The PC case is causing low voltage shocks?
The PC case is causing low voltage shocks?
My PC has been giving me current shocks for like 10 days. (Rainy season going on too) It is a low voltage shock, kindof like a 3 volt. Comes from the case, the HDMI. I opened it up for cleaning today and I think I found the culprit. The 3 RGB fans on my PC are connected by a small ANT Esports thing that has ports for 10 fans, and it is connected to the PSU with a wire.
But the RGB lights on the front of the case and one fan that came with the case, both came with the case, are connected by those round type connectors, old type, those which were used in the Hardrives in older times. So I feel some current when I touch those connectors, Even if the PC is off. There is a little voltage going on there.
And to add to that, the fan isn't working. It is only connected to the power but doesn't run anymore. I did not realise it until now, because this fan is placed infront of the case and is not visible unless you really want to. It worked before though.
So this PC has been around for like 3 years, I made it myself. Case is ANT esports ICE model, closed from front and having RGB lights at the front. PSU is high quality Cooler Master 450 watt 90+ certified bronze rating.
CPU: Core i5-3470
GPU: GT 1030
RAM: 12GB
The exact model or part number of the PSU is also provided. Additionally, information about its age and whether it was purchased new, used, or refurbished is included. Btw, there is no such thing as 90+; if it appears on the site (which I doubt given Cooler Master), it likely indicates a scam and poor quality unit. What you have is high quality—specifically, a Seasonic PRIME 650 80+ Titanium (part number: SSR-650TD).
Generally you can not feel very low voltages unless there is a lot of current. You can take a 9 volt battery and put your finger across both terminals and feel nothing. Maybe if your finger was wet.
If you do not have one buy a very cheap voltage/ohm meter. You do not really care about accuracy for this application you just care if any voltage exists where there should be none.
Although it could be a wire going to a fan I can't see how the fan itself could be the issue they are all plastic.
This almost seems like a grounding issue on the power supply or maybe the outlet it is plugged into. Lets say you did something crazy and directly connected a fan wire to the case. The power in theory at least should flow though the metal case to case of the power supply since it is all metal screws and metal contacts. The power supply should then dump the power into the ground.
This might damage something on the motherboard or power supply but that is the reason the ground exists on power outlet to protect the people and sacrifice equipment.
What I would start with is some simple resistance/conductivity tests. With the machine off and unplugged test some basic stuff. Find a area on the case that is not painted and test that there is a connection to the outside of the power supply and then test that the power supply case also is connected to the ground pin on the power plug.
The only way you would feel power when you touch something is the voltage is for some reason thinking that going into your body is a better path to ground than some other path inside the machine.
Also generally you have to be touching 2 things. One of say your hands would need to be on some better path to ground. In the case of a bad ground wire in the outlet it could be a table or the floor.
I would take the voltage meter and try to see where you detect voltages between. Obviously you do not want to test to anything inside the computer unless you know what you are doing.
My main concerns revolve around the power supply on the hardware and the age and type of your electrical outlets. The first thing that comes to mind is a bad ground. Technically, a phone line carries current too, which can double during ringing if you have POTS lines. What I’m unsure about is how it could discharge into the case while still maintaining working phone service inside the house.
It appears the issue was short-lived, likely related to the house wiring. Apologies, the PSU has an 80+ rating instead of 90+. I didn't notice it before I started typing. The model is Cooler Master MWE 450 Bronze V2 Power Supply - Non-Modular | 80 Plus Bronze Certified. Also, I've used Chinese PSUs once with Core 2 Duos and they never caused any problems. This one seems very reliable compared to what I used before.
Almost every power supply unit is made by Chinese companies if Taiwan is included as part of China. The highest quality units are usually produced by Chinese factories and are either sold under their own brand or through other brands since all manufacturers are OEMs. The PSU you're using isn't the worst, but it's still far from being a top-quality product. It's sufficient for your needs, in my view.
And it's possible for individuals to drive while intoxicated without resulting in an accident, though this still isn't a safe practice and shouldn't be taken lightly. The same applies to PSUs—just because you've been fortunate so far doesn't guarantee your safety in the long run. Over time, your luck will wear thin, and you'll discover firsthand why using low-quality PSUs is risky. The lower the build quality of a PSU, the greater the likelihood that when it fails, it can damage not just itself but everything connected to it, including your entire computer.
Instead of making informed choices and investing in reliable PSUs to prevent future headaches, some people have to learn through experience. As I mentioned earlier, this is ultimately up to you.
A slight improvement doesn't equate to a high-quality unit. Not all PSUs are the same; they can be grouped into five categories for easier understanding:
- Poor quality – generic brands, often unreliable.
- Low quality – such as Corsair models, still not recommended.
- Mediocre quality – examples include Corsair CX, suitable only for basic office setups without powerful GPUs.
- Good quality – options like Corsair RMx or Seasonic Core, ideal for gaming rigs and budget-friendly yet functional.
- Excellent quality – premium models such as Corsair AXi or Seasonic PRIME, offering top performance and durability.
Your current CM MWE V2 unit falls into a lower tier. It's decent for low-wattage builds, but personally I wouldn't rely on it. It would be wiser to invest in a better unit upfront—for instance, a Seasonic Focus priced around 100 dollars.
Alternatively, you could consider the following scenario: spending about 50 dollars on a CM MWE V2 and then replacing your entire PC once the PSU fails, which would cost around 500 dollars for both parts. This is clearly not cost-effective.
There were two possible explanations:
* The PSU was feeding power directly into the metal casing of the PC without proper grounding.
* There was an energized ground circuit in the house, likely due to faulty wiring with no real purpose.
In either case, it's advisable to consult an electrician to inspect your home's wiring thoroughly. An energized ground can pose serious risks—potentially damaging all connected hardware or even causing electrocution if someone touches it while it's active.