The PC, like all electronic devices, needs electricity to operate, and in this case we connect the equipment directly to a wall socket (or to a power strip which, in turn, is plugged into it). If the socket is not in good condition, or what is not in good condition is the electrical installation in general, you should know that irreversible damage can be caused to the PC.
Check the outlet you plug your PC into.
We are no longer talking about power cuts, but about installations in poor condition that include outlets. An old installation, in poor condition for some reason, or which has undergone breakdowns and repairs, can cause intrinsic problems which, even if you do not notice them with the naked eye, could end up damaging the PC. For example, the installation may have frayed cables inside, that an automatic device does not have the necessary amperage for the cable section, that the earth connection has not been correctly installed or simply that the socket is half broken. All this is synonymous with problems.
Obviously, one of the first things to check is that the socket you are going to plug the PC into is physically in good condition… if you see that the plastic is half broken, that the socket is half unhooked and not well fixed at out of place or has charcoal in it somewhere, don’t plug your PC into it (or anything else, really), you should call an electrician (or do it yourself if you’re knowledgeable) and change this socket immediately.
Otherwise, it may cause electrical problems in the PC, such as short circuit, power surge or voltage drop, etc. that generally the power supply, if it is of good quality and has protections, will be able to attenuate so that nothing happens to the PC, but eventually the power supply itself could end up being damaged by this “constant suffering” due to a bad electrical installation.
What to do if the electrical installation is in poor condition?
It’s already more at a general level than just in the socket on which you plug the PC, but the ideal is to review and/or change all the electrical installation of your house. A review can do it for you completely free your home insurance (call and ask, as not all insurance covers this) if you suspect it is in poor condition, and they themselves will guide you on what work is needed and how much it will cost. In the end, we can tell you that changing the entire electrical installation of an apartment of around 100 square meters has a approximate cost of 2,000 dollars
In any case, a more immediate and less expensive solution consists in obtaining a power strip to connect the PC; These power strips have a protection system against short circuits and overvoltages, protecting your PC and its power supply, and also in the event of a “big” electrical problem, they usually have a safety fuse that breaks when this happens (and this fuse usually costs around 2 dollars in hardware stores, so it’s easy and cheap to change).
Not sure which protective tape to buy? Don’t worry, we recommend one below: the APC PL8VT3 Surge Shutdown. This power strip can be quite expensive compared to normal power strips, but we guarantee it’s the best option you can have (literally one waiter uses it for the PC for 15 years). Moreover, it is PLC-compatible (unlike normal power strips).
If your electrical installation is old or in poor condition, don’t hesitate any longer, this protective strip is life insurance for your PC.
