plugging something into a molex

[Gongo]

do i have to turn off the computer if i want to just plug something into a molex? say i want to test a CC or something.. can i just plug it into a molex while the computer is on?

 

[lithium726]

if you care about your computer, you WILL turn it off. a sudden draw of that much power would make the pc turn off immidiatly and could damage componets.. whats a CC anyway?

 

[Qwertyman]

YESSSSSSSS!!! please don't plug something into a live socket! ALWAYS make sure the computer is off. it could fry your computer.

 

[BorgBeam]

I'm sorry but what kind of a moron adds hardware in while your PC is live?

Common sense my dear boy, you need it!

 

[lithium726]

I'm sorry but what kind of a moron adds hardware in while your PC is live?

Common sense my dear boy, you need it!

my thoughts exactly... lol

but to answer your question, my sister tried to pull a PCI sound card out while the system was hot, i caught her just in time..

 

[FreiDOg]

he didn't say he was adding hardware, just wanting to plug something into a molex.


The answer is it dpends on what you're plugging in.
Obviously most computer hardware isn't designed to be hotswapped, but
CCFT, fans, anything like that is fine to plug in with the computer on. You put a hell of a lot more stress the on the supply when you open game than when you plug in a CCFT.

 

[maxxo]

if you care about your computer, you WILL turn it off. a sudden draw of that much power would make the pc turn off immidiatly and could damage componets.. whats a CC anyway?

i'm pretty sure he was talking about a cold cathode.

 

[Ice Czar]

well, I wouldnt do it, while the actual load might not be an issue
the sudden varience in line Noise well could be
hotswap power connectors are designed to attach is a very specific order
ground first, and the average power supply
wouldnt have much in the way of filtering on one of its DC outputs

 

[lithium726]

i agree with Ice Czar, its just an all around bad idea

depending on the cathode, it could kill the inverter, i know those things arent that great... mine broke after about 2 weeks of just normal usage

 

[Gongo]

ya ok, i usually turn it off, but say like i wanted to test out a CC (cold cathode) i was just wondering if i had to shut down.. crap ppl, it's not like i'm trying to swap 6800 ultras out or anything.. jeez give me a little more credit than that.

 

[JeffS]

*raises hand* Hi, I must be the local idiot...

I've plugged in a fan a few times while running.
It was just the fan for the side door that I opened while the system was up.

The system is still alive, and the fan doesn't draw much, but it is better to be safe
than sorry.

-Jeff

 

[RedDawn]

Well if it is a cold cathode just have the switch turned off. Then plug it in and turn on. Although I would power it down for the initial install. Unless you are going for some kind of uptime record, just turn off the PC, it would be safer and smarter.

 

[The_Mage18]

ya ok, i usually turn it off, but say like i wanted to test out a CC (cold cathode) i was just wondering if i had to shut down.. crap ppl, it's not like i'm trying to swap 6800 ultras out or anything.. jeez give me a little more credit than that.

My thoughts exactly
I've done the Hot plug thing with CC, fans, even CDROM and hard drives to see if they spin.
It isn't the brightest idea, but as long as there isn't a short in the device you're plugging in the worst that would reasonably happen is the system will either reboot or power off, neither of which will cause any major issues other than possible OS borking.

 

[Ice Czar]

even CDROM and hard drives.

actually the worse that can happen is frying the circuit board on the HDD
many a person has done that in the Data Storage Forum
lots of ICs on a HDD's circuit board, and no real serious voltage regulation scheme that Im aware of,
youd be flirtin with disaster