How Can You Tell If You Have Dirty Electricity

[The_Man]

Like the title says, I am wondering how I can tell if I have dirty/bad electricity. Recently my iPod sort of messed up by having trouble turning on and holding a charge. My electric toothbrush got messed up as well. I charged these things in the same outlet and am wondering if I should aboid this one.
Does bad electricity spread throughout a house, or does it restrict itself to one area?

Thanks

(BTW, I searched for this topic and couldnt find adirect answer)

 

[mpw]

Like the title says, I am wondering how I can tell if I have dirty/bad electricity. Recently my iPod sort of messed up by having trouble turning on and holding a charge. My electric toothbrush got messed up as well. I charged these things in the same outlet and am wondering if I should aboid this one.
Does bad electricity spread throughout a house, or does it restrict itself to one area?...

Are you talking about power spikes and surges or some form of bad b-movie electricity trying to take over the world!

 

[dermeister]

Are you talking about power spikes and surges or some form of bad b-movie electricity trying to take over the world!

He's talking about evil electrons, they always wreck havoc.

 

[Chaszmyr]

As I understand it, dirty electricity is not what you think it is. I believe the phrase "dirty electricity" refers to a variety of pollutants, especially electromagnetic radiation, but also more traditional forms of pollution, that come from the production and mass distribution of electricity.

That being said, it's possible that you have frequent power spikes and such, and I have no idea how you would test for such things, or if it would be feasible to do so.

 

[Sun Baked]

Dirty power is just a catchphrase for a variety of power problems.

Miswired sockets, noisy power, overvolt, undervolt.

Besides power problems from outside the house (industrial area on the same line as you), the socket could be overloaded or you have a motor or fluorescent light on the same circuit.

Could also be something as simple as a bad ground.

There are quite a few cases where things won't get a full warranty unless you run a isolated circuit with it's own ground to the equipment -- some phone systems and copiers.

 

[mpw]

....it's possible that you have frequent power spikes and such, and I have no idea how you would test for such things, or if it would be feasible to do so.

Damn those evil electrons!

I'm pretty sure that the UPS set-up where I work has a log that shows where power has surged or dropped from the mains.

 

[The_Man]

Is there any type of electrical problems that could interfere with charging/holding of electricty? And how can these possible problems be fixed?

 

[persianpunisher]

He's talking about evil electrons, they always wreck havoc.

THOSE BASTARDS!

 

[Lacero]

There could be a dirty joke somewhere in this thread. Too lazy to come up with one right now. Got a project due that'll make me stay up for 36 hours straight.

 

[mpw]

There could be a dirty joke somewhere in this thread. ... that'll make me stay up for 36 hours straight.

Question and answer in your own post.