My Computer Shocks Me When I Touch It – Is This a Ground Issue?

Yes… most likely. It might not be but there are a few questions we can ask to narrow down if it is or not.

• Is this a PC you just built? If so does it fail the POST test?
• Is the computer locking up or freezing when it happens?
• Does the computer reboot when it happens?

If you answered “Yes” to any of the above questions you may very well be running into a shorting or grounding issue with your computer.

Information on Grounding Issues in a PC

Ground issues can be really annoying because they are hard to spot, and can be inconsistent at times. But they can also be fairly predictable too so there are a few things we can check if the system is indeed grounding out on the case.

Check for Ground Issues Prior to Building Your Computer

If you have not yet built your system some things to look for ahead of time are.

01. Check the I/O Plate for Your Motherboard

Make sure your motherboard backplate is inserted securely. If you push on it lightly from the rear of the case it should not pop out of place.

02. Check the Tabs on Your I/O (backplate) Insert.

Make sure to bend the tabs on the ports of the backplate “UP” so they are out of the way. These serve no “real” purpose and only stand a chance of getting shoved into a rear port. (ie NIC Port, USB, Firewire, etc.)

03. Check the Metal / Brass Standoffs that Came With Your Case.

Make sure you are using the metal stand offs that come in the hardware pack with the PC case. Before you install your motherboard hold it up and count how many holes it has it for screws. Make a note of the placement for these screws and be sure to put a stand off in each spot on the case that will line up with these holes.

If you do not have enough stand offs check to see if you have been provided with any plastic stand offs to fill in where needed.

04. Metal vs. Plastic Standoffs on an Old Motherboard

On older boards the screw hole that is most likely to ground out is the one closest to the memory slots. If you are working with an older board it is recommended to use a plastic standoff here if possible.

05. Do Not Use Force when Screwing Down the Motherboard.

When you screw down your motherboard DO NOT use force with the screw. A screw should be tightened to the point where it makes contact with the board. I use light pressure when screwing a board down until I feel the screw stop moving.

Over tightening a screw can strip the area around the screw hole and make contact with a trace which will cause the motherboard to short or ground out.

06. Check for Potential Metal Contacts in Your Case

Make sure any metal inside the case is not touching your motherboard. Some cheaper cases have metal tabs under the power supply that can get bent during the installation of the PSU.

07. Check the Metal Near Your PCI Slots

Make sure you do not bend the metal near the PCI slots. Some PCI slots require you to break out a metal tab to make them available for use. Do not bend the rear slots while doing this. Gently work the metal back and forth like a hinge until the metal tab breaks off.

08. Check For Wires Making Contact with the Back of the Motherboard

Make sure there are not wires from the case stuck under the motherboard. Common cables to check for are USB, Audio, Firewire, Front panel wiring, wires from the power supply, and wires from fans.

09. Check for Frayed Wiring in the Case.

Check all the wiring in the case and make sure none of it is frayed or exposed.

Grounding Issues in a Computer that is Already Built

If you have already built your computer and you think it might be grounding out ask yourself the same three questions:

• Is this a PC you just built? If so does it fail the POST test?
• Is the computer locking up or freezing when it happens?
• Does the computer reboot when it happens?

01. Shake Your Case to Check for a Grounding Issue

Now let’s check for potential issues by giving the case a shake. Did it freeze or reboot? If a case does this when you shake it, it’s a pretty sure thing the motherboard or wiring is grounding out somewhere.

02. Has Anything Changed Recently in the System?

Ask yourself if anything has change recently in the system? If so can you change it back to try and rule out what may be causing the issue?

03. Has New Hardware Been Installed that may be Causing Ground Issues?

Has any new hardware been installed in the system? If so was it installed correctly? Try removing the hardware and see if the problem persists.

04. Check for Damage that may be Causing Grounding Issues

Has the system recently been bumped, damaged, or dented in anyway. (Getting knocked over? Sliding off a car seat? Been shipped via UPS?)

05. Has Anything Been Spilled on the System that may Cause it to Short?

Has anything been spilt on the system? Soda or Beer perhaps?

06. Check the I/O Backplate for the Motherboard.

Check to make sure the motherboard back-plate has not come loose and started making contact with the board.

Take your finger and press on the backplate to make sure it is not wobbling. Do the edges of the backplate feel the same on all four sides? If not, the backplate may have come loose a little bit.

07. Reseat Expansion Cards in the System.

Reseat the expansion cards in the system to make sure they have not been knocked loose.

Remove each one and reinstall it into the same slot to ensure it is firmly seated.

Try removing all the expansion cards and seeing if you can recreate the problem.

08. Reseat the Memory in the System.

Reseat the memory in the system to make sure it has not come loose.

09. Check for Frayed Wiring Which Might Cause Shorts.

Check all the wiring in the case and make sure none of it is frayed or exposed.

PC Grounding Issues Overview & Summary

The above steps should help you pin pint any potential grounding issues in your computer. If your computer is in fact grounding out this article covers all the common things you should look for.

After working in the computer industry with customers who build their own systems these are the common problems I have seen time and time again.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions please feel free to leave them below in the comments section. Thanks.