> Thanks for replying, Marc and Garth -- I have been unable to read
> messages until I finally came back to work today (because of the
> wiring problems which make my own computer/keyboard/mouse put out a
> high electric field, I have not been plugging it in). I'll try to get
> time "between work" to write some.
>
> My computer does have a 3-prong cord -- it is the house wiring (1910-
> built
> house) that is screwed up and so nothing is ever actually grounded,
> apparently. Outlet testers show a variety of results from different
> receptacles in the house, but this appears to be meaningless since
> when I tried plugging a long grounded orange
> extension cord in to other places in the house that were
> supposedly "ok", I still got the high electric field from the
> entire computer and any peripherals plugged into it. Same thing from
> anything else in the house as well as the metal plumbing
> fixtures (not so wide a field though). I have 2 outlet testers, and
> some outlets show contradictory results on one or the other tester.
> So I am staying away from
> anything plugged in, as well as some walls that put out a high
> electric field for 4-5 feet, and some ceilings when the lights are
> switched on (crawling on the floor is okay). I turn on the water
> with a rubber spatula. What a hilarious sitcom this would make.
>
> QUESTION: I don't suppose it would work to attach a grounding wire to
> a metal screw on the backplate of the computer and take that out the
> window to a grounding rod? Seems unlikely because it would still be
> attached to the rest of the ungrounded system, right?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --- In [hidden email], Garth Hitchens <garth@...> wrote:
>>
>> Agreed. It is not neccesary to have high electric fields from
> the
>> keyboard/mouse, especially if you are using a desktop computer.
>> Grounding your computer case should cure the problem completely.
> If
>> your computer has a 3 prong (grounded) plug, it should be already
>> grounded, so there could be a problem with the grounding in the
>> outlet or the grounding inside the computer. If your computer
> only
>> has a 2 prong plug (rare for a desktop), I would suggest running a
>> grounding wire from a metal screw on the computer case to a known
>> electrical ground (sometimes the center screw of the outlet cover
>> works well). Also, with a 2 prong plug, you might try first in
> the
>> computer "the other way" an see if that helps.
>>
>> I had/still have some problems because laptops are usually not
>> connected through 3 prong plugs, and therefore often have high
> stray
>> electric fields, whereas desktop computers usually are grounded
> and
>> don't usually have those stray electric fields.
>>
>> Garth
>>
>> On Feb 16, 2007, at 9:46 AM, Marc Martin wrote:
>>
>>>> It appears that anything plugged into the computer, including
>>>> headphones, mic, etc. all carry the field full-strength,
> including
>>>> along the entire length of the cable.
>>>
>>> Hmmm, could be an electrical problem with the outlet the computer
>>> is plugged into? Like it is not properly grounded. You could
>>> buy an inexpensive outlet tester to see if it is wired correctly.
>>>
>>> Generally, people here don't seem to worry much about their
>>> mouse and keyboard. Although, with wireless versions becoming
>>> more popular, perhaps they will...
>>>
>>> (me, I've got an old-fashioned wired keyboard and a wired
>>> "ball" mouse)
>>>
>>> Marc
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------
> ~-->
> Something is new at Yahoo! Groups. Check out the enhanced email
> design.
> http://us.click.yahoo.com/kOt0.A/gOaOAA/yQLSAA/H9SolB/TM
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> ~->
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups - Join or create groups, clubs, forums &amp;
> communities. Links
>
>
>
>