Strange PSU issue

[Froody129]

Hi all,

 

I have my PC plugged into th socket in my room upstairs. For a long time it would start buzzing randomly and I didn't know why. It turns out that if you turn on the lights in the living room then my PSU will start to buzz (the lights always buzz). I'm thinking it's destabilising the voltage in the circuit? Anyone know why this is happening? And more importantly any way to fix it?

[stefanDB]

judging by the fact that it only happens when you turn on those lights I think that the problem could lay in your house and not the PC. it coud also just be coil whine, wich is annoying but not dangerous. 

[You_are_a_cunt]

It's most likely fluctuations in the mains network.

I'd recommend a voltage stabilizer or a UPS (which should have built in protection).

 

Same thing happens to my mom's PC and monitor. So far no PCs were harmed, but one of the monitors she had crapped itself. Could be unrelated, though

[Doramius]

Doesn't sound unsafe, but not unreasonable to have an electrician look at the home wiring.  Might even be advisable to have an Uninterruptible Power Supply or Battery Backup, as most are isolated AC units and properly filter the voltage to prevent any potential issues with your system.  Again, doesn't sound like a serious issue, but if it gets on your nerves, the UPS should alleviate it.

[Iggledude]

I agree with some of the others.  Doesn't sound like PSU problem, but more of a house wiring problem.

 

I would suggest a UPS and a high end surge protector.

 

And maybe seeing if those lights and your PSU are on the same circuit in the home's main load center box -- may be outside or inside home.  If so, you may wanna change your PSU plug in spot in your home and get onto a whole other circuit/breaker -- different plug receptacle.

[Froody129]

1 hour ago, Iggledude said:

I agree with some of the others.  Doesn't sound like PSU problem, but more of a house wiring problem.

 

I would suggest a UPS and a high end surge protector.

 

And maybe seeing if those lights and your PSU are on the same circuit in the home's main load center box -- may be outside or inside home.  If so, you may wanna change your PSU plug in spot in your home and get onto a whole other circuit/breaker -- different plug receptacle.

I really don't want to move my PC since it's in my room and I spent a bunch of time setting up speakers and such and don't have another room. 

 

Thanks @Iggledude, @Doramius, @CUDA_Cores, @stefanDB, @revsilverspine

 

So if I wanted to clean the power I would use a UPS obviously, but one that will be near the capacity of my PSU is pretty expensive for my small budget. I saw some power cleaners a while ago made for audiophile systems that don't cost so much. Will they work? 

[Doramius]

What is the wattage of your PSU?  I can understand trying to keep the cost down, but UPS usually aren't too expensive.  Considering a 1200VA Voltage Regulator is about $50 USD, and a 1200VA UPS is around $150 USD.  I feel the extra cost is worth it, but the additional $100 can be tight for anyone.

[Froody129]

10 minutes ago, Doramius said:

What is the wattage of your PSU?  I can understand trying to keep the cost down, but UPS usually aren't too expensive.  Considering a 1200VA Voltage Regulator is about $50 USD, and a 1200VA UPS is around $150 USD.  I feel the extra cost is worth it, but the additional $100 can be tight for anyone.

It's a 700w (VP-700P) which I'm not using to near its full capacity but I would prefer to have the headroom. Do you know if the power cleaners I mentioned earlier would work?

[Doramius]

They do filter the voltage to keep it clean and it "should" reduce or remove the buzz.  However, it is not an independently isolated AC circuit with filter as a UPS would be.  It's just an inline filter of the voltage.  Being that it is supposed to be clean voltage, there should not be a buzz.  

 

Here's a link to a voltage regulator, though: https://www.amazon.com/APC-LE1200-Automatic-Voltage-Regulator/dp/B00009RA60