I haz a problem, Recently my PC has been tripping a powerbreaker, at least I assume it is my PC.
I have my monitor, printer and PC on a standard power strip which goes to a power breaker plugged into a wall socket. This kind of thing:
[img size=150]http://www.qvsdirect.com/images/P/rcd_a ... med-01.jpg[/img]
At random the power breaker trips, sometimes it's after using the PC for 5 minutes, sometimes hours. As this has only been happening for a few weeks I guess it could be to do with the heat as the case has been getting pretty hot, I just don't know why this would happen or if there's anything I could do to stop it.
I guess I should try a different socket to check it's not that but I haven't been arsed to get out a long extension yet.
Any of you bummers have any experience of this or useful knowledge to impart?
Power problems
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Dr. kitteny berk
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why are you using an RCD with your PC?
I have a sneaky feeling a switchmode PSU leaks to ground a bit, which could be what's causing it to trip, especially as your PSU will be less efficient during hot weather.
I'd suggest plugging stuff in through the RCD individually, that way you'll be able to narrow it down to a single device.
I have a sneaky feeling a switchmode PSU leaks to ground a bit, which could be what's causing it to trip, especially as your PSU will be less efficient during hot weather.
I'd suggest plugging stuff in through the RCD individually, that way you'll be able to narrow it down to a single device.
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Dr. kitteny berk
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buzzmong
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I don't see the point of using an RCD with a PC setup, there's nothing really to go massively wrong that'll cause a short circuit.
A surge protector on the other hand isn't a bad idea as general protection for all the parts connected to the strip, but even then, in terms of the actual PC, it's only cheapy PSU's that can't cope with a surge anyway, mid to high level ones will supress them (or die, but not take anything else with it).
Although, an RCD shouldn't be tripping unless there is a fault somewhere (or something that looks like a fault), which could be either in what it's connected to or in the RCD itself.
A surge protector on the other hand isn't a bad idea as general protection for all the parts connected to the strip, but even then, in terms of the actual PC, it's only cheapy PSU's that can't cope with a surge anyway, mid to high level ones will supress them (or die, but not take anything else with it).
Although, an RCD shouldn't be tripping unless there is a fault somewhere (or something that looks like a fault), which could be either in what it's connected to or in the RCD itself.
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Dr. kitteny berk
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ProfHawking
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Yup, it doesn't protect your pc really - get a surge protector for that instead of an RCD.
If you are worried about a short in the PC or whatever that could electrify the case and give you a shock, then an RCD would help - however, this is pretty unlikely i think.
Its the sort of thing you stick on an old appliance you might not trust, kids things they are liable to stick their fingers into, lawnmowers where you might run over the cable etc.
Where is the emoticon for burning zombie bobbins?
If you are worried about a short in the PC or whatever that could electrify the case and give you a shock, then an RCD would help - however, this is pretty unlikely i think.
Its the sort of thing you stick on an old appliance you might not trust, kids things they are liable to stick their fingers into, lawnmowers where you might run over the cable etc.
Where is the emoticon for burning zombie bobbins?
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mrbobbins
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FatherJack
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A decent PSU should protect you from most mains irregularities including brown-outs.
A mains felcher and/or surge protector may be necessary if your place has bad wiring and outages can be traced to coincide with things like central heating and kettles turning on. They stop the bad electricity hurting the stuff that's plugged in to it.
A circuit breaker is likely to cause more harm than good, if like yours it's tripping all the time. Rather than do anything to protect the components, it's monitoring (seemingly too sensitively) for a short in the circuit, such as you'd only likely get if a pet chewed through the wires or you used your PC in the bath and even then the fuses in the power brick, plugs and your fusebox would offer some protection.
A mains felcher and/or surge protector may be necessary if your place has bad wiring and outages can be traced to coincide with things like central heating and kettles turning on. They stop the bad electricity hurting the stuff that's plugged in to it.
A circuit breaker is likely to cause more harm than good, if like yours it's tripping all the time. Rather than do anything to protect the components, it's monitoring (seemingly too sensitively) for a short in the circuit, such as you'd only likely get if a pet chewed through the wires or you used your PC in the bath and even then the fuses in the power brick, plugs and your fusebox would offer some protection.