I rebuilt my PC by moving the components from a Silent Base 601 case into a Shadow Base 800. Since then, I've felt an electric shock when touching the area around the power supply. This never happened with the old case. I live in an apartment on the ninth floor, so I'm unsure whether grounding is involved. I also cleaned the power supply with a vacuum or blown air before noticing the issue. What should I check, and is it safe to keep using the computer?
2 Answers
Stop using the computer and unplug it immediately. A shock near the power supply can indicate a wiring fault, damaged PSU, missing ground connection, or a short caused by an incorrectly installed motherboard standoff or another wire touching the case. Being on an upper floor does not rule out a grounding problem. Don’t open the power supply; it can retain dangerous voltage. Have the outlet and PC checked by a qualified electrician or replace the PSU if it may be damaged.
Cleaning the outside of a PSU with compressed air is usually fine, but a vacuum can create static electricity and may damage components if it was used inside the PSU. Either way, don’t use that power supply again until it has been tested. Never remove the PSU cover, and don’t rely on a two-prong adapter or an ungrounded outlet to solve the problem.
Also check that the motherboard is mounted only on the correct standoffs and that no metal tie, loose screw, or pinched cable is contacting the case. Test with the PC disconnected from power rather than continuing to touch the case while it is energized.