Hey guys,
I use an old computer ATX PSU for my bench work. If I connect my scope to anything other then the DC-COM of the ATX supply it will short out and kill the supply. This kinda sucks because I want to measure signals wrt to the -12V or -5V rail say...
If I need 24V for a circuit I just use the -12V to the +12V, you can now see why I would want to measure wrt the -12V rail.
Obviously the scope and DC-COM of the ATX are tied to ground (Earth ground) so when I put my scopes common (actually earth ground) to -5V rail (which is -5 wrt DC-COM & Earth) current flows and messes everything up.
If I was to just rip off the ground pin on the wall plug of my supply, would this fix my problem? and more importantly will it be safe?
I know i'll probably have issues with static buildup + if something from the ATX pcb shorts to the case it wont blow the wall fuse and if I touch it i'll get electrocuted blaa blaa blaa I'm not really concerned about that.
I don't really want to buy an isolation transformer.
Thanks
I use an old computer ATX PSU for my bench work. If I connect my scope to anything other then the DC-COM of the ATX supply it will short out and kill the supply. This kinda sucks because I want to measure signals wrt to the -12V or -5V rail say...
If I need 24V for a circuit I just use the -12V to the +12V, you can now see why I would want to measure wrt the -12V rail.
Obviously the scope and DC-COM of the ATX are tied to ground (Earth ground) so when I put my scopes common (actually earth ground) to -5V rail (which is -5 wrt DC-COM & Earth) current flows and messes everything up.
If I was to just rip off the ground pin on the wall plug of my supply, would this fix my problem? and more importantly will it be safe?
I know i'll probably have issues with static buildup + if something from the ATX pcb shorts to the case it wont blow the wall fuse and if I touch it i'll get electrocuted blaa blaa blaa I'm not really concerned about that.
I don't really want to buy an isolation transformer.
Thanks