When I try to plug in the cable of my USB-C Hub into my Framework 16 (OS: Fedora 41), I almost always see sparks when the outer side of the plug touches the inner side of the casing of the port (so the part which leads inside the port but is still part of the case).
Charging and other USB functions work without issues and the sparking is there for a long time (as in time since I noticed it happening, not as in the sparks continuously come out of the port) and nothing has gone up into flames yet. But I’m still curious what causes the sparks and hope others here can give me some clues.
I checked the following to see if the reason for the issue is the Framework or the Hub (always connecting a wire between port-casing and outer side of plug):
Hub with HDMI, charger and audio connected: sparking
Hub with charger connected: sparking
Hub without any external connections: no sparking
USB-C cable of charger: sparking
the outside metal of some HDMI-cables (which are connected to different displays or are a converter to DVI): some produce sparks, some do not
metal pipe of heater: no sparks
Initially I thought my Hub would be the reason, as other devices (mostly display connectors) get charged when they are plugged in it and I get a shock when touching the connector of the cable after pulling it out. But as the USB-C port produces sparks also with other cables, I am not so sure about this theory anymore.
Sound like there is a potential grounding issue taking place in your home or the location where this is being plugged into.
We recommend testing the outlet with a ground tester/outlet tester; something like this will suffice and should indicate if there is a grounding issue at happening. You can find these at most hardware stores, Amazon, etc.
Additionally, one of our engineers pointed out the following advice:
Our engineer: You should unplug everything, and unplug all devices from their hub/dock/device, so they are all isolated individually, and then plug each device in one at a time while checking the type-c port for sparks until they find which device is causing the sparks.
Sound like there is a potential grounding issue taking place in your home
I tested it at my home and at someone else home and it happened at both locations. I don’t know how hight the probability is that two outlets in two different cities have this issue. If it is probable, then I should check the grounding.
In this regard: does the grounding have an effect, if the power-adapter don’t even have a ground-pin (so only two pins; UGREEN Nexode 100W USB C GaN Charger)?
Additionally, one of our engineers pointed out the following advice
I tested some more: there are no sparks if nothing else is plugged in the Laptop.
If there is at least one HDMI monitor connected directly to the Laptop (doesn’t matter which of the 3 I tested), the sparks are visible.
My guess to find the problem would be to use a volt meter and test the voltage difference between the laptop and the cable before connecting it. Whichever device shows the biggest voltage difference is the source of the problem.
Test for both AC and DC differences.
You obviously have a faulty device somewhere, so probably best to not plug them in until you have found the fault. Sparks generally cause damage.
As advised, I did some measurements (but I can’t say if the measurement-device is really accurate).
*1: only for a short time after contact; next lines specify long-term value or 0 if not specified
*2: oscillates slowly between values
*3: git different values on different measurements
*4: measurement device error out multiple times during measurement
S: sparks visible when tested; no ‘S’ does not imply it was tested for sparks and there were none
V DC
-/+
Laptop
Charger
Hub + Aux
Monitor 1
Monitor 2
Monitor 3
Laptop + Monitor 1
Laptop + Monitor 2
Hub + Aux + Monitor 3
Mass (metal pipe)
Laptop
-
-0.15 (*1)
0
0
0
-0.01
0
Charger
0.08 (*1)
-
0
-0.06 - +0.05 (*2)
0.17 (*1) -0.06 - +0.06 (*2)
0
±0.45 (*1) ±0.04
Hub + Aux
0
0.01
-
-0.03 - +0.05 (*2)
0.18 (*1) -0.04 - +0.05 (*2)
-0.12 (*1)
-0.2 (*1) 0.03
Monitor 1
0
0.5 (*1) 0.03
-0.5 (*1) 0.04
-
0.01
