When the Boss asks you to look at his gaming rig, just say no

[Darkforge]

Ok, I work for a small company which has a call centre, and we use servers to run our software which allows agents to make calls (they have no physical phones).

right background over with Our boss came in with his gaming rig as he isn't the best with computers and wanted us to install the new call of duty game onto it. He also mentioned he's had a few problems with it turning off mid game for no reason.

So assuming the switching off problem was caused by overheating we got the box into the Comms room where all our diagnostics tools are (and some extra fans) we plugged the machine in and turned it on

*Whiirr - zxxzzt - bang*

as the faulty power supply shorted and blew the fuses in the comms room (which is also where the servers are kept!)

our backup power kicked in almost instantly to keep the servers running but the only problem was that they kicked in too efficiently and as my collegue lept to disconnect the gaming rig

*Whiirr - zxxzzt - bang*

which blew the fuses in the backup power supply.

cue us waiting for an electrician to restore power in the building while the sales team sat around unable to even make phone calls.

That afternoon we bought our boss a new PS3 and peripherals

we all agree its simpler that way...

[lordlundar]

Now see, this is why if I get asked to look at a strangers rig, I have accident indemnity and pay contract paperwork signed and safely secured away before I even look at it.

[TheSHAD0W]

I strongly recommend you use power strips with circuit breakers on each block of equipment and especially at your workbench; it will help keep a failure in one location from knocking out everything.

[Darkforge]

I strongly recommend you use power strips with circuit breakers on each block of equipment and especially at your workbench; it will help keep a failure in one location from knocking out everything.

well they do have surge protectors, but we're getting some new ones with built in fuses

I just wish we had a better IT budget.

[Chromatix]

Wait wait wait... you're in England, and you somehow *aren't* using the normal British Standard plugs with fuses built into them?

[Daskinor]

Wait wait wait... you're in England, and you somehow *aren't* using the normal British Standard plugs with fuses built into them?

Has to be a faulty ground for that building.

[Rapscallion]

Wait wait wait... you're in England, and you somehow *aren't* using the normal British Standard plugs with fuses built into them?

This is actually a fair point. All new plugs provided with equipment over here has to come with a plug already on with the appropriate fuse installed. I'm no electrical expert, but I'm surprised that didn't protect everything else to a certain degree, or fry on the first issue.

Rapscallion

[Ironclad Alibi]

We all know that Murphy's Laws are applicable in this situation, one of which states:

"In any equipment protected by a fuse, the equipment will always blow first to protect the fuse."

[Chromatix]

We all know that Murphy's Laws are applicable in this situation, one of which states:

"In any equipment protected by a fuse, the equipment will always blow first to protect the fuse."

In this case, the fault in the computer blew out the supply end - we can assume that the computer itself was a lost cause. With the British system, that's Not Supposed To Be Possible, since the fuse in the plug should have blown before the main fuse in the power system.

Of course it's possible that some id10t had put tinfoil into the fuse-holder in the plug, because it kept blowing when an actual fuse was put there.

[Chromatix]

As a follow-up, here's the difference between the British mains system and everyone else's.

Most countries use a "star mains" system. Each socket is connected directly to the fusebox (or sometimes groups of sockets are wired using one cable). Each fuse or circuit-breaker in the box then protects one or more sockets, and there is a "main fuse" that protects the whole house. The plugs are just plugs, and there is no further protection.

The British system is a bit more complicated, and was introduced to deal with a copper shortage immediately post-war (when a large amount of reconstruction was necessary). Sockets are connected in rings, where each ring is connected at both ends to the fusebox, and each socket has a three-core cable coming out of each side to continue the ring. (It is also permitted to star *one* socket from a point on the ring.) The sockets themselves are normally switched, the live and neutral holes are covered by a shutter that is drawn back by the earth pin, and every plug must be fitted with a fuse (normally 3A, 5A or 13A, to match the requirements of the attached appliance).

The advantage in materials comes from the ability to connect sockets together rather than having to wire each one all the way back to the fusebox. There are also advantages in safety, one of which is that a short in the appliance will normally blow the plug fuse, without tripping out the rest of the circuit or the house supply - and because the plug fuse is only as big as necessary, the risk of fire from a weak short is lessened.

[protege]

We all know that Murphy's Laws are applicable in this situation, one of which states:

"In any equipment protected by a fuse, the equipment will always blow first to protect the fuse."

Sure it's not another Lucas joke? For those who don't know, Lucas electrical items were commonly found in many British cars years ago--MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars, etc. When new and properly taken care of, they weren't nearly as troublesome. Lucas' poor reputation arose when owners tried to "service" (or modify) things themselves, without understanding how it really worked.

Back on topic here, that must have been a hell of a short circuit! Most places in the US require individual circuit breakers. These should trip long before the main one does.

How do I know this? I had a small electrical fire in my house last summer Sick of having multiple dead computers lying around, I thought I'd get around to seeing what worked, and what was scrap. I set up a computer in the kitchen, and was about to plug in the screen...when the outlet promptly exploded in a shower of sparks, leaving a scorch mark on the wall, and nearly ignited those wonderful drapes in the kitchen. They got away with some small burnt-out holes Since the kitchen light was still on, seeing the clock and 'fridge' go out was odd.

Went downstairs, and one of the breakers had tripped. The damn thing wouldn't reset, so I flipped it off (moved it to the off position...and gave it the Pittsburgh Salute ), waited a few seconds, then turned it back on. That exploded in sparks too, along with another scorch mark on that wall

Anyone want to guess where that screen had come from? Yep, the office. Worked fine when it was there. Strange that it would do that. Didn't keep it around though--it literally got tossed!