A Redditor wants to remove a fan from a part of his old PC. However, he does not consider that some parts are not suitable for recycling. He later receives criticism for his actions in a post.
What is the problem? The builder Turbulent_Mine25 writes in a Reddit post from January 11, 2026, that an old PC of his would not turn on. As a result, he wanted to remove the power supply fan.
To do this, he removed the device from the power source and, according to his own account, unscrewed a few screws to access the inside of the component. While doing so, he touched something on the circuit board.
Although nothing happened, he asked in his post if he was an idiot and whether he nearly electrocuted himself or if the hardware components discharge quickly enough to prevent such incidents.
In response, TheKitler explains to him in the current top comment (as of January 12, 2026) that he could have seriously injured himself or, in the worst case, could have died. This is not the first time that someone has been reprimanded by the community for the same mistake.
If you also hate opening power supplies and prefer installing graphics cards, then check out the GPUs from Intel:
Power supplies not only transmit current to hardware
Why is this component so dangerous? The component contains so-called capacitors, which convert current from the socket and subsequently transmit it to your PC. Here lies the problem: Even when turned off and after a long time, capacitors and other components of the power supply can still hold an electrical charge.
This is extremely dangerous, and this charge can discharge onto a person upon contact and cause serious harm or, in extreme cases, lead to death. Therefore, we strongly recommend: Do not open power supplies, even if you are confident that you know what you are doing. The risk is not worth it!
Manufacturers even warn on their own websites against opening them, such as Corsair. They write: “While it’s all possible, and you only need a screwdriver to open your power supply, it can be incredibly dangerous.”
They also recommend using compressed air and a dry cloth to clean the component. How important it is to clean computers is shown by another builder, who complains about a PC that he needs to clean.
Utilize the extended warranty from manufacturers
What can I do if a power supply is defective? In this case, you have two options:
- You can claim the warranty depending on the period of use. In the EU, you have at least two years of warranty entitlement for hardware products, but many manufacturers, such as Seasonic, offer three to twelve years on their websites depending on the product line. Ensure that the warranty terms are met, which vary by manufacturer.
- Replace the power supply. If you suspect that your power supply is defective, you should replace it. Because in the worst case, it could damage your hardware or even cause fires.
Therefore, we once again explicitly point out that you should not open power supplies. They can be extremely dangerous and can cause you great harm or destroy your PC. Also, make sure that you only use original manufacturer cables, as a gamer warns that with a tiny mistake you can set your expensive PC hardware on fire.
