Timeline for Why some computer peripherals should not be disconnected without turning off things?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
19 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 11, 2013 at 1:57 | comment | added | Yuhong Bao | Or at least unplugging the power supply. | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:59 | comment | added | jippie | Make a business case from it. What will it cost you if you shut down the PC in a proper way, then unplug the devices - versus - unplugging the device and potentially releasing the blue smoke. | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:49 | comment | added | jippie | I would strongly advice against unplugging hardware that isn't designed for it. <SNIP> – jippie 6 mins ago | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:48 | comment | added | jippie | @Vi0 yes unplugging the VGA cable. As a matter of fact (I coincidentally got to work at the board manufacturer a while later), that particular board had a redesign to prevent just that problem. But that doesn't assure other designs or other ports can't have that very problem. | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:47 | comment | added | Vi0 | Should the unplugging be OK (in scope of this question i.e. ignoring software issues) if I ensure somehow that ground and power pins are last to be disconnected? | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:45 | comment | added | Vi0 | "I've blown a video processor unplugging a monitor." -> From VGA port? | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:44 | comment | added | Renan | I added a link to an application note from Maxim which explains more about hot-swap controllers. | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:44 | history | edited | Renan | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
added 396 characters in body
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| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:43 | comment | added | jippie | I've blown a video processor unplugging a monitor a while ago. | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:43 | comment | added | Renan | @Vio There might be high current surges which are enough to damage hardware (designed for low currents). | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:43 | comment | added | Vi0 | "(e.g. cause an operating system crash)" -> Don't care here; "or downright destructive" -> How? Voltage can suddenly go up? | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:42 | comment | added | jippie | I would strongly advice against unplugging hardware that isn't designed for it. Although it won't be the thyristor-effect that will be the issue, shorting pins or spikes due to induction will. | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:40 | comment | added | Vi0 | But probability of electrical failure (like in "the semiconductor can act as a thyristor between power supply rails") in CPU/RAM is low (compared to the thermal or mechanical damage during plugging the thing off), isn't it? | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:37 | comment | added | Renan | @Vio I would guess 'no' since most home PCs are not designed for hot-swapping those (it's mostly found on very high-end servers). | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:37 | comment | added | Vi0 | Can I plug away CPU and RAM from usual home PC (including legacy) and expect both CPU/RAM and motherboard to be OK after I plug everything back? | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:35 | comment | added | jippie | Many modern OS's can cope with hot-plugging CPU's and RAM. Although it rarely happens on physical hardware, it is pretty common in Virtual Machines (or specialized server hardware). | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:34 | comment | added | Renan | @AndrejaKo Thanks, I didn't know that PoE was hot-swappable. | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:32 | comment | added | AndrejaKo | Ethernet can carry power too and PoE is hot-swappable. | |
| Dec 8, 2012 at 20:31 | history | answered | Renan | CC BY-SA 3.0 |