My X52 Pro is shocking...

[Aashenfox]

...yes, really, I get occasional static shocks from it, which reset my gpu on the fly. It doesn't affect anything, no reboot, no problem, everything just carries on. I put my hands on the joystick, I get a (strong, but not painful) static shock, the monitor flashes black for maybe a 20th of a second. That's it. It happens maybe 1 in 6 play sessions and usually after I get up and do something else, then come and sit down again. I don't get it off other peripherals, though I do find I get static shocks often, off all kinds of things.

Just wondering if anyone else has ever had this with their X52? They're strong enough that if you did you'd remember it being a thing. And I'm not discounting a MB (probably the external USB ports, cos that's what it's plugged into) earthing issue either...

Great joystick by the way, had it many months now, all good. Apart from the random shocks (they're really infrequent I don't consider it an issue, honestly, just curious if anyone else).

Mods, please feel free to move as appropriate, I know you don't need my permission or anything, just saying I wasn't sure where to put it, so went for max exposure. Cheers.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

My X52 really has died. It's in the corner.

If it gave me shocks it would be in the bin.

If I do get another HOTAS, which is ever-so unlikely because I'm using mouse and keyboard daily now, then I'll opt for a Thrustmaster offering.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Something not right there.

Luckily, USB power is only just enough to shock you, but I would return it as dangerous!
Faulty electrics can cause fires too.
Admittedly, if your joystick caught fire while you was using it, it's not that bad, just throw it out the window. Lol. But if it just randomly ignited while you're sleeping...

I returned a phone charger the other day, simply because it buzzed and squealed loudly. Even when my phone wasn't attached to it.
And it had a stupid blue led on it, that lit up my bedroom. Lol

I don't take risks with electronic stuff. Lol

CMDR Cosmic Spacehead

 

[Aashenfox]

Something not right there.

Luckily, USB power is only just enough to shock you, but I would return it as dangerous!
Faulty electrics can cause fires too.
Admittedly, if your joystick caught fire while you was using it, it's not that bad, just throw it out the window. Lol. But if it just randomly ignited while you're sleeping...

I returned a phone charger the other day, simply because it buzzed and squealed loudly. Even when my phone wasn't attached to it.
And it had a stupid blue led on it, that lit up my bedroom. Lol

I don't take risks with electronic stuff. Lol

CMDR Cosmic Spacehead

It's definitely static, not a live issue, otherwise I would have returned it, I've had it a long time, it's a rare event, but it's common enough that I would mention it just to see if anyone else has this experience or even with any other peripheral (cos if I do have a dodgy USB (or case) earth, I won't be the first either, I imagine). It's not strong, imagine a decent static shock you got on a cold day from a railing, it's just like that.

P.S. Back when motherboards weren't throw away, I used to repair em, I know what I'm doing, don't worry, lol. My other hobby is RC cars, they have some dangerous batteries.

 

[babelfisch]

Something not right there.

Luckily, USB power is only just enough to shock you, but I would return it as dangerous!
Faulty electrics can cause fires too.
Admittedly, if your joystick caught fire while you was using it, it's not that bad, just throw it out the window. Lol. But if it just randomly ignited while you're sleeping...

I returned a phone charger the other day, simply because it buzzed and squealed loudly. Even when my phone wasn't attached to it.
And it had a stupid blue led on it, that lit up my bedroom. Lol

I don't take risks with electronic stuff. Lol

CMDR Cosmic Spacehead

There is always risk. You take a risk getting up in the morning, crossing the street... or sticking your face in a fan.
- Lt. Frank Drebin

 

[dayrth]

Unlikely to be static shocks. Not much that would build up a static charge. It could be that you are building up the charge and earthing through the stick (nylon underpants maybe?), but I would expect you to get shocks from anything else you touch that's earthed if that was the case. Could be you have a short from a +ve line to a metal part of the stick (a screw maybe). Annoying and may effect the performance, but nothing that would harm you, as it uses USB power. (5v 100-150mA).

 

[Notwyn]

It's static from you to the computer, I get it occasionally but have a habit of grounding myself first before touching the HOTAS.

 

[Morbad]

Is your system properly grounded?

