Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mcsun!ukc!acorn!moncam!emmo
From: emmo@moncam.co.uk (Dave Emmerson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Grounding of disk drives
Message-ID: <657@marvin.moncam.co.uk>
Date: 27 May 90 14:35:34 GMT
References: <00937068.3DAFAF60@rigel.efd.lth.se>
Organization: Monotype ADG, Cambridge, UK
Lines: 29

In article <00937068.3DAFAF60@rigel.efd.lth.se>, f89ba@rigel.efd.lth.se writes:
> [deleted]
> Is grounding of the drives necessary or can I leave them as
> they are?
> 
It depends on how the drives are mounted, if they're bolted in, they're
already grounded. The chassis is already connected to mains earth, and...

> I suppose that the motherboard has a connection to ground
> through the the power supply cords, but should it also be
> grounded, for example at one of the screws that holds the 
> board in place?
> 

.. the motherboard will make a connection between ground and mains earth
via one or more of the board mounting screws, as you suspected. There is
normally a bypass circuit on the drive to connect 0V ground to the drive's
chassis, some drives have a link to allow direct connection. If you want
to be sure, you can add a lead yourself, you need a m4 eyelet and a 4.8mm
'faston'. The objective is to screen the drive's circuitry from outside
interference (and vice versa).

> If I bought a new case for my components, would I get such
> hardware as grounding wires?
> 
If its well made, but don't count on it, especially if the drive is
supposed to be bolted in, as opposed to mounted on plastic runners.

Dave E.