Think my fridge might be causing small power spikes?

[PeteS in CA]

Re: Think my fridge might be causing small power spikes?

Your fridge could cause spikes and/or voltage sags when its compressor kicks in and spikes when it kicks out. Another thing it could do is broadcast bursts of RF at kick-on and -off, which could be picked up in your computer's audio circuit. If your fridge is within 10 or 15 feet of your computer, that may be what you are hearing. Put a battery powered AM radio near your fridge and see if you hear the "pop". If you do, you have been hearing broadcast RF noise and your ccomputer is probably safe. If you put the radio too near your computer the noise from the switching power supply could drown out noise from the fridge.

[ben7]

Re: Think my fridge might be causing small power spikes?

I agree with budm, open the fridge and put an arc suppressor across the relay!

My dell dimension has no issues when the fan (multi speed control) is turned on. But the harmon/kardon spearkers love to pop and crackle when the switch is turned on or off.

You should check your house wiring, to see if it has a [good] ground.

Go to the store and get an outlet tester, they come in handy!

PS I love old houses!

[japlytic]

Re: Think my fridge might be causing small power spikes?

I see too many houses that don't have enough proper three-prong outlets.

Some computer power supplies and UPS units (mainly from the larger companies such as HP) have a Site Wiring Fault indicator, because the manufacturers are aware that some buildings may not be wired correctly, especially with respect to the ground pin.

I also remember reading in Upgrading and Repairing PCs about a seminar where the audience were forced to wear stockings because the venue (a hotel) had improper grounding and therefore computer equipment was sensitive to such improper wiring and crashed under certain circumstances if the audience was not wearing such clothing.

[budm]

Re: Think my fridge might be causing small power spikes?

Inductive kickback voltage can easily be 1000V range but only last for microseconds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXgfuikGegE
http://www.coilgun.info/theoryinduct...vekickback.htm
There should be a snubber on the switch for the compressor : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snubber
http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/V...spx?ID=ACE5803
Just Google Inductive kickback.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: Think my fridge might be causing small power spikes?

Third, a 1920 house? So two wire circuits are connected to a three prong receptacles? (Inspection starts inside the breaker box.) Not only might that create your computer noise problem (that does no hardware damage). But it also is a human safety threat and a code violation.

Think it's bad in Seattle? Outlets without a ground are likely more common in Vermont.
I see too many houses that don't have enough proper three-prong outlets.

Luckily, I have outlets that are up to code in my bedroom.

[westom]

Re: Think my fridge might be causing small power spikes?

I moved the fridge plugin to directly into the wall and it still does that same thing to the surge protector plugged in directly below it.

First, when trying to buy a 'high quality' protector, first read its spec numbers. Folr example, its let-through voltage may be 330 volts. How often does your 120 volt refrigerator create spikes exceeding 330 volts? Never unless it is also destroying itself.

Second, protectors are not designed for frequent surges. They are designed for rare transients that might occur once every seven years. If your refrigerator is created so many spikes so often, then you may have to replace that tiny (and $80) protector more than once per year. (And its indicator light will not report that type of failure.)

Third, a 1920 house? So two wire circuits are connected to a three prong receptacles? (Inspection starts inside the breaker box.) Not only might that create your computer noise problem (that does no hardware damage). But it also is a human safety threat and a code violation.

[Pentium4]

Re: Think my fridge might be causing small power spikes?

It is a DAEWOO fridge....sounds shitty to me. I will check

[budm]

Re: Think my fridge might be causing small power spikes?

Try plugging in your pc speakers in another outlet around the house to see how far the spike travels in your house wiring.
May be the arc suppressor RC network or plain cap across the power switch for the compressor had failed. When the switch open, you will get a lot of inductive kickback voltage.
It is best to get rid of the noise at the source.

[Pentium4]

Re: Think my fridge might be causing small power spikes?

Do the outlet has ground receptacle? The compressor kicking on and off can put big spike into power line. You may try installing another surge suppressor for the fridge. The surge suppressor only clamp down the spike with typical let through of about 330V.

Thanks for the reply. Yeah the outlets do have a ground pin. I may just have to buy a separate surge protector for the fridge?

[budm]

Re: Think my fridge might be causing small power spikes?

Do the outlet has ground receptacle? The compressor kicking on and off can put big spike into power line. You may try installing another surge suppressor for the fridge. The surge suppressor only clamp down the spike with typical let through of about 330V.

[Pentium4]

So I live in an old house in Seattle (From the 1920's) and I had my main rig plugged into the same surge protector as the mini fridge. Every time the fridge would turn on or off, I'll hear a small pop from my computer speakers when they're on and occasionally my mouse will freeze for a second. I moved the fridge plugin to directly into the wall and it still does that same thing to the surge protector plugged in directly below it. I have a high quality power supply but wondering if my fridge is hurting my computer?