[access-uk] Re: Leaving computer on 24/7, safety risks?

  • From: "Tristram Llewellyn" <tristram.llewellyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 15:56:26 -0000

"a fire fighter giving a talk that they do consider computers to be a
fire risk."

A humble lightswitch can be a fire risk under the right circumstances
(for example gas) and indeed anything that operates on electricity that
has a switch that operates may spark with possibly fiery consequence.
The bigger the current or heat dissipation the bigger any potential risk
so a washing machine or electric heater left one may arguably be a
bigger potential risk than a PC that is just running.  

However as Carol mentioned if the ventilation is good around the machine
and it is not near a radiator then you should be OK.  If you are really
concerned it might be worth consulting a tame electrician if you can
find one for advice.  The sort of things to look at though would be
things like faulty plugboards.  Many cheap ones that have been in use
start arching and it is not an uncommon fault.  You can often tell that
arching is taking place even if you don't notice the noise because you
will find one socket doesn't work some or all of the time.  If you have
this change the pllugboard immediately as it could spark and cause a
fire.  Also pay attention to fuses, many appliances have the wrong fuses
fitted to the plug.  Find out the current draw of the appliance and then
fit the apropriate fuse, for example a little mains radio does not need
a 13 Amp fuse but a 3 Amp fuse will be more apropriate, if something
went wrong it might be too late before it blows with a 13 amp fuse.
Make sure you are not overloading the mains circuit, especially where
plugboards are concerned, never for example use a high current device
like a kettle or a heater on a plugboard with other things running as
well you are bound to blow something.  Some people might also consider
putting in  RCD device as well so that if current draw gets too high at
the supply in the house then the current is cut.

Regards.

Tristram Llewellyn
Sight and Sound Technology
Technical Support
www.sightandsound.co.uk

Mail:
Tristram: tristram.llewellyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Technical: Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
General - info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Phone:
Support line: 0845 634 7979

Sight and Sound Technology Limited is a company registered in England
and Wales, with company number 1408275.  

Sight and Sound Technology
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Summerhouse Road
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Northampton
NN3 6WD 
            
VAT Number - GB 860 2121 66.


-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Carol Pearson
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 3:21 PM
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Leaving computer on 24/7, safety risks?

Hi,

Well, it is pretty low level risk, I think, but we were told just a
couple 
of months ago by a fire fighter giving a talk that they do consider 
computers to be a fire risk.

I'd make sure there's plenty of ventilation, that the cables aren't
touching 
too much other items (such as radiators) and, if you can, get the fans 
cleaned out now and again.

These are all things I'd like to do but seldom am able to do so, by the
way.

--
Carol Pearson
carol.pearson29@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Scholes" <james@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <Blindtech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <blind-software@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; 
<blind-software-hackers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 7:03 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Leaving computer on 24/7, safety risks?


> Hi all,
> I have just switched to a new ISP, and they traffic shape at peak
times of 
> the day. To get around this, I have been leaving my PC on 24/7 and
letting 
> stuff upload and download while I am asleep, out at school, etc. My 
> parents would like to know if there are any safety or electricity
risks 
> involved with leaving a PC on all the time. I have told them that
loads of 
> people leave PC's on for up to all year with nothing going wrong, but 
> would just like some re-assurance to show them that it is completely
safe. 
> I would Obveously do regular reboots, and it is a pretty low-powered
PC. 
> Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.
> --Check out my radio and TeamTalk server! http://www.jls-radio.com
> --
> James Scholes
>
> E-mail: james@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> MSN/Windows Live Messenger: jamesscholes@xxxxxxx
> AIM: JamesScholes000
> Skype: james.scholes
> Website: http://www.jamesscholes.com
> Blog: http://www.jamesscholes.com/blog
> Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jamesscholes
> Find me on Facebook! Username: jamesscholes
> Link to Facebook profile: 
> http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1375965156&hiq=jamesscholes
> Last.FM Profile: http://www.last.fm/user/jamesscholes000
> --
> Message sent at 06:59:15 PM GMT on Tuesday, December 02, 2008
>
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