 

[Aashenfox]

Unlikely to be static shocks. Not much that would build up a static charge. It could be that you are building up the charge and earthing through the stick (nylon underpants maybe?), but I would expect you to get shocks from anything else you touch that's earthed if that was the case. Could be you have a short from a +ve line to a metal part of the stick (a screw maybe). Annoying and may effect the performance, but nothing that would harm you, as it uses USB power. (5v 100-150mA).

Yeh, I'm sure it's me, but I don't usually discharge through peripherals, only this one.

Is your system properly grounded?

This single thing makes me wonder. Since LOADs of us have this joystick, I take this as evidence that I do (probably have a grounding issue), cos if it was common someone else would have said it.

 

[Zebaoth]

Ground yourself before attempting again.
If you still get shocked you need to check the system for proper grounding.

 

[Aashenfox]

Ground yourself before attempting again.
If you still get shocked you need to check the system for proper grounding.

Will do.

 

[Stealthie]

That's a sign of a bigger problem.

I'd bet that if you touched things like the expansion slots or the various connectors of your PC you'd also get a shock.
Something, somewhere, in your PC is either generating static (a cheap fan, perhaps) or there's an earth fault.

I used to have a similar issue whenever I plugged in a monitor.
As part of some upgrades, I replaced a couple of the case-fans and the problem went away.


*EDIT*

Also, OP should have gone with a classic clickbait thread title such as "I don't like my X52 and the reason will shock you".

 

[Aashenfox]

That's a sign of a bigger problem.

I'd bet that if you touched things like the expansion slots or the various connectors of your PC you'd also get a shock.
Something, somewhere, in your PC is either generating static (a cheap fan, perhaps) or there's an earth fault.

I used to have a similar issue whenever I plugged in a monitor.
As part of some upgrades, I replaced a couple of the case-fans and the problem went away.


*EDIT*

Also, OP should have gone with a classic clickbait thread title such as "I don't like my X52 and the reason will shock you".

Yeh, I keep putting off a rebuild as my Corsair H80 needs it's annual dust out. When I do that, I'll do some changes including a new MB and case, and we'll see. It sounds more serious than it is, it's no biggie, but yeh I'll get it sorted one way or another soon.

 

[Shadowdancer]

...yes, really, I get occasional static shocks from it, which reset my gpu on the fly. It doesn't affect anything, no reboot, no problem, everything just carries on. I put my hands on the joystick, I get a (strong, but not painful) static shock, the monitor flashes black for maybe a 20th of a second. That's it. It happens maybe 1 in 6 play sessions and usually after I get up and do something else, then come and sit down again.

Sounds like you charge yourself up by sitting in dry air on a chair with no natural fires and rubber feet or rollers, walking around on a plastic floor, wearing shoes with plastic or rubber soles, and later ground yourself through the stick and into a USB port with really insufficient ESD protection. In the long run, that has a good chance of eventually killing something (but not someone really; if it had the potential (lol see what I did there?) to hurt you, you'd know because that would be a lot more painful).

When the air gets dry I can fairly reliably disconnect my CH throttle temporarily by getting up from my microfibre desk chair that way

Establish a grounded metal surface on your desk and touch that before anything else, that way at least your hardware will live longer even if you have the inconvenience.

And if you find yourself getting regular zaps in your living environment, invest in a proper ESD wristband with wall adapter (not "wireless", those are scams!) before you fry any new electronics while putting them into your system.

 

[Aashenfox]

Sounds like you charge yourself up by sitting in dry air on a chair with no natural fires and rubber feet or rollers, walking around on a plastic floor, wearing shoes with plastic or rubber soles, and later ground yourself through the stick and into a USB port with really insufficient ESD protection. In the long run, that has a good chance of eventually killing something (but not someone really; if it had the potential (lol see what I did there?) to hurt you, you'd know because that would be a lot more painful).

When the air gets dry I can fairly reliably disconnect my CH throttle temporarily by getting up from my microfibre desk chair that way

Establish a grounded metal surface on your desk and touch that before anything else, that way at least your hardware will live longer even if you have the inconvenience.

Ya, my GPU resetting all the time is my main concern, I'm worried about taking it out. I have a very robust MSI gaming board, but I worry. Now that you mention it I have started wearing a different pair of shoes about a month ago, and wearing them more often as the weather gets colder. I think you've got it, it's the shoes and the temperature changing for autumn (very dry, here in Greece).