Screwdriver tester

[Krinidon]

Normal or not?

 

I thought these tester screwdrivers light up on higher voltages, is it normal for them to light up by touching a powered external hdd usb cable (myBook, while its plugged to power) or its power plug directly? 

 

One day I had the PSU power cable off and felt electricity, the reason causing it was the external hdd which was powered and had its usb cable connected on my tower. I know that PSU acts like grounding (its screws aswell) but is it normal having those volts from the external hdd power cable being able to light up a tester screwdriver when touching the unplugged PSU or its screws?

[3EP]

The driver will test from 100 Volts to 250 Volts. And they aren't safe to use if you have exposed live parts...And wobbly hands.

If you have a faulty PSU and electricity wants to find ground it'll use your body first. Be careful.

PSU's discharge themselves even when unplugged.

[Krinidon]

If I unplug the external HDD and touch the PSU, or its screws, the screwdriver doesn't light up. When I plug the external HDD, it does. 

If you have a screwdriver, could you please touch a USB hub or a powered HDD cable or power chord and see if it does it?

[Krinidon]

I have to mention that all external HDDs or hubs, don't have a grounded Schuko plug, is it maybe a grounding issue?

[3EP]

Can I ask what is it you're exactly trying to do?

[Krinidon]

I own a Coolermaster Storm Scout case. The PSU is an 850w Silent Pro, again by Coolermaster. I found out that when plugging a POWERED HD on frontal USB huB, it causes sparks. Some devices, very rarely, f.e. on my 4TB MyBook I had to hit the metal part of the USB plug like 60 times to see a spark, my 3TB Intenso drive though, does it more easily (maybe more Amp or Volts?). So first, I was wondering if I had a grounding issue. I checked that the wall socket is grounded, mobo sits on its 9 metal bases, no cable is touching anything metal etc. So one day, while checking inside and  having the PSU power plug REMOVED, I felt slight electricity by touching the PSU. I thought, it still had some power stored so I pressed the case power button to discharge. I have to mention that I was barefoot and sitting of a non carpeted floor.

 

This, didn't stop it and by starting unplugging everything, I realized the reason was my external HDD, by WD which was connected on my tower. When I touch the USB connector on my WDD drive with the screwdriver, it goes on, same on its power cable so my first question was, if screwdrivers should light up by such slight voltage. So first of all I would like any of you to check, on his own external HDD, if a tester screwdriver lights up or not.

As I said, external HDDs or hubs, aren't grounded so by being connected on the PC, the PSU has to do the job. I have to figure out if the screwdriver lighting up is a grounding issue or a device like a external HDD, is capable of lighting it up.

[3EP]

10 minutes ago, Krinidon said:

I own a Coolermaster Storm Scout case. The PSU is an 850w Silent Pro, again by Coolermaster. I found out that when plugging a POWERED source on frontal USB hug, it causes sparks. Some, very rarely, my 4TB MyBook had to hit the metal part of the usb plug like 60 times to see a spark, my 3TB Intenso drive though, made it more easily. I was wondering if I had a grounding issue. I checked that the wall socket is grounded, mobo sits on its 9 metal bases, no cable is touching anything metal etc. So one day, while checking inside and  having the PSU power plug OFF, I felt slight electricity by touching the PSU. I thought, it still had some power stored so I pressed the case power button to discharge. 

 

This, didn't stop it and by starting unplugging everything, I realized the reason was my external HDD, by WD which was connected on my tower. When I touch the USB connector on my WDD drive with the screwdriver, it goes on, same on its power cable so my first question was, if screwdrivers should light up by such slight voltage. So first of all I would like any of you to check, on his own external HDD, if a tester screwdriver lights up or not.

It sounds like a grounding issue for sure, that or faulty USB ports.

Do you have metal radiators with copper piping? If they are grounded at the main electrical consumer board you can attach a copper wire to the PC chassis and attach it to the radiator or radiator piping.

In all fairness your mains plug should have a ground wire. I assume you have a 2 phase + ground electrical installation?

I would also get your PC checked for faults if sparks are coming from the USB. Sounds dangerous.

