Question re. static electricity...

[martinlest]

This isn't really a Windows 7 (or any other version) question, but maybe in the Hardware forum someone might have some input...

For some days I have been noticing an intermittent (once or twice a minute, perhaps) clicking sound coming from my speakers when I am running X-Plane on my PC. I don't use that PC for much else, other than XP11, but the clicking sound does not seem to occur at all other than when XP11 is running a flight. Googling and then posting this for instance.. nothing.

I had no idea what was causing this and had started to look at problems with the sound setup, but when I went to turn the PC off last night and touched the (metal) PC table, I got a mild static shock. Is the clicking sound I am hearing perhaps -due to a discharge of static then?.. the sound, which is quite loud, is about right for that. The PC case itself is quite some way from where I got the slight shock, but obviously static and computers do not go well together!

All my components that need A/C power are plugged into the mains via (U.K.) 3-pin plugs, all earthed... I have no idea where to look for the cause of the problem, assuming that static is the issue.... the thing is of course that my getting a static shock from the metal bench is likely because I discharged static on myself through the table, not that the metal bench itself had gained a static charge and discharged it through me (?).

In any event, any ideas as to what might be most likely culprits here? Strange that I do not get the clicks, as I say, unless X-Planeis running (and it may possibly be that the clicking and the static shock I got are totally unconnected). Feel I need to look into it a bit further though... certainly don't want to risk the M/B being killed off!

Thanks.

 

[iko22]

Difficult to attribute the clicking sounds with the electric shock - unless your speaker stands are metal.

Computer speakers are active speakers, meaning they got amplifiers built-in. Could be that the amplifier components have now broken down, in terms of their electrical specification, and that is causing them to "click" - as you say.

Check the audio cables are properly plugged in. They can act like antennas if they are floating around.

Failing the above, why not unplug the speakers, and plug in a Headset/Headphones, and see if there is any difference.

 

[samuria]

What are the clicks like random noise or a beat as that gives you a start

 

[martinlest]

I waggled a few wires around, (very 'techy'!) and at the moment, I am not getting any clicking in X-Plane. Could be that the clicking sound (random, a bit like a short sharp burst of radio interference - hard to describe: I'll record them if they return) were not due to static.. very hard to say.

Too early to say problem solved, but thanks for the replies. Will post back if I can give any more information.

 

[Megahertz07]

All computer clicking sound I've heard were from a dying HDD.
Are you sure they were coming from the speakers?