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#1
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Break the law by being a daredevil? (Curiosity questions only.)
Hi.
Although I would not probably ever do this in reality at all due to the danger, I'd be curious as to know what would happen if one opened up a computer power supply unit. I've heard that one can get in trouble with the law doing this (unless one has the proper qualifications?). Is that right, and does this mean that even if I didn't get zapped, and did this enough times (say 10 counts of illegal opening of a power supply unit), I could spend the rest of my life in prison (maximum security prisons, too???)? And furthermore, would just 1 count have _lifelong_ consequences, even if I made it through the jail term? Are these worse or better than getting electrocuted? Just curiosity questions: I wasn't really planning on doing something dumb. |
#2
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Break the law by being a daredevil? (Curiosity questions only.)
mike3 wrote:
Hi. Although I would not probably ever do this in reality at all due to the danger, I'd be curious as to know what would happen if one opened up a computer power supply unit. I've heard that one can get in trouble with the law doing this (unless one has the proper qualifications?). Is that right, and does this mean that even if I didn't get zapped, and did this enough times (say 10 counts of illegal opening of a power supply unit), I could spend the rest of my life in prison (maximum security prisons, too???)? And furthermore, would just 1 count have _lifelong_ consequences, even if I made it through the jail term? Are these worse or better than getting electrocuted? Just curiosity questions: I wasn't really planning on doing something dumb. Wow. |
#3
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Break the law by being a daredevil? (Curiosity questions only.)
"John Doe" wrote in message . net... mike3 wrote: Hi. Although I would not probably ever do this in reality at all due to the danger, I'd be curious as to know what would happen if one opened up a computer power supply unit. I've heard that one can get in trouble with the law doing this (unless one has the proper qualifications?). Is that right, and does this mean that even if I didn't get zapped, and did this enough times (say 10 counts of illegal opening of a power supply unit), I could spend the rest of my life in prison (maximum security prisons, too???)? And furthermore, would just 1 count have _lifelong_ consequences, even if I made it through the jail term? Are these worse or better than getting electrocuted? Just curiosity questions: I wasn't really planning on doing something dumb. Wow. ------------ I wonder which country he lives in? Whichever it is, I hope I never go there. G Ed Cregger |
#4
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Break the law by being a daredevil? (Curiosity questions only.)
mike3 wrote:
Hi. Although I would not probably ever do this in reality at all due to the danger, I'd be curious as to know what would happen if one opened up a computer power supply unit. I've heard that one can get in trouble with the law doing this (unless one has the proper qualifications?). Is that right, and does this mean that even if I didn't get zapped, and did this enough times (say 10 counts of illegal opening of a power supply unit), I could spend the rest of my life in prison (maximum security prisons, too???)? And furthermore, would just 1 count have _lifelong_ consequences, even if I made it through the jail term? Are these worse or better than getting electrocuted? Just curiosity questions: I wasn't really planning on doing something dumb. Assuming for a minute you are being serious, I should be locked up for life probably then! SteveH |
#5
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Break the law by being a daredevil? (Curiosity questions only.)
"SteveH" wrote in
: mike3 wrote: Hi. Although I would not probably ever do this in reality at all due to the danger, I'd be curious as to know what would happen if one opened up a computer power supply unit. I've heard that one can get in trouble with the law doing this (unless one has the proper qualifications?). Is that right, and does this mean that even if I didn't get zapped, and did this enough times (say 10 counts of illegal opening of a power supply unit), I could spend the rest of my life in prison (maximum security prisons, too???)? And furthermore, would just 1 count have _lifelong_ consequences, even if I made it through the jail term? Are these worse or better than getting electrocuted? Just curiosity questions: I wasn't really planning on doing something dumb. Assuming for a minute you are being serious, I should be locked up for life probably then! Me too. Just call me Sparky. -- pcbldrNinetyEight |
#6
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Break the law by being a daredevil? (Curiosity questions only.)
"mike3" wrote in message ... Hi. Although I would not probably ever do this in reality at all due to the danger, I'd be curious as to know what would happen if one opened up a computer power supply unit. I've heard that one can get in trouble with the law doing this (unless one has the proper qualifications?). Is that right, and does this mean that even if I didn't get zapped, and did this enough times (say 10 counts of illegal opening of a power supply unit), I could spend the rest of my life in prison (maximum security prisons, too???)? And furthermore, would just 1 count have _lifelong_ consequences, even if I made it through the jail term? Are these worse or better than getting electrocuted? Just curiosity questions: I wasn't really planning on doing something dumb. I hope there is no death sentence involved. ;) |
#7
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Break the law by being a daredevil? (Curiosity questions only.)
It is not ILLEGAL to open a PSU, at least not in the USA. But it is UNWISE.
The power capacitors inside store a lethal quantity of electricity in them long after the PSU is unplugged, and so you can kill yourself. (I suppose killing yourself could be viewed as illegal...) -- --DaveW "mike3" wrote in message ... Hi. Although I would not probably ever do this in reality at all due to the danger, I'd be curious as to know what would happen if one opened up a computer power supply unit. I've heard that one can get in trouble with the law doing this (unless one has the proper qualifications?). Is that right, and does this mean that even if I didn't get zapped, and did this enough times (say 10 counts of illegal opening of a power supply unit), I could spend the rest of my life in prison (maximum security prisons, too???)? And furthermore, would just 1 count have _lifelong_ consequences, even if I made it through the jail term? Are these worse or better than getting electrocuted? Just curiosity questions: I wasn't really planning on doing something dumb. |
#8
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Break the law by being a daredevil? (Curiosity questions only.)
