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Boblobla · 06-25-2009, 06:47 PM

I just hooked up my PC after my move and when I try and turn it on it beeps once (I think) and then I trip the breaker. Anyone have any ideas what this could be? Power supply? I can post more info if it is required.

Thanks in advance.

Galakanokis · 06-25-2009, 06:51 PM

Have you reseated the cards and connectors inside already?

Boblobla · 06-25-2009, 06:57 PM

no, does reaseated mean make sure they are properly hooked up?

and it isn't one beep, it is a double beep twice

Bobblehead · 06-25-2009, 07:04 PM

Something has shaken loose.

You'll need to open it up and make sure the cards are all firmly in their slots and all the cables are still hooked up correctly.

The beeps you hear are part of the Power On Self Test (POST) just letting you know something isn't right. Some motherboards give a specific sequence of beeps depending upon the problem, others have a few LEDs. But there is no standard and you need the motherboard manual to know what the beeps mean.

But since you just moved, a card or connection is probably loose.

ricosuave · 06-25-2009, 07:06 PM

also try powering the comp from a different outlet

Boblobla · 06-25-2009, 07:21 PM

A loose connection will blow a breaker?

sclitheroe · 06-25-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boblobla

A loose connection will blow a breaker?

If its an outlet in a bedroom, on a fairly recent home, it will have a spark detect breaker that can trip from loose or dodgy connections. They don't necessarily trip right away like a GFI either.

But the POST beeps also indicate a problem, unrelated to the outlet, to be sure.

Boblobla · 06-25-2009, 07:29 PM

Alright, my problem just got a lot more expensive I think...

The computer starts up, with no beeps, in the bathroom. I have discovered that all 3 upstairs bedrooms are on the same breaker. I unplugged everything other than my PC and it still tripped the breaker.

ricosuave · 06-25-2009, 07:37 PM

sounds like youve got to open up the comp and check it out

Cliche · 06-25-2009, 07:47 PM

Could be the power supply is your problem. When I last replaced the PSU, all the magic smoke came out of the capicitors in the PSU. Also check for shorted circuits, IE:molex contacting the metal frame of the comp.

Raekwon · 06-26-2009, 10:29 AM

Pulled off a website regarding the sensitivity of arc fault breakers.

"It could well be the heat, and the Arc Fault module

may have little to do with your problem.

Breakers in general operate on thermal/magnetic

trip sensors, (the Arc Fault sensor is designed to

recognize a high resistance arcing fault such as

those commonly associated with extention cord fires

by its electronic 'signature').

The thermal portion of the trip sensor is for overloads.

If that panel is being externally heated, the breakers may

well trip at lower than rated currents.

I'd suggest shading that panel.

Don't restrict air circulation though."

This is a complete guess but try running the computer through a UPS.

sclitheroe · 06-27-2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raekwon

Pulled off a website regarding the sensitivity of arc fault breakers.

"It could well be the heat, and the Arc Fault module

may have little to do with your problem.

Breakers in general operate on thermal/magnetic

trip sensors, (the Arc Fault sensor is designed to

recognize a high resistance arcing fault such as

those commonly associated with extention cord fires

by its electronic 'signature').

The thermal portion of the trip sensor is for overloads.

If that panel is being externally heated, the breakers may

well trip at lower than rated currents.

I'd suggest shading that panel.

Don't restrict air circulation though."

This is a complete guess but try running the computer through a UPS.

In my experience with the arc fault breakers and the laser printer I had that would trip it, an electrician showed me a trick. It can actually happen because the hot wire is too close to the grounded receptacle box (I believe that was his explanation). He shut the breaker off, pulled the receptacle out of the box, neatly fed the wires back in, and the problem was solved. Someone with more electrical background than me can probably explain why that happens, but in my case, simply removing (not disconnecting) the plug and then neatly reinstalling it in the receptacle box was all it took, and the circuit on that breaker has been flawless ever since.

Also - the bathroom outlet is a GFI, so if in fact there was a ground fault (short circuit) in your PC at the power supply level, the GFI would have tripped right away. If the machine POSTS (gets to the BIOS screen) without beeps in the bathroom, there's probably nothing wrong with the PC.

Boblobla · 06-28-2009, 12:25 PM

It was my fans that were tripping the breaker. I swapped the breaker and everything is working fine.

Bobblehead · 06-28-2009, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boblobla

It was my fans that were tripping the breaker. I swapped the breaker and everything is working fine.

Does it look like this?

Boblobla · 06-29-2009, 09:16 AM

HA, it does not, but I do have about 8 fans running in my case. The electrician I talked to said it is the way some of the windings in the fan are done and it creates what appears to the breaker as a brief short circuit.

Bobblehead · 06-29-2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boblobla

HA, it does not, but I do have about 8 fans running in my case. The electrician I talked to said it is the way some of the windings in the fan are done and it creates what appears to the breaker as a brief short circuit.

8? So it is more a system like this one: