Please help me with some grounding information

[Szech]

I seem to remember reading on my hard drive, "Be sure to use the screws, they are necessary for grounding." I also know that you can touch the power supply to ground yourself. Does there just have to be some pathway of metal between all the peripherals and the power supply in order to ground everything? If I connect some wire from the peripheral to the power supply, will the peripheral be grounded?

Thanks for any help, I'm building a custom case, and since it's not metal, grounding is a concern of mine. Also, are there any precautions I should take if I disassemble a power supply? `Cause I know you can die disassembling a T.V... I read about people reversing the fan to blow out on AT power supplies, and if I go through with this project, that's what I'm going to do. Thanks again.

[Ygor]

Personally, I'd look for a suitable case with removable side panels. Front bezels usually pop off anyway. Some may have removable top panels now, been a while since I've looked in that much detail. Then just replace the panels with your choice of materials.

This way, you have a steel frame to build on as well as assemble the mobo and peripherals to. AFAIK, the frame itself is a ground in conventional cases. That's the pathway.

If that's out of consideration for you, someone else may have more info that will help.

[This message has been edited by Ygor (edited 11-09-2000).]

[Szech]

Problem is, that it's being put in a container that is probably not big enough for the whole case, and is not made of metal.

[Ygor]

Then my only suggestion would be to run a wire from the power supply to the drive mounting screws and those for the cards.

One lead in each plug from the power supply is a ground. In theory, that may be enough. But just to be on the safe side, run the extra wire and use circular terminal lugs for the screws. If you've noticed a 3rd connection on the power cord, that's a ground for the system.

[Graham]

Szech,
Be very carefull inside a PC power supply (and some others), they use a switch mode system that chops the full mains (a.c. supply) voltage at high frequency, then transforms it, this is more efficient (no big transformers), that is why the PSU's are so light.
The capacitors in these units can have several hundred volts across them, and store it for quite a time.
As for grounding, yes a wire from a ground point to the HDD will work fine, connected to the chassis, assuming that, in your case the PSU is attached to the chassis as well, otherwise the wire must go to the PSU case.

G

[This message has been edited by Graham (edited 11-10-2000).]

[Szech]

Cool, thanks for the info all. If I get off my lazy *** and get to this project, I think it'll be one cool looking case.

[shadow]

I've run HDD's sitting on a piece of paper, on the table, etc. The wire from the metal case isnt a bad idea but the plug which goes into the drive or other peripheral has a ground. One can never have enough grounds tho. And those caps in the power supplies and monitors will give you one quick blast, possibly. It's over quick and you go on with things. In an electronics course I took years ago we'd charge up a big cap and throw it at someone...they'd catch it and get that little blast...nobody died. Respect elctricity but dont fear it, make it your friend.

[This message has been edited by shadow (edited 11-11-2000).]

[Ygor]

Hmmm, I wasn't even thinking about Szech opening the power supply. My idea was to run the extra wire externally and attach it wherever there are mounting screws provided.

Although it may be a good idea to open power supplies or monitor cases once a year or so to vacuum out the dust held by static electricity, that should only be done by someone with enough knowledge to do it safely.

[Szech]

That's a little... reassuring shadow. Might get a little shock, but won't get killed http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif.

Anyway, I only plan on opening the power supply to reverse the fan (it's an AT power supply) because it's more efficient to have the fan blow out. I'm pretty sure I'll attach the grounding wires to the outside casing. Thanks again all http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif.