[mythtv-users] shocking hardware issue

[Gordon McLellan]

On Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 3:25 PM, Josh White <jaw1959 at gmail.com> wrote:
> I have little reason to believe there is a probelm with the ground wire (in
> the wall outlet), but could this be a first symptom of that, or perhaps an
> issue with the powerstrip it's plugged into?

It is odd that a static discharge to a presumably metal power button
would cause the machine to glitch (reset, reboot, whatever).  All the
metal cases I've worked with, the metal button pushes a plastic
plunger which pushes a micro-switch.  Perhaps it is just a weird
coincidence?  I have had a badly grounded outlet kill a power supply
before, but not a computer.

You can purchase a wiring tester from any hardware store, the simple
plug in three-light kind.  Alternately, you can probe the outlet with
a multimeter if you have one.  You should be seeing ~120v across the
outlet, ~120v from the smaller slot in the outlet to the ground hole
and 0v from the larger slot to the ground hole.  If you get readings
other than those, find an electrician.

-Gordon