-23.5
-0.08
Monitor 2
0
2 (*1) 0.06, -0.06 (*\3)
0.22 (*1) 0.04
0.01
-
-23.6
-0.09
Monitor 3
0
0
0.01
23.7
23.6
-
18.1
Laptop + Monitor 1
-
1.22 (*1) -0.03 - +0.04 (*2) S
-0.25 (*1) -0.02 - +0.02 (*2) S
-
-0.03
-25.5
-
-
-0.1
Laptop + Monitor 2
-
-0.04 - +0.04 (*2) S
-0.03 - +0.03 (*2) S
-0.02
-
-28.1
-
-
-0.1
Hub + Aux + Monitor 3
0
0.6 (*1)
-
29.5
29.6
-
29.0 (*4) S
29.2, 59.1 (*4) S
-
22.7
V AC
~
Laptop
Charger
Hub + Aux
Monitor 1
Monitor 2
Monitor 3
Laptop + Monitor 1
Laptop + Monitor 2
Hub + Aux + Monitor 3
Mass (metal pipe)
Laptop
-
0
0
0
0
0
0
Charger
-
-0.3 (*1)
-0.2 (*1)
0.6 (*1)
0.2 (*1)
0.04
Hub + Aux
-
0
0
0
0
Monitor 1
-
0
39.8
0.1
Monitor 2
-
0
0.1
Monitor 3
-
26.1
Laptop + Monitor 1
-
1.2 (*1)
1.3 (*1)
-
0
44.6
-
0.4
Laptop + Monitor 2
-
2.3 (*1)
2.3 (*1)
0
-
48.0
-
-
0.1
Hub + Aux + Monitor 3
0
0
-
49.5
49.5
-
48.8
48.8 (*4)
-
0
A DC
-/+
Laptop
Charger
Hub + Aux
Monitor 1
Monitor 2
Monitor 3
Laptop + Monitor 1
Laptop + Monitor 2
Hub + Aux + Monitor 3
Mass (metal pipe)
Laptop
-
0
0
0
0
0
0
Charger
-
0
0
0
0
0
Hub + Aux
-
0
0
0
0
Monitor 1
-
0
0
0
Monitor 2
-
0
0
Monitor 3
-
0
Laptop + Monitor 1
-
0.55 (*1)
0.08 (*1)
-
0
7.7 (*1) 0.1 (*1)
-
-
0
Laptop + Monitor 2
-
0.91 (*1)
0.18 (*1)
0
-
4.1 (*1), 0.18 (*1)
-
-
0
Hub + Aux + Monitor 3
0
0
-
0.01 (*1)
0.03 (*1)
-
0.15 (*1)
0.24 (*1)
-
0
Notes
I also saw sparks with the following configuration, but did not measure it:
Hub + Aux + Charger – Laptop + Monitor 1 + Monitor 2
So yea, it is not the Framework but some (or all) of my monitors. It was just visible on the port as the Framework-casing is made out of metal and so the devices could influence each other.
What is still odd to me, is that all monitors seem to have problems even if they have worked flawless (maybe except for sparking, my old laptops had plastic casings) for years.
The 3 different monitors, do they have two pin or three pin (with ground) AC power cords?
The ugreen charger is the only one you have for your Framework? Any with a 3 pin grounded AC cord? Even if it’s fairly low wattage / not something you would normally use.
There is a problem with monitor 3.
My advice is not to use monitor 3 any more until you get it checked electrically.
Also, can you say which of your devices have 3 pin power plugs, and which have only 2 ?
Also, can you say which of your devices have 3 pin power plugs, and which have only 2 ?
See my response to MJ1. All other devices except the two monitors are 2 pin.
There is a problem with monitor 3.
Seems so. I unplugged the HDMI cable, but will at least continue with 2 external displays.
What is still odd to me, is that there are sparks when monitors 1 and/or 2 are connected to the laptop. Plus Monitor 4, which is at another location in a different city, also shows this issue.
I can not really believe that 4 different monitors have this kind of issue, but at the same time it is no the hub, as only the USB-C cable of the charger also produces sparks (when monitors are involved) but the charger cable itself does not show (significant) leaking current.
It is kind of hard for me to wrap my head around these results…
I think the problem might be the mix of devices.
If all your devices were 2-pin, it would probably be Ok, if all your devices were 3-pin it would probably be Ok.
When you mix 2-pin and 3-pin devices you might get these small sparks.
Note. Devices that have 3-pin plugs are designed for 3-pins, so do not plug 2-pins plugs into devices designed to have 3-pin.
As you have shown from your measurements, the sparks are short lived.
I think a way to avoid the sparks might be to:
Plug the USB-C / HDMI / Display port cables in first, and then plug the device into the AC mains.
Hi.
It is difficult to know for sure, unless I was physically testing your equipment myself.
I would contact FW support, and ask them for their advice on this.
I don’t have any way to test your setup where I am, because all my devices, laptop, displays etc. that are connected together are all 3-pin devices here.
That being said, Monitor 3 is not good.
Getting 48V AC on the shield is not right.
It might even be faulty house wiring.