Cutting off the ground is (in your words) "stupidity". The main problem being that the plug can now be plugged in /backwards/. Now, from a purely intellectual standpoint this is ok, since the 120 volt potential is still across the wire, and it is AC so there is no 'polarity'. Unfortunately there IS polarity for an AC line, at least in the US and many other countries. One line is neutral, and is grounded at the breaker and/or main AC access point (meter). When you plug a computer into an outlet that's not grounded it floats the case. Since there is a transformer between the case and components and the powerline there 'should' exist no potential between real ground and the computer ground. However, often there exists a very large potential, especially if the computer powersupply tries to 'ground' neutral. IIRC this is not standard practice... Now when you hook your computer to another grounded device you energize the ground line - small currents = sparks, large currents = lights dimming. The most dangerous instance of this is when someone does this and then connects the power strip to their audio/visual equipment, which is then connected to the catv line. Bingo! instant 120v conductor on the cable line. Annoys the heck out of the cable company, and especially customers on the same catv line. Bottom line - there is never a good enough reason to remove the ground pin from any plug. If the equipment has a ground pin it /must/ be grounded. If you don't have the facilities to ground it properly through the plug then you shouldn't be operating it. I've been zapped by too many improperly grounded computers and catv lines already... Not as bad a the horse fencer - but it's no fun. -Adam Jai Dhar wrote: >Well, the problem is resolved... partially. On the account of getting tired of >near-killing myself by trying different things, I took it in to a store. What >did they do? They swapped the vid. card to another PCI slot, and it worked. >Yay, i just payed $20 for that. So I brought it home, thankful that it was >working. When I tried it.. guess what, pop.. yet another spark. So I was >really mad now. Anyway, I realized something that was key right then and >there. I was plugging it into a powerbar, which was plugged into another >powerbar. That's great, except the powerbar I was plugging it into, the plug >didn't have a ground connection (I ripped it off a while ago).. so I was >connecting the computer to a groundless connection. I unplugged the computer >from the powerbar, and then plugged it in the original bar (with ground)... >and all the lights dimmed with a loud noise. I immediately unplugged it.. and >next thing I know, my PSU that I made is smoking like mad. Not seeing the >connection immediately, I then remembered that the PSU Was plugged into the >2nd powerbar, which had no ground... which meant that for over 3 months, I >have been running a PSU that hasn't been grounded properly. Anyway, I fried my >PSU... but the computer/kvm works now :p Sacrifice one for the gain of another >I guess. Learn from my stupidity... I know I did. > > > > >>It sounds like you have a power supply problem >>on that one PC, and if you aren't careful, you may >>kill yourself or harm your computer(s), KVM or >>monitor (if you haven't damaged them already). >> >>I would suggest that, with what you have descibed >>already, you find someone much more competant >>than yourself to review and diagnose the root >>of this problem. >> >>The #1 object of hobbyies involving electronics should >>be that you come home to your loved ones in one >>piece, undamaged ... >> >>RF Jim >> >> >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Jai Dhar" >>To: >>Sent: Saturday, August 10, 2002 1:41 PM >>Subject: Re: [OT] KVM Problems >> >> >> >> >>>I just did a test by plugging the monitor in directly to the computer, and >>> >>> >>it, >> >> >>>too, sparked. Does this mean that computer isn't properly grounded? If so, >>>where do I check/fix >>>it? >>> >>>--------------------------------------------- >>>This message was sent using Endymion MailMan. >>>http://www.endymion.com/products/mailman/ >>> >>>-- >>>http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: >>>[PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads >>> >>> >>> >>> >>-- >>http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: >>[PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads >> >> >> > > >--------------------------------------------- >This message was sent using Endymion MailMan. >http://www.endymion.com/products/mailman/ > >-- >http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: >[PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads > > > > > > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics