My computer has an electric pulse going through it...???

A

AoL_Is_My_EnEmY

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Mar 19, 2002
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I don't know what the hell is going on, but if I touch anything metal thats on the outside of my computer...the back, fan grills, anything, I get like a minor shock...this is so weird...I don't know whats causeing it....its like an electric pulse....any clue what it is?
 
its possible that something in your case is being grounded through the case itself ... check your motherboard mounting holes... make sure that the heads of the screws aren't touching traces on the mobo ... it might be a good idea to try little plastic washers in between the screws and the mobo

its also possible that you are the source of the static electricity ... if its very dry (no humidity) where you live... and your walking around with socks on carpet... you can expect to shock any metal object you touch... try another metal object like a doornob
 
This can be the result of a bad ground on the wall socket - I have the same problem. That is what I get for living in apartments, I suppose - No guarantee on the quality of electricity, heh.

So far, I've tried different and better surge supressors, different outlets, etc, but I'm pretty much stuck living with it. So far, over the past year, it hasn't damaged the computer... Just don't touch it (much less work on it) with the power cord attached.
 
Does it feel like a light zap or the throbbing you feel when you accidentally touch your fridge and stove at the same time. My first guess would be static electricity but you must know what that feels like. As stated above I would guess that something is not grounded right either inside the case or maybe a loose cord (ie. an adapter cord) is touching your case. I had my unplugged cable modem adapter cord accidentally touch my case and that puppy sparked! Check for any frayed cords and maybe try a different outlet as well.
 
Did you know it takes 1000v of electricity to jump through 1 inch of open air?

Just FYI

BTW if it was you who was building up the static electricity you would get a shock everytime you create a ground for electric current. (most metal objects)

another FYI
 
i was thinking something could be grounded...but heres the weird part....my monitors screen also does the same thing...I think it could be the outlet, cuz my computer is just in my basement which is unfinished temporarily....ill check out the case later for anything thats touching the case that shouldnt be
 
I agree with you, but only if they are plugged into the same outlet.

Most monitors have a ground in the plug so when you plug them in it plugs into a housing that is connected to a wire that is grounded.

That wire might be loose in that plug. (please don't be stupid and think you can fix the plug without flipping the breaker)
 
heres the temporary setup downstairs, an ungrounded extension is going into an outlet across the basement, a powerstrip is plugged into that with my computer and monitor plugged into it.
 
That extension is a potential problem. How is the power strip plugged into it when the powerstrip has the 3rd (ground plug) and the extension doesn't have a place for it?

I'm guessing the power strip is shoved intot he extension without the ground being plugged into it also.

Go get an extension cord that has a ground plug and use that as an extension from the wall to the powerstrip. If the shocking stops then you've found your problem.

If you still have the problem then can trouble shoot by taking your tower closer to the outlet and plugging it in directly. Power the system up and see if you get a shock from the case. If not then you know it's not the computer at that point and can continue to trouble shoot by checking the ground wire inside the plug.
 
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