is it ok?

[gERONIMo]

Is it ok if the spacers that are supporting the motherboard touch anywhere on the motherboard or will this short it? I think they are brass spacers.

[Susan]

If you look on the underside of the MB, you'll notice where the brass spacers hit against it. There is an independent ring of solder at that spot. It's okay.

[gERONIMo]

if it is off the solder tho will it short?

[MickMitani]

gERONIMo,

if you are worried about a possible short, use an insulated washer on the post. Or, if the post is not being used as a mount and no screw is in it, cover the post with electrical tape.

[Bleeding Edge]

You may be overly concerned. Spacers are made to spec as with all computer hardware. They have to be a certain height or else it wont work with the case. And they're made within a specified diameter so it wont establish unnecessary contact. The circuit traces on the motherboard also conforms to address such design issues.

These spacers also establish a ground. I've come across two differing views on this. One school of thought is to ground the board using one screw and spacer (one metal contact) in order Not to create what is known as a ground loop. In turn, defeating a good ground. The other view is to use as many contacts as you can for a better ground. It depends on whether we speak to certain board manufactures or power supply manufactures.

I'd think, the more important issue for you here, is not so much the spacers but remembering not to tighten the screws in them to much.



[This message has been edited by Bleeding Edge (edited 05-04-99).]

[ANTONIO E GUERRA]

In the past, that was a real concern among Pc-assemblers. Nowadays the motherboards don't require these subtleties anymore. The old computers (486s) they need them.

[gERONIMo]

so just put em in and dont worry about em? sounds good to me.. thanks fer all the help