I've recently moved back in with my dad, and my computer is experiencing issues that never happened at my old place. For the first month here, everything worked perfectly. However, now when I turn on my PC, even for just a short while, it ends up shutting off the power to my entire room.
Initially, I thought it might be due to a fan I had plugged in, so I removed that and unplugged everything else, keeping only my PC and monitor connected to a surge protector directly in the wall. Despite these changes, the power still cuts out after about 30 to 60 minutes. I've reset the circuit breaker multiple times and tried different outlets in the room, even unplugging stuff in the neighboring room to avoid overwhelming the circuit, but the problem persists when I use my computer.
To rule out a general electrical issue, I plugged in a hair dryer, which uses a significant amount of power, and it didn't trip the breaker. This leads me to believe the issue lies with my PC. I've done some research and attempted suggested fixes but nothing has worked. I even ordered a longer power cord from Amazon to see if that might help.
5 Answers
Honestly, this is part of why I stick to laptops for gaming. They're just easier on the power situation and portable too!
Right? And they save you from the hassle of wired setups!
I think you're dealing with a bad breaker that's just getting old. Hair dryers pull a ton of power consistently, while computers can ramp up and down, which might be why yours triggers the trip.
You could also try plugging your computer into another room completely to see if the issue still happens.
Yeah, sounds like something in your setup needs a once-over. A replaceable breaker could save you a lot of headaches.
If you've already tried different outlets, it might be a wiring issue in your room. An electrician needs to check for any loose connections or damaged wires to keep things safe.
Definitely sounds like a safety concern; it's better to invest in that than end up with worse problems.
Running a test with a different setup could also help pin down the issue before calling someone.
You could try using a kill-a-watt device to see how much power your PC is actually drawing. It could help pinpoint if there's something wrong with the setup.
That's a great idea! If it shows high draws at unexpected moments, that could lead to a diagnosis.
Plus, it could be fun to see how much power everything really uses!
It sounds like there might be a problem with the breaker or the wiring in your house. Generally, it would take a lot of power (like a server rack) to trip a breaker, so something might not be right.
True, you'd need a hefty draw to pop a breaker, especially if there are multiple outlets on the same circuit.
I mean, if your computer can't handle the load, it might trip the breaker due to not being able to handle a power surge.
You don't have to deal with unexpected breaker trips like this.