[sdiy] iec connector confusion

[Jason Tribbeck]

Hi,

> one more question about using a power supply in a safe way
> 
> I am working with a metal box (a par metal case)
> 
> (i think its all RFI shielded aluminum)
> 
> 
> anyway...if the whole BODY of a powerone PSU is the earth, then will i
get
> shocked if i screw down the PSU to the metal body of my project and
then
> touch the body of my project with my hand? (is there a situation where
this
> could happen?)
> 
> also...is it OK to cover the tabs that the AC line in (tabs 1-5) gets
> connected to with ELECTRICAL TAPE OR HEATSHRINK so that i dont get
shocked?
> 
> i want to make sure this machine is safe. And as i am still soldering
and
> connecting but need power to test at this stage, i was planning on
> installing the PSU in the case and then working around it. So i dont
want to
> accidentaly touch the AC tabs (120 volts) by mistake and get thrown
across
> the room.
> 
> I wish the powerone psu's had a case that covered the dangerous parts!

Whenever I use a metal case, I would try to put as many earthing points
in it. In your case, I would earth the case to the PSU, the PSU to the
IEC cable, and also the case to the IEC cable (so if one of the three
breaks, it's still covered).

Cover the AC inlet tabs with tape/heatshrink if you'd like - I used
crimped spade connectors (the "U" shaped ones with the slot in it) on my
last project, and it had a plastic cover that clipped on the PSU (but
that wasn't synth related :) ). You could also put a cardboard cover
over the exposed bits as well.

Reminds me of the first PSU I put together - trying to make everything
as safe as possible. Unfortunately, doing up the last nut/bolt for the
last earth point I dropped the nut into the depths of the PSU and
reached in - forgetting it was still turned on (the nut had fallen in a
gap). That was a bit of a shock (thumb hit mains, bounced off hit earth,
bounced back and so forth for a second or so). Taught me never to put
together PSUs with the power on (or rather do it more carefully :) ).

Btw, PSU looks okay - make sure you put the jumper across 2&3.
-- 
Jason Tribbeck