More of a power/ground question on my MacMini & desk setup

[The.316]

I have my Mac Mini plugged in to a surge protector, with a few other things plugged in to it, which gets plugged into my wall. The things plugged into the surge protector, is 2 monitors, my Mac mini, a soundbar, and my work laptop.


When I am sitting at my desk, and touching the floor barefoot, when I rub the aluminum body of the Mac Mini, I can feel a small current. When I take my feet off the ground, I do not have the feel of the current.

I have the soundbar connected to my Mac Mini with a 2.5 or 3.5mm jack(whichever it is), and when i disco the cable from my Mac Mini, I get heavy static sound on the soundbar, like current is running through that as well.

Would it be a ground issue with the plug from the wall, or would it be a bad surge protector? Something else.

I had this issue a few years ago in my other room. I would have my iMac connected with other devices, and I would kind of feel the current on the iMac when rubbing the aluminum. Even when I plugged in some studio speakers I had, you can see the 2.5mm jack have a small current when touch the input on the iMac.

 

[Fishrrman]

Get one of these:

Klein Tools Receptacle Tester RT110 - The Home Depot

Klein Tools Outlet Tester detects the most common wiring problems in standard receptacles. Offers everlasting durability.

www.homedepot.com

... and check both your power strip AND the outlet into which it's plugged.

 

[The.316]

Get one of these:

Klein Tools Receptacle Tester RT110 - The Home Depot

Klein Tools Outlet Tester detects the most common wiring problems in standard receptacles. Offers everlasting durability.

www.homedepot.com

... and check both your power strip AND the outlet into which it's plugged.

I actually have one of those. I will try that later.

Thanks!

 

[Thirio2]

If you have had this problem in two different rooms I would suggest having a competent electrician check your house circuits and grounding. I emphasize competent because I once lived in a house supposedly built by union contractors that had two major wiring issues that I found more or less by accident. They should check that your earth ground actually goes to earth. I have never had this problem but I knew people who did.

 

[Chuckeee]

This could be an electrical issue, not a specific computer issue. For US, many electronics (including M2 Mac mini) use a 2 prong plug that that has power and return/neutral. Ideally retun/neutral should be at the same level as local ground but it does not have to be! If this is the case, then you need an electrician (do NOT attempt to simply attach the return/neutral line to ground).

This can get complicated if some of your desktop electronics have 3prong plugs (like the mac studio). Where the 3rd prong is supposed to be local ground.

A simple workaround is to insert an ups/surge protector (not just a simple surge protector) between the wall socket and a power strip attached to all of your desktop electronics.

 

[The.316]

This could be an electrical issue, not a specific computer issue. For US, many electronics (including M2 Mac mini) use a 2 prong plug that that has power and return/neutral. Ideally retun/neutral should be at the same level as local ground but it does not have to be! If this is the case, then you need an electrician (do NOT attempt to simply attach the return/neutral line to ground).

This can get complicated if some of your desktop electronics have 3prong plugs (like the mac studio). Where the 3rd prong is supposed to be local ground.

A simple workaround is to insert an ups/surge protector (not just a simple surge protector) between the wall socket and a power strip attached to all of your desktop electronics.

Here in Greece, we use 220v, the round plugs. I just recently went through rewiring my place, but this was happening on another outlet in my bedroom, years before too. An electrician I know said maybe its the power adapter in the Mac Mini, or my previous iMac, that was causing the issue. But these machines are able to use power 110-240v, so I do not believe that is the issue.

I am in the process of building a new desk, one that has the automated up/down functionality. I will change the wall outlet, and use a different surge protector as well, and see if the problem continues.