Quick question about wall outlets

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Wall outlets are grounded right? I'm kinda a noob in electrical stuff.

[Juganog]

well the house should be grounded so probably (am i derping?)

[crazydog2580]

they should be...

in Australia the bottom pin

[harrynowl]

3 pin ones are I guess, in the UK it's

 

     Earth

 

Live / Neutral

 

depending on where you live YMMV, but a house is usually grounded

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

3 pin ones are I guess, in the UK it's

 

     Earth

 

Live / Neutral

 

depending on where you live YMMV, but a house is usually grounded

 

Usually... is it a norm? I live in Canada. I just wanna make sure so I can plug my Psu in and turn it off in case so I can ground myself.

[Kobrastachka]

Yes their is a ground and a positive and a common ground, but DO NOT start wiring things into a wall outlet unless you have lots experience wiring for your own safety because of the high amounts of electricity they put out 

[Kobrastachka]

Usually... is it a norm? I live in Canada. I just wanna make sure so I can plug my Psu in and turn it off in case so I can ground myself.

no, when is is off the switich in thepsu breaks one of the lines to the wall. For electricity to flow it needs to go in a full circle called a circuit 

[Jerakl]

The screw in between the sockets is always grounded. Source: My uncle who is an electrical engineer.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

no, when is is off the switich in thepsu breaks one of the lines to the wall. For electricity to flow it needs to go in a full circle called a circuit 

 

Ok... so how do I ground myself specifically?

[WinNut]

Ok... so how do I ground myself specifically?

To ground yourself to the PSU plug it in, set the switch to OFF, and strap yourself to an unpainted metal surface on it.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

To ground yourself to the PSU plug it in, set the switch to OFF, and strap yourself to an unpainted metal surface on it.

frying

Ok so yeah Psu in case plugged to wall with rocker switch to off and should be fine and block/remove risk of  frying? Never worried about static even when building until now... gotta remove MOBO and im scared bout static...

[WinNut]

frying

Ok so yeah Psu in case plugged to wall with rocker switch to off and should be fine and block/remove risk of  frying? Never worried about static even when building until now... gotta remove MOBO and im scared bout static...

Yes.

 

You can also strap yourself to a pipe, as long as it's bare, exposed metal.

[cesrai]

frying

Ok so yeah Psu in case plugged to wall with rocker switch to off and should be fine and block/remove risk of frying? Never worried about static even when building until now... gotta remove MOBO and im scared bout static...

You would be fine just remember to stay away from carpets and touch the PSU frequently.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

You would be fine just remember to stay away from carpets and touch the PSU frequently.

 

Yes.

 

You can also strap yourself to a pipe, as long as it's bare, exposed metal.

 

Hey but static damage is only if you touch the PCB right? If I touch it by the side or I/O port or heatsink there isnt risk either?

[cesrai]

Hey but static damage is only if you touch the PCB right? If I touch it by the side or I/O port or heatsink there isnt risk either?

You should always try to not to touch the sensitive parts of the motherboard and handle it by the sides.

[Guest]

Wall outlets are grounded right? I'm kinda a noob in electrical stuff.

if there are three connections, then yes

[WinNut]

Hey but static damage is only if you touch the PCB right? If I touch it by the side or I/O port or heatsink there isnt risk either?

If you touch it by the side the energy from the zap can travel through the traces into the PCB. So yeah, don't zap that part.

 

Same with the heatsink, since thermal paste is conductive.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

If you touch it by the side the energy from the zap can travel through the traces into the PCB. So yeah, don't zap that part.

 

Same with the heatsink, since thermal paste is conductive.

 

Damn... so I gotta make sure I'm totally out... that means I could have fried my components long ago. How big is 5-10 volts?  Apparently that it what it takes to fry.

[WinNut]

Damn... so I gotta make sure I'm totally out... that means I could have fried my components long ago. How big is 5-10 volts?  Apparently that it what it takes to fry.

5-10 volts...hmm...

 

Do you have any O-gauge model railroad trains? If you bridge your finger between the middle rail and outer rail while the track is at full power that's 18 volts. 

 

5-10 volts is pretty small, if you ever touched somebody and zapped them (it's happening a lot more because winter) that's about 10-15 volts from what I know.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

5-10 volts...hmm...

 

Do you have any O-gauge model railroad trains? If you bridge your finger between the middle rail and outer rail while the track is at full power that's 18 volts. 

 

5-10 volts is pretty small, if you ever touched somebody and zapped them (it's happening a lot more because winter) that's about 10-15 volts from what I know.

 

Ok well, hopefully I won't be zapping my board this week...

[cesrai]

If you touch it by the side the energy from the zap can travel through the traces into the PCB. So yeah, don't zap that part.

Same with the heatsink, since thermal paste is conductive.

Not all of them some are.

[j.dirona]

5-10 volts...hmm...

 

Do you have any O-gauge model railroad trains? If you bridge your finger between the middle rail and outer rail while the track is at full power that's 18 volts. 

 

5-10 volts is pretty small, if you ever touched somebody and zapped them (it's happening a lot more because winter) that's about 10-15 volts from what I know.

mhh actually if you touch somebody and you can feel a zap that is more on the level of 2000V and can get up to 15,000V depending on the humidity, temp, etc. That said its more about the amperage than the voltage you can actually throw a rathar large amount of voltage through a pcb without damaging it, however if the amperage of that charge goes up... well then you have a problem. Either way best to just stay grounded

 

@TheMidnightNarwhal

Yeah it is grounded no worries (I live in canada too) the 3rd pin (more round one) is your ground but best thing to do to ground yourself is just keep touching a metal surface. When I build I take a small peice of copped wire and tape it to my ankle and then let the wire drag on the floor, so long as it's touching the ground and your skin you'll be grounded just fine

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

mhh actually if you touch somebody and you can feel a zap that is more on the level of 2000V and can get up to 15,000V depending on the humidity, temp, etc. That said its more about the amperage than the voltage you can actually throw a rathar large amount of voltage through a pcb without damaging it, however if the amperage of that charge goes up... well then you have a problem. Either way best to just stay grounded

@TheMidnightNarwhal

Yeah it is grounded no worries (I live in canada too) the 3rd pin (more round one) is your ground but best thing to do to ground yourself is just keep touching a metal surface. When I build I take a small peice of copped wire and tape it to my ankle and then let the wire drag on the floor, so long as it's touching the ground and your skin you'll be grounded just fine

Ok. But PSU plugged turned off still works just fine as the coper wire correct?

[j.dirona]

Ok. But PSU plugged turned off still works just fine as the coper wire correct?

yessir

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

yessir

Ok, ESD stress = reliefed.