Re: Inside power supplies: Where are the shocks?

[buggie@capella.unm.edu (stephen e buggie)]

Having written this essay, its now inevitable that I will be electrocuted
on my next venture inside of a power supply.  The "hubris" guarantees this
humiliation.     Steve Buggie







stephen e buggie (buggie@pegasus.unm.edu) wrote:
:        WHERE ARE THE ELECTRIC SHOCKS INSIDE COMPUTER POWER SUPPLIES?
:        ============================================================

: As regular readers already know, I modify IBM power supplies to be used as
: external units on Apple IIgs and IIe.   Have made about 175 units since
: April 1996.

: Virtually every unit has a sticker with ominous warnings --- DO NOT OPEN
: CASE --- DANGEROUS SHOCKS ARE INSIDE!

: I've hacked inside MANY power supplies and have not yet felt a jolt!
: Where are these shocks lurking?  Of course, the power is OFF when I do the
: hacking.  I stay away from the large heat-sinks.  There are big capacitors
: inside, but how long do these hold the power?

: I do various tests during assembly of Bugg-Power units, and I am usually
: inside within 20-30 seconds after the power has been on with some tests.

: I've never been shocked, although I've "seen the sparks."   I learned the
: hard way that you do't use steel wool to polish a tarnish power supply
: casing!    ;-)

: Steve Buggie

: Inventor of:  Bugg-Power    Bugg-Drive     Enhanced System Saver IIgs



: Stephen Buggie    Univ.  of New Mexico   Gallup NM 87301   buggie@unm.edu

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:   Stephen Buggie   Gallup New Mexico           buggie@unm.edu
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