Static shock from case.

[btcomm1]

What exactly would it mean if you keep getting shocked when you touch a computer case? What would be causing that?

 

[Hemsky]

No ground
improper grounding
Bad PSU
magnetism
or just weather :s

If you can touch it, get shocked, touch it again and still get shocked its either bad grounding in your mobo or your psu is messed up..

 

[btcomm1]

What would you do to fix improper grounding? Or no ground? Is that something you do to the case or is that in the electrical system? What would be causing magnetism?

Would any of these possibly fry a motherboard?

 

[Hemsky]

I have NO idea how you would be able to pinpoint a bad ground. It could be a defective motherboard, a stripped ground wire near the psu thats hitting the case, or anything. I used to do a lot of electrical work but never something like this.
The PSU is just a mini-transformer thats stepping up or down the 120V thats coming in, as far as know.
Bad connection, stripped wire, etc etc.
It could also be that your grounding is fine, and that its a stripped wire touching the case or a component.
It's really hard to tell. STart trouble shooting. Get a volt tester.

 

[nineball9]

If you have a metal case it's usually connected to earth ground (the 3rd wire on the AC cord). Commercial molded plastic cases have metal linings (mainly for RFI) which are grounded too. Clear acrylic cases that I have seen do not have a metal shell, but the frame will be grounded.

Try an outlet tester - a few bucks at Radio Shack to test your AC wiring.

Hemsky - The PSU also converts AC to DC of several voltages.

Edit: maybe the shocks are just static electricity. It's still winter and the air is dry (at least around here).

 

[oynaz]

If the case is properly grounded, there should not be a static build-up. You have an error, either in your PSU or your electrical system. You need to get it fixed, as it can easily fry your computer, or you.

 

[btcomm1]

oynaz, are you saying that if the case is grounded then it would be my electrical outlet or the PSU or are you saying that the reason the case isn't properly grounded is because of the electrical outlet or the PSU?

 

[oynaz]

I cannot make an adequate diagnosis over the internet, but you can get an outlet tester cheap in an electronics store. Check your outlet with it, if it is faulty, call an electrician. If it is OK, the problem is probably with your PSU or case, with the PSU being the more likely culprit.

 

[jameswhite1979]

Take it all apart and put back together looking for any damanged parts. I suggest that you do not use it till you have this problem fixed either your PC or you might be hurt.

 

[natto fire]

One way to check for a ground problem is to do a voltage drop across the case and a known, good, ground. A copper water pipe, or concrete floor are some examples. The circuit tester is definitely a lot easier, and they are good to have around anyways, but if you have a voltmeter and want to do the voltage drop test, I would be glad to explain it in further detail.

Also, are you sure it is not just static buildup on you being released to the grounded case? Also, are you using a power cable with the middle ground prong plug still attached? If so, is it plugged into a true grounded outlet (without one of those grey converters)? If a wire was loose or stripped and touching a properly grounded case, the PSU would short out, and turn off, not turn the case into a Van De Graff generator.

 

[programmer]

Not sure where you are, but its winter in the US and that often means very dry air. Get a small humidifier and see if it helps reduce the shockies. I like this one a lot, tho its sometimes a pain to clean:
http://www.iallergy.com/product608/prod...sCsid=dc70dff7f62692b3c83ecd73538ca8f2

 

[Ucla74]

From the OP's description (or at least my understanding of same), he can touch the case, feel a shock, touch it again, and feel a shock again. That's NOT static discharge (unless perhaps there's a permanent electrical storm in his area!). Something is shorted, and that is a Bad Thing. Unplug that sucker now, check the outlet, and if it's okay (I'm willing to bet it is), then you have a problem internal to the computer. Could be a mobo mounting screw is touching a power trace on the mobo, could be a faulty PS, or other things. But find it, and fix it.

 

[programmer]

Ah, ok. I read the original post as something like "I get shocked the -first- time I touch my case, every time I approach it." which I took to mean a static discharge. Certainly a shock each and every time is a serious problem!

Something like this is always handy to have to ensure the outlet is wired properly
http://www.amazon.com/AEMC-Outlet-Teste...732?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1174487361&sr=1-4
(even cheaper) -- http://www.amazon.com/GB-GRT-500A-Recep..._lmf_tit_1_rdssss0/104-0893904-4212732

And if it were me, I'd change the plug and the PSU.