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Hello,
Not an electrician and I currently live in an apartment building. Over the past few years I have been having abnormal problems with my computers and other electrical devices. In the last couple of months or so the problems have been massively increasing (both old and new devices). I am very familiar with computers and technology in general, so I know how to troubleshoot them. I have 100% ruled out software issues. And it is not just computers. Either I am getting very unlucky and getting defective units with many different electrical devices and parts I buy, or something else is happening.
I am beginning to suspect a power quality issue:
1. I am not sure what else could be causing problems across so many devices.
2. A few other tech people have suggested that some of my device symptoms sound like power issues.
3. The problems occur even during the time I have my printer unplugged (which is almost always), but when I do plug it in and use it, the ceiling lights of my apartment heavily flicker while it is printing.
4. All of the outlet receptacles in my entire apartment are "loose". The cover is screwed on tightly on all of them and doesn't move. But any time you plug or unplug something in, there is heavy "resistance" and you can feel the receptacle on the inside pulling/pushing/wiggling around.
5. When plugging things in I once in a while see/hear a visible static/electrical discharge. Not often, but I am not sure this is normal at all?
Unfortunately, I cannot trust that the maintenance team would give me an honest answer if I asked them to check on the power quality. Is there a relatively inexpensive method, as a non professional without a lot of knowledge, to measure or monitor the power quality from the wall? Then I can either rule out that is a problem or have evidence something is wrong to use with the maintenance team or power company if necessary.
Thank you!
Not an electrician and I currently live in an apartment building. Over the past few years I have been having abnormal problems with my computers and other electrical devices. In the last couple of months or so the problems have been massively increasing (both old and new devices). I am very familiar with computers and technology in general, so I know how to troubleshoot them. I have 100% ruled out software issues. And it is not just computers. Either I am getting very unlucky and getting defective units with many different electrical devices and parts I buy, or something else is happening.
I am beginning to suspect a power quality issue:
1. I am not sure what else could be causing problems across so many devices.
2. A few other tech people have suggested that some of my device symptoms sound like power issues.
3. The problems occur even during the time I have my printer unplugged (which is almost always), but when I do plug it in and use it, the ceiling lights of my apartment heavily flicker while it is printing.
4. All of the outlet receptacles in my entire apartment are "loose". The cover is screwed on tightly on all of them and doesn't move. But any time you plug or unplug something in, there is heavy "resistance" and you can feel the receptacle on the inside pulling/pushing/wiggling around.
5. When plugging things in I once in a while see/hear a visible static/electrical discharge. Not often, but I am not sure this is normal at all?
Unfortunately, I cannot trust that the maintenance team would give me an honest answer if I asked them to check on the power quality. Is there a relatively inexpensive method, as a non professional without a lot of knowledge, to measure or monitor the power quality from the wall? Then I can either rule out that is a problem or have evidence something is wrong to use with the maintenance team or power company if necessary.
Thank you!
