Is it safe to plug my setup in through a cheater plug?

[waterjug]

So I moved my setup desk across the room, rearranging things a bit, but after I moved it, and everything else, I realized the outlet that by my desk is a 2 prong un-grounded outlet. I have a cheater plug that I can use, but this powerstrip has everything plugged into it, from PC to speakers. I don't know if it's safe to use the cheater plug with so much stuff plugged into it. My other option is to use an extension cord going to the single 3 prong outlet upstairs in the hallway. Or I could move my desk and everything else back to where it was, but I don't want to do that, because that would mean a whole nother hassle, and the powerstrip cord used to goi out my door into the hallway, which is one of the reasons I moved it. Any thoughts?

[NoRomanBatmansAllowed]

It's always safe until it isn't.

 

[r4tch3t]

It will be fine, unless something breaks and then your PC will be live at 240v and may still work... Until you touch it.

Any chance of getting the outlets upgraded?

[flibberdipper]

It's considerably less than ideal, but it'll probably work. I had an older PC that'd give you a nice little tingly-buzz if you touched the metal part of the case.

[waterjug]

2 minutes ago, bob51zhang said:

It's always safe until it isn't.

 

well I just don't want my expensive pc plugged into it, ya know? like i'd be ok if my laptop was plugged in to it.

[Prox1ma]

4 minutes ago, wii8cookies said:

So I moved my setup desk across the room, rearranging things a bit, but after I moved it, and everything else, I realized the outlet that by my desk is a 2 prong un-grounded outlet. I have a cheater plug that I can use, but this powerstrip has everything plugged into it, from PC to speakers. I don't know if it's safe to use the cheater plug with so much stuff plugged into it. My other option is to use an extension cord going to the single 3 prong outlet upstairs in the hallway. Or I could move my desk and everything else back to where it was, but I don't want to do that, because that would mean a whole nother hassle, and the powerstrip cord used to goi out my door into the hallway, which is one of the reasons I moved it. Any thoughts?

If the power strip & plug can handle it, shouldn't be a problem, by the way do you run the power strip directly from the wall outlet? It would be better to run it through a UPS and use your PC power cable with the cheater plug as the master and the power strip as a slave.

[waterjug]

7 minutes ago, Ezilkannan said:

If the power strip & plug can handle it, shouldn't be a problem, by the way do you run the power strip directly from the wall outlet? It would be better to run it through a UPS and use your PC power cable with the cheater plug as the master and the power strip as a slave.

nah i don't have a ups

[Prox1ma]

Just now, wii8cookies said:

nah i don't have a ups

but you have alternative power backup? If not you should probably get one. UPS with surge protection will help out a lot.

[mariushm]

You should always plug the computer into a grounded outlet. The monitor may also benefit from being plugged in a grounded outlet.

 

It's not only about safety against electric shocks but also about the electronics radiating (producing) less noise which could affect things around your computer (for example you may hear buzzing or higher background noise in your speakers).

Switching power supplies (like the ones that power your PC and your monitor) rely on the ground lead to dump "unwanted stuff" into the ground reducing noise and other things. It also reduces the risk of getting "zapped" if you touch the metal case with your fingers - it's perfectly acceptable to feel some tingle or even some sparks when you touch metal parts of your case but if the power supply is good quality, those sparks/tingles aren't at dangerous levels and having the case grounded through the power supply cable reduces that effect.

[smashman2000]

What my suggestion is to replace the 2-prong outlet with a standard 3 prong outlet.  

[wONKEyeYEs]

1 minute ago, smashman2000 said:

What my suggestion is to replace the 2-prong outlet with a standard 3 prong outlet.  

 

[wONKEyeYEs]

If you pull the two prong/wire plug out and put in a 3 prong/wire plug

you need that 3rd wire, usually green, which is the ground which a PC needs.

It's there for a good reason.

[smashman2000]

I do this a lot and there should be a metal holder to screw the outlet in place. I attach the ground wire to the screw that holds the outlet in.