"DaveW" wrote in message . .. It is not ILLEGAL to open a PSU, at least not in the USA. But it is UNWISE. The power capacitors inside store a lethal quantity of electricity in them long after the PSU is unplugged, and so you can kill yourself. (I suppose killing yourself could be viewed as illegal...) Lethal? Maybe if you're wearing a ring and hanging onto a grounded point with your other hand. Otherwise I have to disagree. The voltage may be high but the total energy is unliikely to kill you unless you work hard at it. |
#9
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Break the law by being a daredevil? (Curiosity questions only.)
It is not ILLEGAL to open a PSU, at least not in the USA. But it is
UNWISE. The power capacitors inside store a lethal quantity of electricity in them long after the PSU is unplugged, and so you can kill yourself. (I suppose killing yourself could be viewed as illegal...) Lethal? Maybe if you're wearing a ring and hanging onto a grounded point with your other hand. Otherwise I have to disagree. The voltage may be high but the total energy is unliikely to kill you unless you work hard at it. If you open up the power supply for a CRT-based monitor or TV, the high voltages (can be over a thousand volts) on some pretty hefty capacitors can kill you even if it's unplugged. You still might need to be fairly stupid to get killed, like grounding yourself. But I think it is possible and has happened numerous times that someone can kill themselves by accident. And yes, I've survived getting zapped, not only with it unplugged, but with it plugged in and operating and sticking in probes to measure voltages. In older TVs, the power supply is not a separate part sealed in a metal box. The high voltages aren't all in the power supply, either. Use *one* hand and don't ground yourself. If you don't need it to have power while you are working on it, unplug it and let it sit for a while. Watch what you touch. And if you don't know what you are doing, don't try it. If you open up the power supply for a computer (motherboard, not CRT monitor), which typically outputs voltages like 5 and 12 volts, you're a lot safer. The *input* voltages are higher, but since they are AC, any capacitors on the input side won't have much stored charge after you unplug them. With it plugged in, there will be higher voltages present. It's not a real good idea to stick your fingers in a light socket, either. You don't worry about touching both ends of a battery when picking it up, do you? The voltages are low enough to not present a danger. Sticking your tongue on a 9-volt battery may be unpleasant, but it won't kill you. Connecting myself to a 12V car battery via jumper cables in the process of jump-starting another car doesn't even tingle if you have dry hands. (Warning: the ignition system has much higher voltages. Do not hold on to spark plug wires while cranking the engine). |
#10
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Break the law by being a daredevil? (Curiosity questions only.)
"Gordon Burditt" wrote in message ... It is not ILLEGAL to open a PSU, at least not in the USA. But it is UNWISE. The power capacitors inside store a lethal quantity of electricity in them long after the PSU is unplugged, and so you can kill yourself. (I suppose killing yourself could be viewed as illegal...) Lethal? Maybe if you're wearing a ring and hanging onto a grounded point with your other hand. Otherwise I have to disagree. The voltage may be high but the total energy is unliikely to kill you unless you work hard at it. If you open up the power supply for a CRT-based monitor or TV, the high voltages (can be over a thousand volts) on some pretty hefty capacitors can kill you even if it's unplugged. You still might need to be fairly stupid to get killed, like grounding yourself. But I think it is possible and has happened numerous times that someone can kill themselves by accident. Over the past 45+ years I have replaced many dozens of TV picture tubes i.e., CRTs, and have been zapped more than a couple of times (more in the beginning, fewer in the mid-years and none in the latter stages : ) It kicks like hell but far from killed me. I always removed my rings, etc. The voltages IIRC are in the range of 15,000 volts but the amperage is quite low. I wouldn't recommend that anybody mess around with such voltages but I've yet to hear of anybody being killed although under extreme circumstances I imagine one could -- ring on hand, bare feet in water, etc. Think TASER gun; I suspect the voltages and amperages are on the same order. Also the capacitors in a computer PSU are nowhere near the size of those in TV high voltage supplies. And yes, I've survived getting zapped, not only with it unplugged, but with it plugged in and operating and sticking in probes to measure voltages. In older TVs, the power supply is not a separate part sealed in a metal box. The high voltages aren't all in the power supply, either. Use *one* hand and don't ground yourself. If you don't need it to have power while you are working on it, unplug it and let it sit for a while. Watch what you touch. And if you don't know what you are doing, don't try it. If you open up the power supply for a computer (motherboard, not CRT monitor), which typically outputs voltages like 5 and 12 volts, you're a lot safer. The *input* voltages are higher, but since they are AC, any capacitors on the input side won't have much stored charge after you unplug them. With it plugged in, there will be higher voltages present. It's not a real good idea to stick your fingers in a light socket, either. You don't worry about touching both ends of a battery when picking it up, do you? The voltages are low enough to not present a danger. Sticking your tongue on a 9-volt battery may be unpleasant, but it won't kill you. Connecting myself to a 12V car battery via jumper cables in the process of jump-starting another car doesn't even tingle if you have dry hands. (Warning: the ignition system has much higher voltages. Do not hold on to spark plug wires while cranking the engine). |
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