Earthing a PSU

Snash · 10 Aug 2007 at 18:48

Putting together a SFF setup. Haven't put anything together for a few years now.

Noticed that both my PSU and case have an earth lead.

This is probably a dumb question but where's the best place to earth these to? The PSU manual seems to suggest earthing to the screws holding the motherboard to the case.

Any advice?

Thanks,

Snash

mattyrigby00 · 10 Aug 2007 at 19:15

huh never seen anything about that before, the power supply earths itself to the mains, not sure exactly how the case/mobo earths itself though but never heard of having to do anything special for it.

comp builder · 10 Aug 2007 at 19:16

anywhere on the case i would say.
When i help my dad with electrics and we put in a socket/switch with a metal backplate then we just crimp the earth and earth it to the backplate so i presume it's the same conecpt

Corasik · 10 Aug 2007 at 20:41

Most PC PSU's dont have an earth connection within the PC, as the PC is earthed via the bolts that hold the PSU into the case. AFAIK.

Perhaps if you have a plastic case, then an extra ground for the motherboard might be usefull /shrug.

Millwall.FC · 10 Aug 2007 at 21:25

comp builder said:
anywhere on the case i would say.
When i help my dad with electrics and we put in a socket/switch with a metal backplate then we just crimp the earth and earth it to the backplate so i presume it's the same conecpt

that sounds so dodgy

its ok if it was a plastic switch plate, but a socket :S

Corasik said:
Most PC PSU's dont have an earth connection within the PC, as the PC is earthed via the bolts that hold the PSU into the case. AFAIK.

Perhaps if you have a plastic case, then an extra ground for the motherboard might be usefull /shrug.

this is england its cpc or earth, ground just sounds so gay!!!

and on topic, dont worry about the earth it's main purpose is just a means to get rid of static just bolt it to any thing in the case that is metal

mikeo · 10 Aug 2007 at 21:59

My Tagan had one as well and says to:

"attach grounding cable to one of the fixing screw holes on your mainboard" and that's what I did.

and it says it's for:

"DC output by-pass group loop for more stability, as well as reducing ripple / noise".

Not sure if you will be any the wiser after reading that, I know I'm not.

I just connected it as it recommended.

Snash · 14 Aug 2007 at 07:47

Thanks for the replies guys. I eventually connected it to the side of the HDD enclosure - it seemed like metal :S

mikeo said:
My Tagan had one as well and says to:

"attach grounding cable to one of the fixing screw holes on your mainboard" and that's what I did.

and it says it's for:

"DC output by-pass group loop for more stability, as well as reducing ripple / noise".

Not sure if you will be any the wiser after reading that, I know I'm not.

I just connected it as it recommended.

It's a Tagan I've got too. I read that in the manual and also didn't understand it. By the time I was fixing the PSU all the screw mounts were taken and I wasn't for taking it off again. It's all up and running now, so far so good.