How to change your PC's power supply | Hacker News Reader

How to change your PC's power supply

itworld.com

3 pointsabennett7 comments

Fairly informative for someone like me who is interested in building their own hardware but doesn't have much experience. Power supplies are the scariest part due to the possibility of screaming electrical death (or at least a good strong jolt).

Does anybody have recommendations for sites that provide more such instructional videos?

There really isn't the possibility for "screaming electrical death" unless you go through great lengths to attach something where it doesn't belong (and hence, obviously doesn't fit).

Also, nobody in their right mind would leave their computer plugged in while working on its internals.

Also, nobody in their right mind would leave their computer plugged in while working on its internals.

Actually, it's not such a stupid idea, as the case is earthed when plugged in, which can help prevent damage through static discharge. I'm pretty sure my Intel SSD's leaflet actually recommended it. You're very unlikely to get an electric shock from a PSU unless you literally stick bits of metal through the grilles or open it up.

I'd never actually heard that. Interesting. I just use a ground bracelet when working on my computer to prevent static discharge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_bracelet

Given the recent commentary on the new design for a folding version of the UK mains plug, I should share a tip a friend gave me - you can put a UK mains plug in 'upside down' to an adapter strip.

This means only the earth pin is connected, thus earthing your case but without running the risk of having live connected, even if isolated via a switch on the PSU.

For the power supply, you can usually just follow the manual for installation. I just replaced (last night, actually) my 700W power supply with a 1600W one and I think it took 30 minutes, including time to unplug everything and take off the case. The cables are all pretty self-explanatory and can only be plugged in one way to one port. The only way you would ever be electrocuted is if you worked on it while it was still plugged in. If you do that, you probably deserve whatever you get.

Really the only thing that could possibly kill you is the capacitors inside if you open up the power supply. I think those discharge fairly quickly in modern systems but I am not sure.

The outputs of the system are fairly innocuous because they are DC at a low enough voltage (max of 12VDC) to not seriously hurt you even if you touch both the positive and the negative of one of the connectors. Now if there was some sort of anomaly and the dc lines were carrying a waveform, then if the wave was a specific frequency to match your body's impedance it could actually affect you. This is kind of akin to a "hollywood" terrorist threat though as it would most likely not happen but if it did it would be tragic.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com