Loud electrical buzzing from PC and TV

Associate
Joined
3 Jan 2018
Posts
650
Location
Brighton
Hi all, just wanting to get some second opinions before I bother our landlady, but earlier while working on my PC I heard a loud buzzing sound. I initially put it down to a label or something stuck in a fan, but it stopped instantly after ~5 seconds. Then it occurred again twice in a 2/3 minute period. All fans are clear and it sounded electrical - as if it was receiving too much current or something.

This evening were watching Netflix using the PS4 and it happened again, but quieter (possibly due to having sound and being further away), about 5 or 6 times in 10 minutes or so. It sounds a bit like holding a light switch half way, and then amplifying it.

I also noticed that the shed light was on the other night - put this down to turning it on earlier and forgetting to turn it off. Just been upstairs with flickering bathroom lights - went back downstairs to get the cat - and the shed light was on. 2 minutes later and it's off again.

A bit worried as not only is half my PC new from December - I'm using it for work and one of the last things I want right now is my PC getting blown or something. Anyone have any ideas on what it may be or anything I can look for before asking the landlady to fork out for potentially nothing? (Which will get passed onto us if there's nothing wrong) I do know the wiring is a bit dodgy in this house because lights flicker when you turn other lights on occasionally.

Thanks muchly!
 
Associate
OP
Joined
3 Jan 2018
Posts
650
Location
Brighton
I'm pretty sure it's trip switches, but I also know one of the boxes needs replacing because it's old (never happened because.. well, y'know).

Quick update: Went to go turn the shed light off properly and it wouldn't even turn on. I get back in the house and turn lights off - shed light is on, then turns off when I go outside... Now won't turn back on again. I'm seriously wondering if we need an electrician or a Priest at this point...
 
Caporegime
Joined
22 Nov 2005
Posts
45,169
can a ground loop cause humming for psus or be a reason for coil whine? maybe something to investigate just google "ground loop" to get an idea of what it is.

usually it causes problems in audio speakers, like a slight hum but maybe it can have other effects on stuff also.
 
Caporegime
Joined
26 Dec 2003
Posts
25,666
Random buzzing noises from PC's are often fans or hard drives causing parts of the case to vibrate but with your lights switching on and off I'd get your electrics looked at.

I had a power supply once that kept damaging the switch on the wall socket, no idea how or why but it might be worth trying a different power supply if all else fails.
 
Soldato
Joined
23 Feb 2009
Posts
4,978
Location
South Wirral
Check the loft to see if someone is growing weed there under very bright lights.

On a more serious note, buy a decent surge protector. Although the PSU *should* protect the more expensive components of your PC there are plenty of horror stories on here to the contrary.
 
Soldato
Joined
18 Jan 2012
Posts
3,882
Location
Derbyshire
The Buzzing maybe a side effect of a brownout, causing the power supplies in the PC and PS4 to be come stressed as they struggle to keep outputting their required power with the drop in mains voltage. If they become regular it might be something to inform your landlord about and/or the power company about.
 
Man of Honour
Joined
29 Mar 2003
Posts
56,793
Location
Stoke on Trent
You could try this.
Last year my Mum rang up asking if I could go down because every time she switches her video and TV on at the wall they make a horrible loud sound.
I goes in, switches on by the wall and the noise was coming from her nebuliser on the floor :)
RIP Mum.
 
Soldato
Joined
23 Dec 2009
Posts
3,242
Location
Earth
Turn everything off, switch on one by one to see if you can isolate it? Other than that you need to contact a qualified electrician or local religious leader of your chosen faith and drive out the demons.
 
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