I recently set up my workstation in a new place, and after a day of using my devices, I noticed a strange, sweet odor that reminds me of bug spray filling the room. The space had a weird smell when I first moved in, but it faded. Now, with my UPS sitting on the carpet and all devices plugged into one outlet, I'm confused about what's causing the smell. Could it be that the wall socket isn't working well, is the UPS damaged from the move, or could it be an old odor from the previous tenant that got ignited by the heat from my devices? I've unplugged some gear, but there's still a lingering scent, particularly near the UPS and some of the cords. Any insights on troubleshooting this would be appreciated!
4 Answers
If there's a strong smell reminiscent of nail polish remover mixed with something fruity, it might indicate that the lithium-ion battery is leaking. That's definitely something you should look into.
UPS units typically give off a burning rubber smell when they're failing. You might want to try plugging it into a different room to see if the smell comes back. If it does, I’d suggest assuming there's an issue with the power supply and consider replacing it. If not, try elevating it off the carpet in case that’s absorbing some of the odor.
If my other device's wires are damaged, could they still emit a smell even when I move everything to a new room without the UPS? I've read that overheating wires can cause odors too. Thanks for the tip!
I really wouldn’t recommend using that UPS anymore if it smells off. It might be wise to look into getting a new one to be safe.
Honestly, the best solution might just be to replace the carpet if the smell is really bad. That could get rid of any lingering odors.
I removed the UPS from my room, but the smell lingers a bit. My monitor power brick also has a noticeable odor.