 

Are you 100% certain this isn't static from you clothing or carpet?

[3EP]

BTW I own a 2 wire HDD docking station, and no the cable doesn't light up with a test screwdriver next to the wire, might be faulty.

[Krinidon]

The sparks is barely visible and also, this PC works flawlessly 4 years now.

I have to mention again this though: the external HDD power supplies, aren't grounded so isn't it obvious that by touching it, its usb cable, its power plug (me, the screwdriver or tower) we act like a ground?

 

I have a single slot surge protector on the wall, then a brand new voltage regulator (had sparks with old one aswell) and then, a multi socket surge protector with a LED light which indicates, that the wall socket is GROUNDED. ==

 

 

[Krinidon]

If your power cable AIN'T a Shucko or grounded one, could you please touch the power cable end (while being plugged) and see if it still doesn't light up?

[3EP]

8 minutes ago, Krinidon said:

If your power cable AIN'T a Shucko or grounded one, could you please touch the power cable end (while being plugged) and see if it still doesn't light up?

All my power cables are grounded except my HDD docking station.

It's obvious there is a fault somewhere as you are being mildly electrocuted. A fault somewhere is causing electricity to discharge and it's using you as a path to the ground.

 

I have a small DAB radio that has a two wired DC connection. I get small shocks when I touch the ariel, so yes it's using me as a ground.....And it's faulty.

[zMeul]

that means your mains are not grounded

[3EP]

2 minutes ago, zMeul said:

that means your mains are not grounded

I was going to suggest he calls an Electrician if he's 100% sure his home has ground. I would also test the equipment at another power socket to see if the problem remains.

[Krinidon]

I have the impression this discussion is getting in a wrong way,

 

the only way to feel electricity / having the screwdriver lighting up (by touching my PSU screws), is by plugging a non grounded (2 wire) power device on my PC (in my case, external hard drives). If either my wall socket or PC weren't grounded, I would have experience the same, which I don't. Even with the PC powered on and playing, the screwdriver ain't lighting up, by touching the PSU.

 

In other words, its the external HDD's power supplies and the simple question is, if a 12volt power supply can light up a tester screwdriver either by touching the screwdriver on the USB cable or, the HDD power supply plug.

[3EP]

8 minutes ago, Krinidon said:

I have the impression this discussion is getting in a wrong way,

 

the only way to feel electricity / having the screwdriver lighting up (by touching my PSU screws), is by plugging a non grounded (2 wire) power device on my PC (in my case, external hard drives). If either my wall socket or PC weren't grounded, I would have experience the same, which I don't. 

 

In other words, its the external HDD's power supplies and the simple question is, if a 12volt power supply can light up a tester screwdriver.

Sorry, I was trying to divert you away from possible electrocution. I'm retired from the trade and know how painful it is.  

 

100% Yes. That screwdriver will light up under a 12V load.

 

Hope that helps.

[SCHISCHKA]

1 hour ago, Krinidon said:

I thought these tester screwdrivers light up on higher voltages, is it normal for them to light up by touching a powered external hdd usb cable (myBook, while its plugged to power) or its power plug directly? 

 

the light is intended as a safety device. it warns you if what you are working unexpectedly goes live. they can light up with only 12V. They are not meant as a measurement tool, its just indicating you need bust out the multimeter

[SydneySideSteveSomewheres]

If the HDD is using power supplied by the Coolermaster 850w Silent Pro, your wall socket (home) is grounded and the cable from the wall to the PSU is not faulty. The tester as @3EP said will show a 12-volt power source, but generally, this is not a current that you can feel. For example touching both the positive and negative terminals on a car battery will not give you a shock. A leaking capacitor on the PSU where it steps down the voltage-current (from the walls 240V or 110V) inside a faulty PSU can kill you if actually touch it, so if possible change out the power cord for a new one.

 

If you have a local computer shop they may check your PSU for free if you take it to them and you buy the power cord from them?

I think it would be bad @Krinidon if your next post was about how this or that component got fried by a shitton of electricity!

