Kid killed while working on computer

[Hemingray]

Came across this in my daily facebook trawling: http://www.kctv5.com/story/19767067/...trocuted-while

Even though it says the machine was unplugged at the time, How could this have happened?

[ComputerGeek]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

Leave it to the news to inflame the whole thing. LOL I wonder what they would think of our little site.

[Topcat]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

if unplugged, it should have discharged itself and been no dangerous voltage present in the PSU unless it was malfunctioning....and even if it was malfunctioning, but unplugged, it would at the most discharge a couple hundred volts for a split second through his body, hardly a lethal dose! I don't think we're getting all the facts. I've been zapped by far worse than anything a PSU could dish out, especially an unplugged one.

[ComputerGeek]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

if unplugged, it should have discharged itself and been no dangerous voltage present in the PSU unless it was malfunctioning....and even if it was malfunctioning, but unplugged, it would at the most discharge a couple hundred volts for a split second through his body, hardly a lethal dose! I don't think we're getting all the facts. I've been zapped by far worse than anything a PSU could dish out, especially an unplugged one.

Yeah I'm thinking the same thing, there is something else that happened. The time it would take from him unplugging the PC to taking out and getting it apart to the point which he could touch a Cap would be enough time for the Caps to drain.


Isn't it great how the news inflames the whole event. "The teen was killed while doing what many of us do in our daily lives, working on his Computer." It just stupid how they exaggerate everything.

[Mad_Professor]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

This makes my brain hemorrhage, I've shocked myself plenty of times, you know laying your hand on a heatsink of a VRM output while probing the rails for voltages.

This doesn't make any sense, "they store dangerous charge." The highest it can go is 12v it's like sticking your tongue on a 9v battery but worst.

"Leave it to the professionals" I had to LOL at this, thousands of people build their own computers.

Obviously something is not being told, you can't die from working on a unplugged system.

More then likely he was working on it when it was plugged in and running and when he dropped, he fell on the cord and pulled it out.

[ComputerGeek]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

I am 95% sure this is the PSU in the video, So you guys can figure out the Cap sizes.

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/...efficient-psus

The best part was using parts from old PC's to build a new PC just isn't safe. LOL

[lti]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

What the hell is a power storage box?

[Pentium4]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

"Why tear into it to replace it for $20? You're taking your life into your own hands"

I just cracked open a PSU....does that mean I'm living on the edge?

[larrymoencurly]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

I'm looking for a photo of an iMac that the owner had modified by removing the power supply from its case and attaching its circuit board to the inside of the iMac case with JB Weld or black silicone sealer. The owner did not die.

[kc8adu]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

typical bullshit news story.too bad the kid died but you have to have the psu open and live and then touch it in such a way to get the ac line or primary side arm-arm.
there is a shred of truth in the story albeit a small one.
microwave oven.
easily the most deadly thing one can open in the average home.

[ratdude747]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

Not sure if this is a darwin award or not...

[gilly1984]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

Most likely had a heart defect of some sort.

[ratdude747]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

I discussed it with my dad, here's what I think happened:

He was mucking with the PSU wile it was plugged in and accidentally tapped the primary HS. He then was electrocuted and at some point fell/collapsed, and int he process, his finger caught the PSU and pulled it off the work surface, unplugging it.

He is found electrocuted on the ground, with a PSU ont he ground nearby, unplugged. add in a probable myriad of computer parts already gutted and you have the news story.

[Hondaman]

Teenager electrocuted working on unplugged computer

An Oklahoma teenager has died from working on an unplugged computer:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57...gged-computer/

Please make sure you discharge your capacitors before working on equipment! (Waiting may or might not be enough, I don't know.)

I should ask, as a former HVAC guy and long-time computer enthusiast, where can we get the correct resistors to do this?

Thanks in advance!

[Topcat]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

^
there was already a thread on this. merged.

[Agent24]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

Stupid.

Instead of trying to scare people and tell them not to do anything, why not encourage them to learn about and understand the dangers so they can see WHY something is dangerous and how to handle it safely.

[Jazzmarazz]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

What I am most dissapointed baout is the fact that they base there conclusion on the fact that they found "an electrocution burn." Who here doesn't have at least two of these right now?

They urge everyone not to strip an old computer to build a new one.

Cost effective cop is cost effective.

"Older-style TVs with the big tubes, there's been a lot of people electrocuted by those," Bradshaw said. "They store a huge charge in them to get the TV tube to fire up.

What does that have to do with a desktop's PSU?

"Why tear into it to replace it for $20?

My grandma's Dell Optiplex has a more expensive PSU than that. I guess this guy has never upgraded his desktop with anything more than a 5.25" drive.

"Why tear into it to replace it for $20? You're taking your life into your own hands"

I just cracked open a PSU....does that mean I'm living on the edge?

A true devil of dare. As am I.

[kaboom]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

This will be used to push an agenda, as usual. We'll end up with 'security' screws on power supplies, based on extrapolated propaganda from the irrelevant, useless media.

My last surprise was from a 12 inch GE compactron B&W TV. Had the board out a bit touching up the IF strip. Shut it off. Came back a few minutes later to push it back in. One hand on the board, the other on the cabinet, near the anode.

I had to adjust the position of one hand, the one near the anode, of course, and I made contact.

That left over 6ish KV was damn fast! Not much worse than a good static shock, but was it fast. HV on that chassis runs 10-12 KV, and I'm only guessing as to the residual based on how bright the pic was upon shutting it off.

It would be "getting shocked." There are those who think any shock is an electrocution. Not unless it kills.


I have two of these, a 66u and a 100u, and had used them for PFC across some MOTs...

When not PFC-ing, they're fun to short out. Charge off the line with a 4004 and limiting resistor. Are they gonna grow legs and come after me?

Stupid.

Instead of trying to scare people and tell them not to do anything, why not encourage them to learn about and understand the dangers so they can see WHY something is dangerous and how to handle it safely.

"Certain interests" wouldn't have that. We're supposed to be completely helpless, with a "loving government hand" dragging us the whole way. You didn't build that (computer.)

Satire off...

[gilly1984]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

Stupid.

Instead of trying to scare people and tell them not to do anything, why not encourage them to learn about and understand the dangers so they can see WHY something is dangerous and how to handle it safely.

If people don't learn from the "Do not open, risk of electrocution" stickers then whats the point, there is no getting around it, learn from your mistakes or learn from others mistakes.

I wish lots of people understood the "do not open" bit, would have lots more things to fix then

[momaka]

Re: Kid killed while working on computer

I think that story just over-filled my bullshit cup for the day.

News are retarded. I just don't watch them anymore. Or anything else on TV for that matter.