Almost fried PC

[ElPresidente408]

I was installing a cold cathode light and on the switch that turns it on and off there was a very small section of metal exposed that I didn't see. So I was pushing the switch into the case and that small part touched the case itself and sparks started coming out and the screen became all garbled. Unplugged it and turned the machine back on, so far everything seems ok. My finger still hurts

 

[billyjak]

Never install stuff with the power on., man your lucky, I did something similar back in 87 when I got my first computer, lessen learned from the first time. I always shut down and power off now.

 

[boyRacer]

My friend was trying to screw something in... the screw fell on his video card, shorted... and killed it.

 

[MournSanity]

That's why I shut off the power from the back AND pull out the power cord from my computer before doing something inside. At least you have learned your lesson now.

 

[mosco]

lol, the exact thing happened to me, i was moving the cathode switch and it touched the metal, my computer actually shut off before i could pick up the switch. I thought i had just fried my machine but luckily it worked after.

 

[Baronz]

I'm pretty sure most good PSUs have a short protection, so if anything shorts against the case it will shut down.

It wouldn't be good if you touched a component though.

 

[Sunny129]

In addition to powering off the system, keep yourself grounded or you could kill components with any static charge that may have built up on you (maybe by brushing up against something or picking up a static charge some other way).

Originally posted by: hypersonic5
That's why I shut off the power from the back AND pull out the power cord from my computer before doing something inside. At least you have learned your lesson now.

Actually they say that leaving your system plugged into an outlet allows your chassis to act as a ground. So even though your system's power is off, any static charge you may be carrying can be dissipated by touching the case's metal chassis...alot easier than wearing one of those annoying ground bracelets that have to be attached to a ground constantly while working on your system...they just get in the way.

 

[amdskip]

Actually they say that leaving your system plugged into an outlet allows your chassis to act as a ground. So even though your system's power is off, any static charge you may be carrying can be dissipated by touching the case's metal chassis...alot easier than wearing one of those annoying ground bracelets that have to be attached to a ground constantly while working on your system...they just get in the way.

Yep, I also have heard that.

I fried a 60gb seagate hard drive hooking up a cold cathod the same very way actually.

 

[DSE]

I always manage to turn everything off before I try to screw anything...even girls.

 

[ElPresidente408]

It was already installed. I wouldn't plug it in with the power on . I meant that I had just finished installing and pressed the on switch for the cathode and it happened to touch the case. I put electrical tape on the exposed metal part.

I think the reason that everything was ok is because the PC was plugged into a grounded outlet.

 

[MournSanity]

Originally posted by: Sunny129
In addition to powering off the system, keep yourself grounded or you could kill components with any static charge that may have built up on you (maybe by brushing up against something or picking up a static charge some other way).

Originally posted by: hypersonic5
That's why I shut off the power from the back AND pull out the power cord from my computer before doing something inside. At least you have learned your lesson now.

Actually they say that leaving your system plugged into an outlet allows your chassis to act as a ground. So even though your system's power is off, any static charge you may be carrying can be dissipated by touching the case's metal chassis...alot easier than wearing one of those annoying ground bracelets that have to be attached to a ground constantly while working on your system...they just get in the way.

Wow. I'll keep that in mind Thanks.