[Krinidon]

Its a Western Digital MyBook and an Intenso external HDD, they have their own power supply which is 2 wire non grounded. Please re-read my posts!

 

[SydneySideSteveSomewheres]

2 hours ago, Krinidon said:

I own a Coolermaster Storm Scout case. The PSU is an 850w Silent Pro, again by Coolermaster. I found out that when plugging a POWERED source on frontal USB hug, it causes sparks. Some devices, very rarely, f.e. on y 4TB MyBook had to hit the metal part of the usb plug like 60 times to see a spark,

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Yes, I did do that "I found out that when plugging a POWERED source on frontal USB" something ?hugs? which "causes sparks" was where my apparently unwanted advice is aimed i.e. a POWERERED source on the frontal USB of the Coolermaster Storm Scout case you own, powered by the Coolermaster 850w Silent Pro. 

 

If you want to ask questions on the forum and do not like the response because you think does not relate, then your message should have been clearer initially. As this following section shows "f.e. on y 4TB" perhaps you would do an edit, please?

[Krinidon]

17 minutes ago, SydneySideSteveSomewheres said:

Yes, I did do that "I found out that when plugging a POWERED source on frontal USB" something ?hugs? which "causes sparks" was where my apparently unwanted advice is aimed i.e. a POWERERED source on the frontal USB of the Coolermaster Storm Scout case you own.

 

If you want to ask questions on the forum and do not like the response because you think does not relate, then your message should have been clearer initially. As this following section shows "f.e. on y 4TB" perhaps you would do an edit, please?

I don't know how you got the impression that I "don't like" your response nor that although not properly written (English is not my native language), just because I added a "!" you should be offended or something.  Its obvious though that "powered source" and "MyBook" - "USB" point to a device which ain't powered by the internal Coolermaster PSU. No offence, all is fine.
 

I got an answer on one of my primal questions, if a screwdriver can be light up with 12V and second question is, if a 2 wire (non Schuko) power supply of an external HDD, although plugged in a grounded socket, means its 12 volts are "ungrounded" and that's why I get my screwdriver getting light up on the unplugged PSU (since PSU serves as a ground on a case).

[SCHISCHKA]

9 hours ago, Krinidon said:

I got an answer on one of my primal questions, if a screwdriver can be light up with 12V and second question is, if a 2 wire (non Schuko) power supply of an external HDD, although plugged in a grounded socket, means its 12 volts are "ungrounded" and that's why I get my screwdriver getting light up on the unplugged PSU (since PSU serves as a ground on a case).

i dont know what you know about electricity, I dont want to be condescending but i just want to make this clear. those neon screw drivers work by completing a circuit between the live conductor and you. power flows from the tip, through the neon, then through you. What you are seeing is a voltage difference between you(earth) and the component. It really doesn't mean anything unless you measure with a multimeter. You said it lights up when you unplug the PSU, that could be caused by the remaining charge in capacitors and other components in the PSU. I have no idea why it would light up when you touch the screws. If the screws are in plastic that is really interesting. I have seen weird stuff where a new house earth wire was failing safety checks after installation but passed a few hours later because somehow it built up a charge in storage

[Krinidon]

We opened the wall socket, its grounded. By discussing it with 2 people, an electrician and my brother who repairs electronics (and came at my place, checked the wall socket aswell and used a polymeter in various places) we ended up in some conclusions which is the following:

 

The external HDD power supplies (of all my hard drives) don't have a grounded socket and provide their 12 volts. If the PSU plug is off, there is practically no grounding and since the PSU is the only "way out" (its grounding cable), I felt those 12 volts on the PSU fan grill, or screws (which are metal) by acting as a ground since I was barefoot. That's why the screwdriver light up (and its confirmed that it does, even at 12 volts). 

 

The next thing I wondered, was how is it possible to feel those 12 volts since the PSU plug was off but the HDD power supply was connected on a multi surge socket protector and after that, to a voltage regulator who has its switch to OFF. The explanation to that was that the voltage regulator switch, cuts the power from the wall socket but, has enough power stored to have external HDD working for a while (how long, don't know or wait).