Originally Posted by
frankie31337
First off let me address the computer side of the issue. Basically 3 computers motherboards/cpu's have burned out, all 3 computers have the same problem. Won't boot off the hard drive / BIOS can't recognize the equipment. The chances of the same thing happening to all 3 computers would be the equivalent of winning the lottery. Even if I managed to break all 3 computers they wouldn't all be broken the same way and with the same problem.
I agree, it doesn't seem that it can be a coincidence. However, electrical damage to computers would probably
not lead to the same problem, even if they were the same make and model.
Originally Posted by
frankie31337
So as far as I can see the only possible other problem points to the electricity. I don't know if you know anything about computers but you're welcome to jump in. If you do formatting and reinstalling windows on the harddrives is no use all 3 computers still refused to boot off the hard drives afterwards..
Correct.
Now, having said that, I have encountered a very few homes where the voltage is too high - say 130 volts. Light bulbs don't burn out immediately, but they do burn out prematurely - and other electronic devices can also be damaged by high voltage. But this is extremely rare and it's not possible that you dad could cause this. It has to be a problem with the last transformer that the power goes through before reaching your home.
[QUOTE=frankie31337;1614890]
And I have had a light plugged into the outlet for 2 days and the damn thing hasn't burnt out yet. Ok so just out of curiosity how would you wire the outlet for 240 volts? Right now the outlet has a wire on each side of it. Each wire has a hot, neutral and ground. The grounds are twisted together and stuck on a screw. The neutrals are on the correct side, and the two hot wires are connected to screws also on the correct side of the outlet. Now assuming the problem is definintly the electricity, and just for now to say that the problem isn't too much voltage.
[QUOTE]
You have a black (line) and a neutral coming into the box. The ground wire isn't going to affect the situation. That line only comes into play if you have a fault (a short between the line and the ground). The purpose of the ground wire is to force the circuit breaker to trip in the event of a fault. Back in the circuit panel (fuse box), the white neutral wire should be connected to the "neutral block", a bank of common connections. The black wire should be connected to a breaker or a fuse. In order to put 240 volts into the outlet, the neutral would have to be connected to a breaker -- and it would have to be a breaker connected to the
opposite line phase. If it were connected to the same phase as the black wire, no current would flow and lamps, etc. wouldn't turn on.
[QUOTE=frankie31337;1614890]
Is there a possibility of the equipment frying from too little voltage?
[QUOTE]
Motors can burn out from having insufficient voltage to turn the motor. Lack of cooling, primarily. Light bulbs will glow more dimly, but they'll last forever. Computer power supplies, won't supply the proper voltage, but it probably won't burn anything out. It simply won't work.
[QUOTE=frankie31337;1614890]
There is a voltage switch on the back of the computer and its set to 115. But I'd like to say on the outlet I said had a wire coming from each side of it right? Well the wire coming from the right side of the outlet that entire wall is very close to the kitchen and every big electrical appliance in the house is there. I mean washer, dryer, garbage disposal, microwave, stove oven. Everything. Could this be related?
[QUOTE]
You might
possibly be on to something here. When large motors start, there can be voltage spikes on the power line. I can't rule out the
possibility that a voltage spike damaged your equipment. Usually power strips are equipped with
varistors to cut off the tops of voltage spikes to protect your equipment. That usually fixes these types of problems.
[QUOTE=frankie31337;1614890]
Ok now one more thing about the gauge and breakers. I could swear I saw 14 gauge wire in the wall. I asked my dad and he says He used 12 gauge wire on a 15 amp breaker. Could this be a problem?
[QUOTE]
You can use 12 gauge wire on a 15 amp breaker. It's not common, but it can be done. Normally 14 gauge wire is used on 15 amp circuits and 12 gauge wire (heavier than 14 gauge wire) is used on 20 amp circuits. If you use 14 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit, it's not going to damage your equipment. It's a
code violation. The National Electric Code specifies the minimum size conductor to use. If you used something smaller, there's a small chance that the wire could overheat and cause a fire. That's the reason for the wire specifications.
Originally Posted by
frankie31337
I'm really lost now man because if you are making it almost certain that only 120 volts or less is coming out of my outlet. If this is true than what else could be the problem? The only electrical related problem that could be left would be too little voltage coming out of the outlet. Is this right? Could that cause my hardware to burnout?
I can't see how it could damage your equipment. The only thing I can think of is a line spike. Get a good surge protector.