Members kulardenu Posted October 9, 2012 Members Share Posted October 9, 2012 I didn't think there was anything in the sealed power supply that wold hold that much voltage?Teen Electrocuted taking apart unplugged computer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members milosch Posted October 9, 2012 Members Share Posted October 9, 2012 Don't take apart the power supply and you should be fine. Of course, life is fragile and you could die at any moment anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xrleroyx Posted October 9, 2012 Members Share Posted October 9, 2012 No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kulardenu Posted October 9, 2012 Author Members Share Posted October 9, 2012 That kid had to have been in the power supply I have never heard of a MB that zaps ya. I always thought your static was the PC killer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Blackface Posted October 9, 2012 Members Share Posted October 9, 2012 I wouldn't imagine there are voltages over 120 or capacitors that are very big inside a PC. Either some detail is left out or that kid had some kind of pre-existing heart condition. Maybe he was wet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PhxdB Posted October 9, 2012 Members Share Posted October 9, 2012 Weird. He had to have been dismantling the power supply for some weird reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members noisebloom Posted October 9, 2012 Members Share Posted October 9, 2012 Computer power supplies are now commonly 750 watts and above, so I'm not surprised. It's not like power supplies are truly "sealed." They're vented, so there are a number of ways for someone who's curious enough to make a big mistake. This will probably result in a lawsuit, followed by stronger and clearer warnings on power supply housings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WhatDoIKnow Posted October 9, 2012 Members Share Posted October 9, 2012 Best practice is to unplug the PC then press the power button to discharge any power that might be stored in the capacitors. That is a good practice when working on anything inside a computer along with touching the metal case of the power supply to discharge static. Still not a good idea to mess around too much in the power supply. I have replaced a number of fans inside them though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ugameus Posted October 9, 2012 Members Share Posted October 9, 2012 I always worked on them plugged in, not on though. This way they were grounded and the static didn't kill the board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wayne2 Posted October 9, 2012 Members Share Posted October 9, 2012 Originally Posted by ugameus I always worked on them plugged in, not on though. This way they were grounded and the static didn't kill the board. Yes that sounds like a good way to zap yourself.I imagine this could spell the end of easy-open cases that you don't need a screwdriver for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeffrey Posted October 9, 2012 Members Share Posted October 9, 2012 Anything that plugs into the wall can kill you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JohnnyR Posted October 9, 2012 Members Share Posted October 9, 2012 OT: can you be killed taking apart an unplugged PC?I guess that depends on who the PC in question belongs toJ.R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Amigo Posted October 9, 2012 Members Share Posted October 9, 2012 I work as an IT guy in a hospital. Only the power supply can kill you as far as I know, I've yet to be electrocuted by anything else (or at all) knock on wood. Every power supply is housed in a metal casing and should have caution labels on it telling you not to stick a screwdriver in it or try and take it apart. Rule of thumb is, never {censored} around with a power supply even if its unplugged. If the power supply is the problem replace the power supply. Taking out ram, hard drives, dicking around with the motherboard etc.. is safe, although I would disconnect the power supply from the motherboard if you plan on replacing capacitors or anything of that nature. This will ensure you don't {censored} the motherboard up and make damn sure you don't get a painful shocks (though extremely unlikely) He likely accidentally stuck something into the power supply. Pretty crazy though, I suppose anything is possible, especially with faulty equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Axe_34 Posted October 9, 2012 Members Share Posted October 9, 2012 Originally Posted by noisebloom Computer power supplies are now commonly 750 watts and above, so I'm not surprised. It's not like power supplies are truly "sealed." They're vented, so there are a number of ways for someone who's curious enough to make a big mistake.This will probably result in a lawsuit, followed by stronger and clearer warnings on power supply housings. Voiceover: "Warning: tickets should not be taken internally."Homer: "See? Because of me they have a warning." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bud M Posted October 9, 2012 Members Share Posted October 9, 2012 Originally Posted by docjeffrey Anything that plugs into the wall can kill you. I guess you could choke on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bluesfella Posted October 10, 2012 Members Share Posted October 10, 2012 Originally Posted by kulardenu I didn't think there was anything in the sealed power supply that wold hold that much voltage?Teen Electrocuted taking apart unplugged computer. Computer power supplies have capacitors. In these heavy power supply you see these days (600-1200 Watts!), these are pretty big. Just like a tube amplifier, power stays in there for a while after it's unplugged. If you ground one, it empties itself through you and you can get {censored}ing killed like this kid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PeaveyPlayer Posted October 10, 2012 Members Share Posted October 10, 2012 It's best to wear a grounding strap anytime you work on computers or amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bluesfella Posted October 10, 2012 Members Share Posted October 10, 2012 Originally Posted by PeaveyPlayer It's best to wear a grounding strap anytime you work on computers or amps. Does that protect you from crazy surges from capacitors?I thought those were to protect the hardware from you (static electricity). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted October 10, 2012 Members Share Posted October 10, 2012 I guess anything is possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kulardenu Posted October 10, 2012 Author Members Share Posted October 10, 2012 Man I have a range hood and a elec stove and have zapped myself at east 4 times in the last few months putting my hand on the hood and taking a metal fork to my cast iron pan. That old jitterbug to the elbow feeling... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bluffalo Posted October 10, 2012 Members Share Posted October 10, 2012 I have seen a power supply that had a yellow label on it that said "Do not open me or I will kill you" haha But yes, crt monitors and the power supply can hold deadly charges in them for months even after being unplugged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members etawful Posted October 10, 2012 Members Share Posted October 10, 2012 It's VERY unlikely you could get electrocuted outside of opening the power supply. Most modern PSU's I've seen have several voltage "rails", several 12v rails a 5v rail and a 3.3v rail. Each of these rails provides only a small portion of the PSU's total power capacity. To receive a shock of sufficient power to hurt you, you'd have to combine and/or cross those rails (which COULD happen accidentally, but it's very unlikely). For instance, if a PSU can provide 200 watts on each of 3 12v rails, the largest shock you could receive from that rail is 16.6 amps (typically over 30v is considered hazardous, under is considered extra low voltage to my knowledge). Unless you're naked, standing in a mud puddle and wet yourself down first, that level of electricity isn't likely to really hurt you. . . it'll make you jump, and you'll definitely feel it, but it's VERY unlikely to kill you or hurt you. Of course . . . I'm no expert, just reporting my own personal knowledge (having worked on PC innards for over 20 years). I'd still unplug the damned thing because it's just the smart thing to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted October 10, 2012 Moderators Share Posted October 10, 2012 Doubtful killed but it may give you a nasty byte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted October 10, 2012 Moderators Share Posted October 10, 2012 ....and nowhere near as lethal as eating cockroaches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GomezAddams1 Posted October 10, 2012 Members Share Posted October 10, 2012 That kid wasn't killed by taking apart an unplugged computer. No way, no how. The largest caps in the PS are for low voltages only, and the high voltage caps are way too small to hold a charge capable of being lethal. That kid was killed by a plugged in, opened up power supply. The Dad, for whatever reason, unplugged it. Maybe he wants to sue the manufacturer, maybe he just didn't want people to think the kids was that reckless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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