PSU Grounding

andy_mitch92 · 07-05-2008, 10:46 PM

I have an old (under statement) PSU that I'm not using and am wanting to turn it into a cooler for my Xbox 360. Not the PSU itself but I want to use it to power old computer fans I have laying around and I was wondering if this is possible/safe. Does the PSU need to be grounded to another metal object like say a computer case, or is because its a sealed unit okay to just use as is. I see people using there PSU's with out grounding when they are testing mobo's and other components but I am not sure how smart this really is.

This is just a summer project that I may or may not do but I would rather be sure its even possible before I go burn the house down. This may be the wrong place to ask because as smart as some of you guys are I'm sure you don't have an Electrical Engendering degree and you may not fully understand the complexities of the PSU itself.

fortyways · 07-05-2008, 11:02 PM

..It's grounded through the power cable and into the wall, not the case.

andy_mitch92 · 07-05-2008, 11:09 PM

Well I have been reading a bit and found this and it states that the PSU must be grounded to a motherboard through the 20 pin ATX connector so its actually not grounded to itself thus it will not work. A trip to the local Radio Shack is in order to get switches and other various things to mess with.

fortyways · 07-06-2008, 12:34 AM

That's just a guide for powering a PSU without a motherboard; it's not saying you need the motherboard in order for the PSU to be grounded. The PSU is grounded through the wall - that's half the point of the power cable. Only one of the (American) prongs actually powers whatever you're plugging in.

And you don't need to go to Radioshack, just use a paper clip.

07-05-2008, 10:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
andy_mitch92 Silver Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Great Bend, Ks Posts: 171	PSU Grounding I have an old (under statement) PSU that I'm not using and am wanting to turn it into a cooler for my Xbox 360. Not the PSU itself but I want to use it to power old computer fans I have laying around and I was wondering if this is possible/safe. Does the PSU need to be grounded to another metal object like say a computer case, or is because its a sealed unit okay to just use as is. I see people using there PSU's with out grounding when they are testing mobo's and other components but I am not sure how smart this really is. This is just a summer project that I may or may not do but I would rather be sure its even possible before I go burn the house down. This may be the wrong place to ask because as smart as some of you guys are I'm sure you don't have an Electrical Engendering degree and you may not fully understand the complexities of the PSU itself. __________________ CPU Intel Q9450 RAM 4GB G.skill 1000Mhz @ 800Mhz 3-4-4-12 T1 MOTHERBOARD Asus Maximus Formula GFX Evga 8800GT "There is no mechanical problem too tough that cannot be fixed by brute strength and ignorance." Last edited by andy_mitch92; 07-05-2008 at 11:25 PM.

07-05-2008, 11:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
andy_mitch92 Silver Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Great Bend, Ks Posts: 171	Well I have been reading a bit and found this and it states that the PSU must be grounded to a motherboard through the 20 pin ATX connector so its actually not grounded to itself thus it will not work. A trip to the local Radio Shack is in order to get switches and other various things to mess with. __________________ CPU Intel Q9450 RAM 4GB G.skill 1000Mhz @ 800Mhz 3-4-4-12 T1 MOTHERBOARD Asus Maximus Formula GFX Evga 8800GT "There is no mechanical problem too tough that cannot be fixed by brute strength and ignorance." Last edited by andy_mitch92; 07-05-2008 at 11:26 PM.

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07-05-2008, 11:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
fortyways banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,134	..It's grounded through the power cable and into the wall, not the case.

07-06-2008, 12:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
fortyways banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,134	That's just a guide for powering a PSU without a motherboard; it's not saying you need the motherboard in order for the PSU to be grounded. The PSU is grounded through the wall - that's half the point of the power cable. Only one of the (American) prongs actually powers whatever you're plugging in. And you don't need to go to Radioshack, just use a paper clip.