16-year-old killed by unplugged PSU while fixing family PC - Polidicks

[release]SHAWNEE, KS (KCTV) - A 16-year-old Shawnee teen was electrocuted while working on his computer. The teen was discovered dead in his home on Aug. 16. An autopsy was performed, which revealed the teen had suffered an electrical burn after he accessed the power supply area of the computer. Further investigation revealed that the teen was working on a family computer, which was unplugged at the time, police said. Authorities believe the teen was stripping an older computer for parts. Authorities said the boy was proficient with computers, but his death underscores the dangers of working on computers if you aren't trained to do so. Police stressed this should be left to the professionals. Shawnee police said too many don't realize that computers carry a charge in them even when they are unplugged and broken. They urge everyone not to strip an old computer to build a new one. "There's a real danger if you don't know what you are doing," said Shawnee Capt. Dan Tennis. Dave Bradshaw, head technician for Skyline Computers, said too frequently people are shocked while working on computers and other electronics. "Older-style TVs with the big tubes, there's been a lot of people electrocuted by those," Bradshaw said. "They store a huge charge in them to get the TV tube to fire up." Microwaves, laptops, gaming consoles and other electronics have power storage areas that can shock people even when unplugged. Bradshaw said generally the electronics have strong warnings not to remove the cover and have the device serviced by an expert. "Too many things are inside that can actually get you hurt," Bradshaw said. "There's some ways that you can get shocked with any electrical device. But if you don't have any basic training, it makes no sense to go inside and do it." Power storage boxes are inexpensive to replace, Bradshaw said. "Why tear into it to replace it for $20? You're taking your life into your own hands," he said, adding it's a risk even he with all his experience won't take. Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.[/release] [url=http://www.kctv5.com/story/19767067/teen-electrocuted-while]Source: KCTV[/url]

What are you supposed to do safely take an old computer apart then?

Shocking.

He took apart the PSU.

[quote]But his death underscores the dangers of working on computers if you aren't trained to do so. Police stressed this should be left to the professionals. Shawnee police said too many don't realize that computers carry a charge in them even when they are unplugged and broken. They urge everyone not to strip an old computer to build a new one.[/quote] This is terrible advice. From what I can gather, he took the case off of the PSU, which it states not to do on the outside. There's no danger as long as you're smart about it.

Yes go pay professionals 200$ to screw stuff into slots, working on computers is way too dangerous unless you have a degree/certificate in it!!!

"Power storage boxes" Who even says that?

I don't think the officer they interviewed knows all that much about PC's.

What possesses someone to strip down a PSU? If you're at the point that you have to salvage individual parts from other power supplies, might be time to invest in a new one.

[QUOTE=KingPariah;37978825]What are you supposed to do safely take an old computer apart then?[/QUOTE] don't open the PSU

He touched the primaries. Idiot. I've worked on the power supplies in high-end supercomputers. The 150A on the +5v rail will seriously fuck.you.up.

He fucking took the case off the PSU. That's the number one thing you do not do. Not only is it common sense to not open something that has the power to emit such an electrical force, but it says it right on the goddamn part.

[QUOTE=SPESSMEHREN;37978812] Shawnee police said too many don't realize that computers carry a charge in them even when they are unplugged and broken. They urge everyone not to strip an old computer to build a new one. "There's a real danger if you don't know what you are doing," said Shawnee Capt. Dan Tennis. Dave Bradshaw, head technician for Skyline Computers, said too frequently people are shocked while working on computers and other electronics. [/QUOTE] Unplug psu, take out cmos. whoa holy shit no way! I love how they think you need a professional to take out a part. But like someone else pointed out, it sounds like he was taking the cover off the psu itself. That or maybe they mean he was taking it out of the computer case. I don't know, journalists are horrible at the actual writing part of their job it seems.

No fucking shit you shouldn't dig around in the inner parts of a Power Supply. That's like stripping a car battery, but with less acid involved.

Do they mean "disconnect the PSU" or actually "disassemble the PSU itself"? Like, opening it up and starting to remove parts from the inside? If its the latter, then all is explained. Kid had to be an idiot. Even actual professionals are scared shitless of messing with the interior of PSUs.

This police report sounds like it was sponsored by Geek Squad or something.

[IMG]http://www.toucanisland.com/images/no-user-parts-b.gif[/IMG] these are on every PSU i've seen, good job kid

I've opened the PSU before it was fine because after opening it I didn't shove my hand in there and flap it around.

[QUOTE=latin_geek;37978991][IMG]http://www.toucanisland.com/images/no-user-parts-b.gif[/IMG] these are on every PSU i've seen, good job kid[/QUOTE] well technically it doesn't say anything about it being dangerous it just says it's pointless to open

[QUOTE=MIPS;37978895]He touched the primaries. Idiot. I've worked on the power supplies in high-end supercomputers. The 150A on the +5v rail will seriously fuck.you.up.[/QUOTE] Wow what a badass, you sure showed that dead [b]kid[/b].

[QUOTE=koeniginator;37979006]well technically it doesn't say anything about it being dangerous it just says it's pointless to open[/QUOTE] It has a gigantic electric bolt on the left side

I don't like articles like this. It just strengthens the whole "You need a degree to do anything related to computers!" mentality that most of the public seems to have. The kid took apart the PSU, of course its gonna shock the shit out of him... You generally don't go poking around inside of those unless you [B]REALLY[/B] know what you're doing.

[QUOTE=koeniginator;37979006]well technically it doesn't say anything about it being dangerous it just says it's pointless to open[/QUOTE] The lightning bolt and exclamation point on the sides aren't enough? ninja'd

[QUOTE=koeniginator;37979006]well technically it doesn't say anything about it being dangerous it just says it's pointless to open[/QUOTE] there's also these but they aren't orange and have exclamation marks and frickin' lightning bolts [IMG]http://img.tomshardware.com/us/2006/05/29/from_treasures_to_trash/blackwidow-psu2.jpg[/IMG] watch as someone wants to change the design to [IMG]http://puu.sh/1dcGT[/IMG]

Its called natural selection

I once took apart a PSU (400w I think) when I was a kid and accidentally dropped a knife into it (back when I was young we just used whatever was on hand really). Zapped the ever-living fuck out of me, but no lasting damage was made. Nice to know how close I came though!

i would never trust going into an atx psu unless if i had gotten some serious education about electronics in a vocational school

[QUOTE=Ownederd;37979154]i would never trust going into an atx psu unless if i had gotten some serious education about electronics in a vocational school[/QUOTE] I don't touch PSUs with a ten feet pole and I got semi-serious education on electronics those things plan my demise at night

aren't you supposed to unplug it then press the power button to get rid of the charge

[QUOTE=SPESSMEHREN;37978812][release]SHAWNEE, KS (KCTV) - Police stressed this should be left to the professionals.[/QUOTE] My fist... through the monitor... Now I know the true meaning of hate.