Metal tip of power cable is melting

[appleseedcarrot]

The metel part of the power cable (psu to outlet) on my computer is melting.

I've always have used an outlet extender and connecting the computer to that would always melt the tip of the outlet extender (Had to throw two outlet extenders away because their tip had melted and stopped working, the outlet extenders were some cheap ones found in target).

To solve this, I just unplugged all the computer cable when i wasn't using the computer. However I recently just moved desks and the outlet is more unaccessible.

Is there any solve to this problem? My main guess is because the psu is 1200w, which is melting the cheap outlet extenders (and the cable itself).

[_I_]

get a better quality extension or power strip
one rated for over 10a (v x a = w, 120v x 10a = 1200w)

[appleseedcarrot]

Publicado originalmente por _I_:

get a better quality extension or power strip
one rated for over 10a (v x a = w, 120v x 10a = 1200w)

Ok, thanks! I will try and get one as soon as possible.

[appleseedcarrot]

Publicado originalmente por _I_:

get a better quality extension or power strip
one rated for over 10a (v x a = w, 120v x 10a = 1200w)

another question, what would you say is the optimal price for a quality power strip?

[Talby]

I would recommend a surge protecting power strip with at least 1000J rating - this one I got recently for my parents house

https://www.homedepot.com/p/6-Outlet-Wall-Mount-Surge-Protector-White-YLCT-30/203353681

Gives you 1200J surge protection for $9

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

Do you actually need 1200W PSU? I cant really imagine modern PC needing much over 750W unless you have some ancient beast with three-way SLI GTX Titans. Most modern configurations draw around 500-550W max even with high-end graphics cards.
Not all 1200W PSUs are good quality ones as well.

[upcoast]

Lol, melting tips sounds a little fishy I'd look into that closer.

Food for thought, has someone put a beefier breaker on that receptacle.

[Malygos]

Im guessing the psu is bad and overvolting melting it or theres a short at the outlet doing it. Easy to check if its the outlet if you have any kind of meter atleast. If you’re in the us outlets are rated at 15A or 20A for wall outlets 15x120= 1800w 20x120=2400

Id see what the psu is pulling i cannot imagine you are pulling 1200w again unless the psu is bad but nec code(im licensed) tells us wall outlets shouldnt be at more than 80% load so if you are pulling around 1200w its pushing it and under sustained load can degrade etc.

Get a meter see what the psu is pulling and id go as far as to check your outlet wiring just in case i see people every day that use the wrong(also should never pass inspection) wiring that ends up burning up and causing issues with whatever is plugged into it not too mention fire hazard

[_I_]

could also be a chap psu ac cable
if its not rated for 10+a its not the one that came with the psu

[appleseedcarrot]

Publicado originalmente por Talby:

I would recommend a surge protecting power strip with at least 1000J rating - this one I got recently for my parents house

https://www.homedepot.com/p/6-Outlet-Wall-Mount-Surge-Protector-White-YLCT-30/203353681

Gives you 1200J surge protection for $9

Thanks for the suggestion, I will check it out

[appleseedcarrot]

Publicado originalmente por Rumpelcrutchskin:

Do you actually need 1200W PSU? I cant really imagine modern PC needing much over 750W unless you have some ancient beast with three-way SLI GTX Titans. Most modern configurations draw around 500-550W max even with high-end graphics cards.
Not all 1200W PSUs are good quality ones as well.

Some dude gave me a free falcon northwest pc and it came with a 1200w psu.

I definitely don't understand why falcon configured the setup with a 1200w psu.

Anyways it's probably the cable. I'm using the power cable from an old cheap dell desktop.

[appleseedcarrot]

Publicado originalmente por upcoast:

Lol, melting tips sounds a little fishy I'd look into that closer.

Food for thought, has someone put a beefier breaker on that receptacle.

Very fishy indeed haha, but my guess is that the cable and power strips are not rated high enough for the juice coming from the pc.

[appleseedcarrot]

Publicado originalmente por jefedemuchanina:

Im guessing the psu is bad and overvolting melting it or theres a short at the outlet doing it. Easy to check if its the outlet if you have any kind of meter atleast. If you’re in the us outlets are rated at 15A or 20A for wall outlets 15x120= 1800w 20x120=2400

Id see what the psu is pulling i cannot imagine you are pulling 1200w again unless the psu is bad but nec code(im licensed) tells us wall outlets shouldnt be at more than 80% load so if you are pulling around 1200w its pushing it and under sustained load can degrade etc.

Get a meter see what the psu is pulling and id go as far as to check your outlet wiring just in case i see people every day that use the wrong(also should never pass inspection) wiring that ends up burning up and causing issues with whatever is plugged into it not too mention fire hazard

I haven't checked to see if it was just that one outlet. The outlet never seemed to degrade, I've just switched power strips.

What I've been doing is dedicating a single outlet for the pc and then a power strip for the monitor, lamp, etc. The power strip is completely fine, but now it seems the power cable is slowly melting away...

Oh well, I'll get a new power cable and power strip, hope that works.

Also thanks so much for the suggestion, I will check as soon as possible for possible degrading.

[SeriousCCIE]

I have had a power cable melt. It is... Not Good. Melted plastic is tough to get out of carpeting... let alone exposed wires being a fire hazard.

Get something like, and this is just the PSU cable, rated for like 1650 watts/20 amps. Something greater than the size of the PSU wattage and expected power draw it'll pull from the wall.