Help connecting new PSU & Case

[MSIC]

My new Antec P180 case and Tagan 430W Easycon PSU came yesterday, and i spent a few hours taking my old machine apart and making the new one, although currently have 2 empty cases and lots of bits.

My Tagan PSU comes with a 'ground' (GND) connector, which i've not seen before as my previous case had the PSU built in. I understand that i have to connect it to ground my electricity supply. The manual says "Connect to the motherboard" (from memory) but i'm not sure quite where.

Does is connect to the screw things that sit between the case and the motherboard, ie the screw then GND connection then motherboard? Or somewhere else?

Help would be appreciated, as i really, really dont want to fry everything with i plug it in!

Cheers

[Madafwo]

As far as I remember it can be screwed anywhere to the case as it grounds the case so there isn't any static build-up. The best combination to do it if you are going to put it behind the motherboard is (from bottom up) Case > GND connector > stand-off > motherboard > screw

In mine I have it connected up the top of the case as thats where I found it easiest to route and for it to be out of the way, and nothing has blown up yet so it seems to be fine, others may know for sure that it needs to be behind the mobo, in which case I am getting the screen driver out.

[OmarSantiago]

Engineering principles suggest that you attach it as close to the ATX header as possible to reduce ripple across the lines. Sheer mistrust made me put another PSU in minus a ground wire.

[MSIC]

The ATX header being the 20 pin plug that goes into the motherboard?

And did you have any probs by not connecting the GND?

[Sk!mD4Rk]

Hi dude, glad your stuff arrived. I just connected it to the screw that holds one of the CD Rom drives in one of the bays. I don't think it makes much of a difference where you screw it (excuse the pun)

[OmarSantiago]

The ATX header being the 20 pin plug that goes into the motherboard?

And did you have any probs by not connecting the GND?

Correct sir. I didn't feel comfortable wiring it to my mainboard so in the end I left it tucked away still with the cover on. Normally devices with grounded clips such as IDE cables ask you to attach it to the framework holding the CD drive. I haven't had any problems so far

[MSIC]

Nice one chaps, it's appreciated.
I shall wire it all up tonight when i get home.

If you hear a small bang followed by a cloud of smoke somewhere around nottingham, no, it's not more guns, just me having buggered my PSU.

[Madafwo]

Nice one chaps, it's appreciated.
I shall wire it all up tonight when i get home.

If you hear a small bang followed by a cloud of smoke somewhere around nottingham, no, it's not more guns, just me having buggered my PSU.

If you haven't done it already Just at the top you can see a cable wrapped around the chassis and screwed in, thats where I put mine, I should probably move it and hide it more, but that was a convienent place to put it at the time.

[MSIC]

Nice looking case, sleek and black. What is it?
Anyway, eventually got it all up and running - I put the GND connector attatched to the top right screw of my motherboard, so it goes GND -> motherboard -> spacer/screw thingy -> case.

It works, don't know if it improves my BF2 framerates, but i'm happy i've not blown it up.

[peterb]

You should connect it to the case of your PC as it may be part of the protective earth system. In practice the screws that fasten the PSU to the case will effectively ground the chassis, but good practice suggests that you should have a separate ground (or earth) wire to ensure the case is effectively grounded should your PSU develop a mains to ground fault.