I recently moved into a 30-year-old apartment and noticed that the "Building Wiring Fault" light on my APC UPS is lit up whenever I plug it into any outlet. I'm aware that this light indicates a potential issue, possibly due to faulty or missing grounding, according to an electrician I consulted. Since I rely on this UPS for surge protection, I'm concerned about using my PC under these circumstances. If the grounding is indeed faulty, could it expose my PC to a power surge? I want to use my PC but I'm also planning to have an electrician take a closer look at the wiring once I get my landlord's approval. What precautions should I consider in the meantime?
1 Answer
Using your PC with the UPS's fault light on isn't ideal, but chances are your PC will still run without major issues. I grew up in a house with outdated knob & tube wiring that had no ground, and none of my grandfather's PCs ever failed. Still, it’s smart to not take unnecessary risks when it comes to electrical safety. I totally get your concern about the surge protection not working right without a proper ground. Better safe than sorry!
Exactly! It's always best to err on the side of caution when dealing with electrical issues.