesn't make sense to reply to a message in a thread that's already closed. The previous post was over seven years ago!