[GTALUG] computer hardware testing tools.

[Don Tai]

Fridges don't usually damage electronic equipment. I'm in a 70s build
detached house and my fridge is also on a circuit with other things. If the
circuit is overdrawn it will trip the fuse. When the fridge is initially
starting up the compressor my lights will momentarily dim.

Most power surges that I've heard that damage electronic equipment are from
lightning strikes.

Don

On Thu, 13 Jul 2023 at 10:56, Karen Lewellen via talk <talk at gtalug.org>
wrote:

> My explanation was not clear.
> I believe the serge damaged the port  not the cable, which is why I am
> seeking software to test the integrity of internal things like the
> motherboard.
> My apartment is the upper basement of a house, where hydro is a part of my
> rent.
> However outlets on this floor seem to share circuits with other things
> both
> on this floor and likely in the rest of the house which may not be wired
> well.  for example the fridge is on an outlet with other  items, so, at
> least according to those who have already investigated a slight surge or
> feedback may be being sent.
> I suspect one of my older mac laptops has paid the price, my stereo which
> was  just refurbished will  stop, if something elsewhere int the house is
> turned on those kinds of things.  Have to run extensions because the
> outlets are all under the radiators etc.
> The thing is though I cannot be sure  just what is damaged, without a tool
> to test the internal  items like the board itself.  I only know the
> machine
> would not speak, even though sighted help at the time indicated the
> software  was loading on the screen.
> Kare
>
>
>
> On Thu, 13 Jul 2023, D. Hugh Redelmeier via talk wrote:
>
> > | From: Karen Lewellen via talk <talk at gtalug.org>
> >
> > | When the issue started, it turned out that the machine was working,
> but the
> > | port had stopped.
> >
> > Correctly diagnosing a problem is often the first 90% of fixing it.
> > It often isn't easy.  (Often it is easy, but we don't remember those
> > events.)
> >
> > | However the real issue,  how my landlord manages hydro in my
> apartment, means
> > | that the issue as it did last night can start again.
> >
> > How does your landlord manage hydro?
> >
> > It is unlikely that a hydro problem will damage a serial cable.  I
> > think that a surge powerful enough to melt copper would first fry the
> > electronics.
> >
> > Serial cables can be damaged by rabbits, by wheely chairs, by desk
> > drawers, by excessive flexing and other physical trauma.  The
> > soldering of the connectors can fail due to mechanical stress
> > (especially home-made cables).  Pins can get bent and even break.
> > Over the years, contact oxidization can happen.
> >
> > <
> http://melslilzoo.blogspot.com/2016/09/rabbit-proofing-for-your-indoor-rabbit.html
> >
> > This contains a picture of a rabbit laying waste to cables on a desk.
> > My experience is that they find cables on the floor, behind a desk.
> > Or ones that come too close to their cage.
> >
> > | Please do not feel you are not providing solutions, because you have
> in the
> > | past just as here.
> >
> > I'm glad to be corrected.
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