Weird noise when connecting PS5's external HDD to extension cord

[Windows_10_User]

Every day, before going to bed, I take the PS5's external HDD's power cord from the external HDD's power input just to be sure because the external HDD's power supply/cables does/do a weird and annoying buzz-like noise when the external HDD is connected to the extension cord and I'm afraid I can have a fire.

I've changed the extension cord and I still have this problem. Does this mean the external HDD may stop working, or even worse, may it screw up all my devices connected to the extension cord or/and even have a fire? I bought this external HDD two years ago and I've had this problem since then.

What's weird is that if I connect it to the PC's extension cord, I don't have this problem.

 

[Windows_10_User]

Could be bad ground/earth on that outlet or dirty power. The power strip may also have surge and noise protection that filters out dirty power. By dirty power I mean that it is susceptible to voltage ripple, where the voltage can go above or below the standard. It's actually quite common in older power grids.

What do you mean by ground and earth? Also, can I have a fire or can the external HDD become messed up?

 

[fringle]

What do you mean by ground, earth and dirty power? Also, can I have a fire or the external HDD become messed up?

I updated the previous post to include what I meant by dirty power. Dirty power is power that can suffer voltage/frequency variations. Not likely to cause any sort of fires or anything but anything is possible so don't take my word for it. It's quite common on older houses. If the surge protector or power strip has a built in circuit that levels this out that it's not likely to damage anything but if no surge protector is connected then it is possible it could damage sensitive electronics that don't like abnormal voltage and frequency changes.

The only way to check it for sure would be to get a voltmeter and stick it in the socket and see what kind of readings you get. If you don't know what you're doing though I'd recommend getting a professional to take a look at it and see if they can help clean up the issue.

Here's a youtube video that may be able to explain it a bit better:

 

[Windows_10_User]

I updated the previous post to include what I meant by dirty power. Dirty power is power that can suffer voltage/frequency variations. Not likely to cause any sort of fires or anything but anything is possible so don't take my word for it. It's quite common on older houses. If the surge protector or power strip has a built in circuit that levels this out that it's not likely to damage anything but if no surge protector is connected then it is possible it could damage sensitive electronics that don't like abnormal voltage and frequency changes.

The only way to check it for sure would be to get a voltmeter and stick it in the socket and see what kind of readings you get. If you don't know what you're doing though I'd recommend getting a professional to take a look at it and see if they can help clean up the issue.

Here's a youtube video that may be able to explain it a bit better:

But I just recalled I changed the wall socket (and extension cords) in the same wall the devices are connected to and I still have this noise but not if I connect the external HDD to the wall socket the laptop is connected to which is in another wall. Maybe the two wall sockets in the same wall are messed up.

 

[fringle]

But I just recalled I changed the wall socket (and extension cords) in the same wall the devices are connected to and I still have this noise but not if I connect the external HDD to the wall socket the laptop is connected to which is in another wall. Maybe the two wall sockets in the same wall are messed up.

It's possible that the two you tried were on the same circuit. You'd know if you flipped the breaker for one off and the other also went off at the same time.

 

[Windows_10_User]

I know I said I wasn't going to reply to anymore of your threads but I don't hold grudges as they serve no purpose. The squeal from using the Korean adapter was most likely due to a frequency mismatch. Korean infrastructure being 60hz and the European requirement being 50hz. So unless the adapter has the 50/60hz specification written on it, it's not meant to work with the European power infrastructure.
If it does have the 50/60hz specification written on it, it's possible that the squeal you are hearing is due to the frequency conversion taking place within the transformer of the adapter.

But shouldn't other devices connected to the same power strip of the external HDD's adapter also make this whinng noise?

 

[godreborn]

Yeah, whistling is most likely related to power. I had a gba charger that did the same thing.

 

[Windows_10_User]

Yeah, whistling is most likely related to power. I had a gba charger that did the same thing.

My PSP charger also did it and it stopped working. What do you mean it's related to power? Is it fine or may I have a problem? Why doesn't it make it if connecting it to a power strip connected to another wall socket?