Yes, you do have a grounding problem. Stop using your Ohm meter to check
live AC lines. It's a sure way to blow the meter. There is a small (or
perhaps not so small) difference between grounded wires due to the current
flow in them. Use voltage measurements. Or simply go to Radio Shack and
pick up one the AC circuit testers with 3 bulbs on it. They run about $5 or
$10.
No, your AC grounding problem has little, if any, to do with static
electricity possibly frying your motherboard. The static problem is between
you, the motherboard and the case. Whether the case is grounded or not
doesn't affect this. The important thing is that you and the motherboard
and the case are all at the same potential (ground or otherwise).
A wrist strap is good. Connect it to the case, not the AC wall socket.
John
John Souvestre - Southern Star - (504) 888-3348 - www.sstar.com
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nolug@joeykelly.net [mailto:owner-nolug@joeykelly.net] On Behalf
Of jdtiede@bellsouth.net
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2003 4:25 PM
To: nolug@joeykelly.net
Subject: [Nolug] Possible grounding/static electricity problem
It has been pointed out to me that my failures in changing
mobos and CPUs may be due to static electricity. I'm not sure
but don't think I had that problem before my last move, so I
got out my volt-ohmmeter and checked for continuity between
the ground connector and "hot" terminal in wall outlets and
my UPS. There is zero resistance. Then I tried in bathroom
and kitchen and found infinite resistance between ground
terminal and water pipes. Do I have a problem or not?
If there is no problem, would a wrist strap and/or an
anti-static mat offer significantly greater protection than
almost-constant contact with the unpainted chassis while
plugged in but not turned on? (There is no resistance
between that and ground or "cold" terminal either.)
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Received on 07/02/03
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