Static Expert

[kl39717]

Long time no post in HWC but this problem has been troubling me.

Recently I notice the amount of static seems to be overwhelming.

Why is this so? Let me explain a little with pictures.

This is showing how my rig was positioned and placed.

Next, the metal part where I felt static shocked recently but has been fine for many weeks.
The metallic volume adjuster on my left speaker.

And also my iPhone 4S on the lower tier of the table. (Uses the cigarette box as subsitute since I'm using the phone to take these pictures)

Desktop picture showing how it was placed.

Now why is this irritating?
Not only because of the static shock I felt on my phone and speaker button but when I'm using the computer, so long as there is any graphic changes on the screen (IE scrolling the web up and down, the forum green bumpy head jumping on the right or anything that requires screen update) there will be a static sound. Initially I thought is my TV spoiling soon but upon careful listening and placing my ears to the rear of the rig, it seems like it's created inside the casing.

I even removed the sub and speakers, total power of the mains and switch off the PSU switch and hold the power button down to so called release the static after googling around.

None seems to helps.

So, anyone any idea?


And not sure if it helps, I did starts to use the vacuum cleaner in the room recently but twice only before this problem.

 

[ChandlerBing]

When you say static do you mean sudden static electricity or a mild electrical shock?

Is your room air conditioned? How old is your rig? How old are the components?

And your wiring in your room? How old?

I think the key thing to identify here is whether that thing you felt is static electricity, or a mild electrical shock?

But from what you've described - with static (crackling? Pop?) sound coming from inside your rig, and the rear too, it may be your PSU that's short.

 

[kl39717]

When you say static do you mean sudden static electricity or a mild electrical shock?

Is your room air conditioned? How old is your rig? How old are the components?

And your wiring in your room? How old?

I think the key thing to identify here is whether that thing you felt is static electricity, or a mild electrical shock?

I heard the static sound when using the computer when there's graphics moving (Web browsing scrolling up and down) or so long as there's images moving or changing in the screen.
Static shock felt when touching the metal part of the speaker volume adjuster and the side metal portion of my iPhone 4S.
Yes, room is air conditioned. Components of my rig are nearing exactly 2 years in a few days time and the wiring... Countless of years which I doubt causes the problems.

Somehow in my mind I was wondering if the vacuum cleaner actually causes the static to be generated in my computer and hence the wind exhaust blows directly towards my phone and speakers thus causing the static shock... As for the static sound... My brain really can't think of anything just that I feel that both of them are definitely linked.

And not sure if this helps too, the casing internal has about 2 years of dusts.



And before I'm gonna do anything major, I need to ensure and seek near 100% advice before doing it because to do a major task for just a PC requires time and time = I don't have.

 

[ChandlerBing]

I heard the static sound when using the computer when there's graphics moving (Web browsing scrolling up and down) or so long as there's images moving or changing in the screen.
Static shock felt when touching the metal part of the speaker volume adjuster and the side metal portion of my iPhone 4S.
Yes, room is air conditioned. Components of my rig are nearing exactly 2 years in a few days time and the wiring... Countless of years which I doubt causes the problems.

Somehow in my mind I was wondering if the vacuum cleaner actually causes the static to be generated in my computer and hence the wind exhaust blows directly towards my phone and speakers thus causing the static shock... As for the static sound... My brain really can't think of anything just that I feel that both of them are definitely linked.

And not sure if this helps too, the casing internal has about 2 years of dusts.



And before I'm gonna do anything major, I need to ensure and seek near 100% advice before doing it because to do a major task for just a PC requires time and time = I don't have.

Hmmm I'm no expert in static electricity, but the reason why I asked if your room is air-conditioned is to factor it in as a consideration for one of the possible causes of static electricity, although I doubt static can keep re-occurring at the same places and affect your monitor too.

Dust build-up will contribute to static electricity so vacuum up all the dust and clean up in and around your rig.

I still think something is short in your rig, 'leaking' a small measure of electricity to your other components or metal bits. It doesn't matter if the parts are only 2 years old, but of course if the parts are like really old then the possibility is higher.

What PSU are you using btw?

If I were you, I'd start to eliminate the possible factors until I narrow down to the cause.

You might want to start by placing your iPhone elsewhere in the same room. Either on another non-metal surface or another metal surface to eliminate the fact that it is not caused by your computer table.

Ditto for the speakers as well. Maybe place them on the floor, or place a piece of non-conductive material in between. See if your computer table is the cause.

If your computer table is the cause, then check the bits that are in contact with the metal portions of your computer table - something is passing electricity through and your computer table is the conductor. Most likely something from your rig.

Slowly eliminate and narrow down the cause. But my money is on your PSU being the cause of it.

 

[kl39717]

Hmmm I'm no expert in static electricity, but the reason why I asked if your room is air-conditioned is to factor it in as a consideration for one of the possible causes of static electricity, although I doubt static can keep re-occurring at the same places and affect your monitor too.

Dust build-up will contribute to static electricity so vacuum up all the dust and clean up in and around your rig.

