Windows 7: Teen electrocuted while working on unplugged computer

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Teen electrocuted while working on unplugged computer | Technically Incorrect - CNET News

reading through the comments this one was the only decent comment, poor kids family will be devastated.

Capacitor storage of power and discharge of power has been known for decades but isn't talked about much when it comes to computer components and it should be. If capacitors are not discharged they can hold power for many years.
Hopefully many will read your post Brink and it just might save a life.

This is why my tech teacher said to not bother trying to open up a psu and trying to fix it due to the risk of electrocution,she always said to get rid of it and just buy a new one and under no circumstances ever try opening up a psu no matter how knowledgeable you are. Poor guy,I wish his family the best.

I actually have been shocked before by accident because i accidentally didn't make sure it was fully turned off and pulled on one of the cords from the mobo to remove it and got a small shock which i felt go through my whole right arm since the mobo still had a bit of power even though it was disconnected from the power.

This happened when I first got into computers and was new and now i make sure it is fully off by disconnecting from the power and pressing the power button a couple times to make sure the mobo drains out what ever is left. Glad nothing serious happened to me like this poor fellow. Good thing I have never messed with the psu its self and have always just disposed broken psu's because of the advise given to me.

Discharging capacitors is rule #1 when working on power supplies or voltage circuits. I've been in Electronics since "shep was a pup", worked on high voltage tube devices including transmitters and have held a general class ham radio license and a 2nd class FCC radio telephone license. I've also worked as a guitar amp tech in Nashville.

As far as working on power supplies, I have a friend that is a retired broadcast engineer (and has an EE degree). He says some of the components in a power supply are specialized and replacements can't be purchased. He has a son that does electrical power supply design work and they both agree that a PC power supply is not realistically a "repairable" device.

That's pretty shocking news.
aren't there warning labels on the side of the PSU telling you not to open up the PSU as there are no user serviceable parts inside?

I have actually been electrocuted by one of those big capacitors in PSUs. It all really depends on how the current is traveling through your body ,ie. across your chest area is bad because of vital organs such as your heart and lungs.

Other factors could have caused his death such as mental shock or being surprised by the electrocution could have caused brain damage or resulted in a stroke. Also of note is that you should always wear an Electrical Discharge Wrist Strap that is properly grounded to the Earth.

It is tragic that people die from seemingless simple things such as computer parts.

If you didn't die, then you weren't electrocuted.

Just realized that after looking up the definition of the word there are conflicting definitions, Oxford defines it as "injure or kill (someone) by electric shock"
http://oxforddictionaries.com/defini...sh/electrocute

While other dictionaries state it is directly to be killed by an electrical shock.

Nevertheless I will be more careful in choosing words, as in my previous post "electrical shock" would probably more appropriate instead of "electrocuted".

ionbasa your words work just fine for me. I completely understood what you meant. Either way I'm glad you are still alive. Now I will go back to the other Forum I'm posting in; English 101.