Is there a continuous flow of electricity passing through the screws in a PC case?
Is there a continuous flow of electricity passing through the screws in a PC case?
I just completed setting up my new PC
SFF case Lian Li A4H2O works fine when I first run it, but I keep seeing continuous current when touching the case screws even though the PC isn’t turned on
I changed the PSU switch and it stopped drawing power
Any suggestions? Could the PSU be faulty?
PSU Corsair SF750
Also noticed some screws charging more than others
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
I’m experiencing continuous current when touching the case screws, even though the PC is just plugged in and not turned on.
It might be a grounding problem.
The discussion has been moved from the Components section to the Power Supplies section.
Before contacting an electrician, use this wall socket tester to check for issues.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kewtech-KE...7119&sprefix=wall+socket+tester,aps,85&sr=8-7
It helps identify problems before you invest in professional services.
It's likely your main power outlet isn't linked to a safety earth, creating a danger if the power supply fails suddenly and you come into contact with a live computer case. You could suffer electrocution, especially if a circuit breaker or fuse doesn't activate properly.
The situation involves a small leakage current (a few milli Amps) moving between two Class-Y capacitors inside the PSU. Typically, this junction is meant to connect to the mains safety earth, allowing the current to safely dissipate into ground.
If the safety earth isn't present (as indicated by pin 3 above), the PSU's metal parts and the computer case can become energized up to half the line voltage. Although usually less than half due to load, the capacitors act as a potential divider, possibly exposing you to several tens of volts AC at a milliamp level or more.
This isn't immediately life-threatening unless a major fault occurs, but it serves as a strong warning to act and confirm the PSU is properly earthed.
As @Lutfij advises, seek help from a qualified electrician promptly.
ATX power supplies are generally Class I and require a safety earth connection. Ignoring this can endanger not just yourself, but anyone who might need to remove you from the system after an accident.
I also removed the PSU from the case and plugged it straight into the AC cord, nothing else was connected. It’s still feeling the same electricity at the PSU screws, but it’s a bit softer now. Could it be a faulty PSU or is the earthing in my flat the issue?
Begin with your electrical system. Assuming you're here is a risky move and could lead to serious harm.
No, I don't believe there's anything wrong with the PSU unless it's a spectacularly cheap squalid unit.
The symptoms have all the hallmarks of a dangerous mains outlet with no safety earth.
You don't need a safety earth on Class II (double isolated) equipment.
You DO need a safety earth on Class I equipment. Use the outlet at your own peril if there's no safety earth.
If the PSU fails badly, you might be reading the next post up in heaven or down in the other place. Might only be a one in 10,000,000 chance of death, but it's not worth risking.
If it was my computer,
I wouldn't use this mains outlet again for anything,
until it's been given a clean bill of health by a qualified electrician.
Try a few more mains outlets around your home with a different power lead. If they're all the same, get professional help immediately.
Take care.
I tested all outlets in the house and connected directly to the sockets, but the same problem occurred. When I connected the PSU directly to the socket, no other devices connected, yet electrical zapping continued through the screws. However, when I turned off the PSU switch while still being connected to the socket, the zapping stopped. This is relevant?