I still think something is short in your rig, 'leaking' a small measure of electricity to your other components or metal bits. It doesn't matter if the parts are only 2 years old, but of course if the parts are like really old then the possibility is higher.

What PSU are you using btw?

If I were you, I'd start to eliminate the possible factors until I narrow down to the cause.

You might want to start by placing your iPhone elsewhere in the same room. Either on another non-metal surface or another metal surface to eliminate the fact that it is not caused by your computer table.

Ditto for the speakers as well. Maybe place them on the floor, or place a piece of non-conductive material in between. See if your computer table is the cause.

If your computer table is the cause, then check the bits that are in contact with the metal portions of your computer table - something is passing electricity through and your computer table is the conductor. Most likely something from your rig.

Slowly eliminate and narrow down the cause. But my money is on your PSU being the cause of it.

Hmmm now that you mentioned it, I ruled out the dust and the AC thing already and yes, now that you mentioned it, I do think it could be the PSU too. Notice the metal rack 2nd tier on top of my rig? I put my iPAD & MacBook there for a long period of time but there's no static. But when I put my iPhone on the wooden table to charge (The lower tier), I can feel the static shock after a few mins. And looking at the placement and the exhaust of my rig, the top back exhaust blows towards the keyboard (Top tier same as the speaker) but the static shocked I got before is like once or twice only whereas on the bottom tier where the PSU exhaust directly to the iPhone side.

And I'm using the Seasonic M12II 620W PSU. My rig profile on the right is my spare rig thou and is very old and I never update the profile with my this "new" rig.

 

[ChandlerBing]

Hmmm now that you mentioned it, I ruled out the dust and the AC thing already and yes, now that you mentioned it, I do think it could be the PSU too. Notice the metal rack 2nd tier on top of my rig? I put my iPAD & MacBook there for a long period of time but there's no static. But when I put my iPhone on the wooden table to charge (The lower tier), I can feel the static shock after a few mins. And looking at the placement and the exhaust of my rig, the top back exhaust blows towards the keyboard (Top tier same as the speaker) but the static shocked I got before is like once or twice only whereas on the bottom tier where the PSU exhaust directly to the iPhone side.

And I'm using the Seasonic M12II 620W PSU. My rig profile on the right is my spare rig thou and is very old and I never update the profile with my this "new" rig.

Try to find out which part conducting electricity to your device that is giving you the static shock. Then see which metal bits of that piece of furniture touching what - your rig? multi-plug socket extension? iron? (I'm saying this coz I see those things in your picture)

That item touching your furniture's metal bit is likely to be causing the shock to you.

How do you charge your iphone / mac etc? Via USB from your PC? Or directly through your electrical mains or extension socket? Try charging your 'static-prone' iphone elsewhere. Through the mains outside your room. If you don't get shocked anymore than whatever you were using to charge your iphone previously is the culprit.

You might want to tidy up a little bit too - easier for you to narrow down the cause.

 

[kl39717]

Try to find out which part conducting electricity to your device that is giving you the static shock. Then see which metal bits of that piece of furniture touching what - your rig? multi-plug socket extension? iron? (I'm saying this coz I see those things in your picture)

That item touching your furniture's metal bit is likely to be causing the shock to you.

How do you charge your iphone / mac etc? Via USB from your PC? Or directly through your electrical mains or extension socket? Try charging your 'static-prone' iphone elsewhere. Through the mains outside your room. If you don't get shocked anymore than whatever you were using to charge your iphone previously is the culprit.

You might want to tidy up a little bit too - easier for you to narrow down the cause.

As I mentioned, all metallic items anywhere are fine even if I put the iPhone elsewhere with the cable still connected to my PC.

I guess it's definitely coming from inside the rig liao from the look of it. Problem is how to detect which is the 1 causing it liao...

Hmmm...

 

[chong]

My guess is that you're experiencing 2 different issues which are related to grounding.

The first issue is a hardware with broken ground in your room that is giving you electric shocks, which you need to narrow down. Since the metallic button on your speakers shock you:

1. Have you tried disconnecting the speakers' audio cable from the PC (but leave it powered on by the mains), then see if the button still shocks you?
2. If it still shocks you, unplug it from the mains and bring it to another room (with a known good mains socket that does not shock) and plug it in. Does it still shock you? If it does, then your speakers are faulty.

The second issue is the noisy speakers during GPU activity, which is probably due to ground loops. I had the same problem previously, and post #2 in this thread was the solution for me: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/hardware-clinic-2/noise-speakers-when-gpu-loaded-3800152.html

However I did not have any electric shock problem in my room/house, so I could just do the ground lift trick and call it a day. For your case, I suggest you to fix the first problem, then worry about the second.

 

[jtjt00]

If the power extension cord ground is faulty, then accumulated static electricity get nowhere to discharge. So you get the shock whenever you touch metallic part of devices.

Possible fault:
1. power extension cord
2. PSU
3. wall socket grounding

 

[widman01]

check your humidity from aircon.... static easily occured in dry area <RH30%...

http://voices.yahoo.com/common-signs-air-home-too-dry-how-2350645.html


solution: increase ur room AC temperature, so it wont be too dry.