T
Todd H.
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
I get the shock when I touch any part of the back of my computer or
wires, and also touch the metal part of the cable that comes in and
connects to my cable modem. Here's the deal:
I live in an older house that is not grounded. The ground prong on
the outlets isn't connected to ground or anything else.
Red flag. This is problem #1. This isn't a ground loop. This is an
absence of ground. The former is an inconvenience, the latter can
kill ya.
Also, I've determined that the coax cable coming in to my cable
modem is grounded.
Typically staked at the junction box by the cable company.
Somthing seems to be making the ground prong on my outlet hot. I've
narrowed down the problem to my power strip. I've unplugged
everything from my outlet and I check the outlet for voltage.
Neutral to hot gives me 110V. Neutral to ground give me nothing
(actually, for some odd reason, there does seem to be a slight
voltage (less than 2V).
The odd reason is that if we believe what you're telling us (i.e. that
your ground on your outlet is completely floating) I'd believe any
voltage you'd tell me between ground and the neutral of the outlet.
Hot to ground also gives me nothing. As one would expect.
As one would expect in Danger World where ground is left completely
floating.
In the Safe World, neutral and ground should be the same potential
with 0V, and hot to ground should measure in the 110-120V range.
Now, if I plug in a power strip and do the same check on one of the
outlets on the power strip, I get: neutral to hot 110V,
Good.
Neutral to ground around 60V
Wee! This is a Big Problem.
and hot to ground around 60V. Is this right?
Oy. No.
You gotta remember here, your ground in your outlets is completely
floating, and someone should tell you this is Very Bad.
I've checked this with two power strips and I get the same results.
What would cause this? Is the polarity on my outlet wrong? Or, am
I just a dummy and am misintepreting what is going on. This
misterious 60V is what give me the shock.
Call an electrician. Today. You've got potentially lethal problems
with your home's electric wiring. You may also have some power
strips in need of replacement.
60V on your third wire ground is Not Good (tm). Since your computer
is a metal enclosed 3-wire appliance, it's presenting allcomers with
60V ready to shock the crap out of em.
Most aren't aware that surge suppressing power strips do nothing
without a real third wire ground, and it appears that they might also
be creating a rather hazardous situation. I suspect that these may be
surge suppressing power strips with some circuitry that is potentially
faulty (burned out MOV's for instance) and is therefore creating a
more hazardous situation than you have at your outlet to begin with
because your outlet is heinously miswired.
Don't take offense, but do call an electrician.
Best Regards,