USB port shocks me

[freematrix]

Hi,
Can anyone offer advise as to why my USB ports are shocking me.

I have just had a drive cooked as well (External drive). I also just plugged in an external USB hub and it also has a charge running through it continuously. It obviously only is a 2 prong connector and has no earth on it.

I have a feeling it is related to the earth leakage as I have tried several plugs around the house and it keeps having the same problem.

Before I call out an electrician, if anyone can offer advise would be great. If I need an electrician, if anyone knows of one who can actually fix this problem in JHB would be great. I have had bad experiences with electricians before so slightly critical of them.

Thanks

 

[I am Penguin]

Hi,
Can anyone offer advise as to why my USB ports are shocking me.

I have just had a drive cooked as well (External drive). I also just plugged in an external USB hub and it also has a charge running through it continuously. It obviously only is a 2 prong connector and has no earth on it.

I have a feeling it is related to the earth leakage as I have tried several plugs around the house and it keeps having the same problem.

Before I call out an electrician, if anyone can offer advise would be great. If I need an electrician, if anyone knows of one who can actually fix this problem in JHB would be great. I have had bad experiences with electricians before so slightly critical of them.

Thanks

Seems the quality of that supplies either in the PC or the external devices are suspect. Best to use a UPS (they come cheap) and feed all from the same source. Also check out/change the PC power supply just in case.

 

[AnomalyNexus]

Chances are that you are losing earthing somewhere along the line. Start with the power cable...switch everything out & connect directly to wall socket. Make sure all of it is using 3 prong not 2 prong adapters for the PC case. Next PSU. And lastly check the wiring of the cable connecting the USB port & mobo (Assuming front ports).

All sorts of things can carry voltage if the earthing is fubar.

Also get a multimeter and google the USB connection to figure out on which points there should be a voltage. (Its supposed to be 5v I think).

Seems the quality of that supplies either in the PC or the external devices are suspect. Best to use a UPS (they come cheap) and feed all from the same source.

I don't see how this is supposed to help. If USB ports are shocking him then something is fundamentally wrong and not just a power quality issue.

Also check out/change the PC power supply just in case.

Yes.

 

[alloytoo]

Are these "onboard" ports, at the rear alongside VGA, sound etc, or are they Front Case ports.

If it's the former check your powersupply, if it's the latter check the connecting wires from front case ports to the motherboard.

The frontcase usb plugs often consist of 5-6 single plugs which slide over MB pins (power, data and pins Refer your MB manual here)

I had an instance where a lazy PC assembler didn't plug these in correctly and it destroyed a USB stick (Got very hot first too).

 

[freematrix]

Thanks for the replies.
The reason why it is not the PC ( or IMac in this case ) is because I bypass it totally. I plugged a USB hub in (2 pin) and without even connecting anything to it, I touch the USB port and it zaps me.

This is why I think the suggestion of a online UPS may be Valid, but my concern seems to be, why is this actually happening?

 

[Drake2007]

Earth fault which a UPS is not going to help you out with. You can get yourself a simple/cheapish earth leakage tester from any Electrical shop though this will only tell you if there's a break in earth/ polarity or your earthleakage breaker is caput. It could also be something else that should be earthed and isn't e.g. geyser, fridge etc.

Sounds like you're getting zapped on neutral, what you can do is turn all the breakers off and go through one at a time to narrow it down.