grounded receptacle

[dave704]

Really how important is it that a home PC be connected to a grounded receptacle? Is it maybe a path for any spikes or surges?? Seems to run great on a 2 wire circuit.

 

[LarryFine]

Really how important is it that a home PC be connected to a grounded receptacle? Is it maybe a path for any spikes or surges?? Seems to run great on a 2 wire circuit.

For a computer, static voltages are the enemy, next to heat. The grounding is necessary to divert static voltages to earth.

The computer will work fine until the day it suddenly stops.

 

[celtic]

Seems to run great on a 2 wire circuit.

As compared to what?
Under what conditions?

 

[LarryFine]

As compared to what?
Under what conditions?

Good point, especially the latter. Static charges are greater in the winter. They can reach tens of thousands of volts.

 

[DanZ]

The computer will work fine until the day it suddenly stops.

Nice!
IMHO, you should also have a surge suppressor to plug your expensive computer equipment and or audio video equipment. It's cheap protection, if you have a ground.

Seems to run great on a 2 wire circuit.

Remember, just because it works, doesn't mean it's right!

 

[Billy_Bob]

The link below is a wiring diagram of a surge suppressor which people typically have their computers plugged into. The computer itself may have some similar circuitry or for "noise" filtering.

Anyway notice that there are "MOV's" (Metal Oxide Varistors) connected to the ground wire. What these gizmos do is "turn on" when the voltage reaches a certain amount, thus "shorting" the surge of electricity to ground.

So best if there is a "ground" so these devices can do their job as designed...

http://aa6e.net/images-blog/PLDO-schem.png