Teen electrocuted while working on unplugged computer

[Brink]

Those who don't know about electronics assume that if you unplug a device, it becomes safe.

Perhaps that's what a teenager from Shawne, Kan., might have thought when he reportedly worked on his family computer.

It was unplugged, yet the teen died in what seemed inexplicable circumstances.

Read more at source:
Teen electrocuted while working on unplugged computer | Technically Incorrect - CNET News

   Warning

This is tragic news, but does serve as a warning to help save lives of those that do not know.

 

[boohbah]

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

The lack of respect here for the death of a young person is saddening. He was a geek like the rest of us and his death was accidental. He could've grown to be the next Steve Jobs and his family is likely crushed. RIP. Posted by kurokitsune

 

[Layback Bear]

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.

 

[M1GU31]

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.

 

[fireberd]

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.

 

[Zepher]

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?

 

[ionbasa]

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.

 

[Zepher]

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.

 

[ionbasa]

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/definition/english/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".

 

[Layback Bear]

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.

 

[TVeblen]

And please do not forget, all you handy-men out there, that high voltage capacitors exist in many household appliances: TV's, Microwave ovens, Refrigerators, Receivers, etc. And some of these carry a much bigger wallop that a power supply. Be cautious around any electrical appliance!

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

When I was a kid, I learned the "fun'' way (getting knocked on my ample asset) that the picture tube of a TV acts like a high voltage capacitor. Before retiring, I worked in warehousing for an electric utility company and, every once in a while, some moron would drop off a capacitor bank (those things were huge) that didn't have the terminals shunted. We would call in a lineman or electricians to shunt it; you wouldn't believe the size of the spark they would draw off it while installing the shunts.

 

[Britton30]

that is sad news. I'm glad I added a warning to my post here: http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/201055-psu-testing.html#post1688197

 

[windude99]

I always hold down the power button on my pc with the power supply switched on for around 5 to 10 seconds to drain power from the power supply and motherboard when I work on pcs. I notice that on my desktips, they power on for about a half a second and you can hear the fans start to spin up because that's how much energy those capacitors in the power supplies store. Always, ALWAYS drain the pwoer from a pc before working on it. You won't regret it in the long run.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Right Hand Rule

When working on electrical devices, use the "Right Hand Rule".

If you only use your right hand, any current is less likely to pass through your heart.

Make sure you aren't creating a potential current path with your left hand too.

 

[0pTicaL]

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

The lack of respect here for the death of a young person is saddening. He was a geek like the rest of us and his death was accidental. He could've grown to be the next Steve Jobs and his family is likely crushed. RIP. Posted by kurokitsune

His death is tragic, yes, but he was not a geek. A real geek would have known better. A real geek would know how to discharge all remaining power before working on a PSU. Just like people who clean windows on skyscrapers know they should be wearing a safety harness at all times.

Apparently in the tech field, too often you see people who think they know it all, and sadly this is one of the more extreme results.

 

[Britton30]

I always hold down the power button on my pc with the power supply switched on for around 5 to 10 seconds to drain power from the power supply and motherboard when I work on pcs. I notice that on my desktips, they power on for about a half a second and you can hear the fans start to spin up because that's how much energy those capacitors in the power supplies store. Always, ALWAYS drain the pwoer from a pc before working on it. You won't regret it in the long run.

This does not discharge the caps inside the PSU, it only drains the motherboard.

 

[Bertison]

Truly tragic, a young life ended. Does not matter what label you pin upon the young man concerned: Geek or not, he leaves behind a grieving family.

I learned to respect electricity some 60 years ago, in the home of my parents. That was a National Coal Board estate house, as my dad was a miner. There was no "Health & Safety" at that time and the power sockets were placed wherever you wanted them. They were the UK "3 Pin" sockets and plugs, but at that date the pins were round and slotted, not rectangular and solid, as now.

One socket was fitted in the RH side of a window which was above the kitchen sink (yes really!) and there was a net curtain in the window, held up by a spring wire, all steel. The plug was often left dangling in the window, and on this day mother decided to take down the curtain. She dropped one end of the wire, which flicked across to the socket, and also caught the live pin of the plug. The socket switch was on. Circuit between mum, socket and plug being completed, she was thrown across the room and landed unconscious on the floor.

Imagine the effect upon a 7 year old boy. (me!) Mother fortunately recovered, although within a couple of years she began to suffer Angina pains. It was a lesson I never forgot and I have always respected electricity.

 

[strollin]

This is sad and really shouldn't have happened. The voltages on the output of a PSU are not lethal and perfectly safe to work with. There is the possibility of a burn in the case of a short but electrocution is virtually impossible. All of the potentially lethal voltages are isolated from the consumer by the PSUs metal cover. There really is no reason for the average "geek" to ever open the PSU since there aren't any "user serviceable" parts inside.

I learned to respect high voltage devices by working on high powered transmitters and power supplies capable of 500KW output (that's 500V with 1,000A). I once got shocked by 400V thru my arm from my little finger to my elbow. It hurt like he77 but there were no after effects. If that shock would have been from hand to hand the current would have passed thru my chest and I probably wouldn't be here today.

 

[bdstx4]

All it takes is 28Vdc and 50milliamps to stop your heart. Be careful people.