will this work SAFELY-technical question

[MelDJ]

see attached image.
the open cdrom worries me. should i put its cover back?

[Paqman]

Depends on what you call safe. If you're just doing some testing, careful adult user, then I don't see any problems. But I wouldn't let small children near anything with exposed rotating parts, for example.

Obviously be careful of shorting anything on the mobo to (for example) the chassis of the power supply.

[MelDJ]

i was wondering whether the laser from the cdrom will cause some harm

[cascade9]

Poor old p2/p3, all naked on the desk *averts eyes* LOL


i was wondering whether the laser from the cdrom will cause some harm

I'm fine with everything else, I've run setups like that 'testing' and ended up using them for a while, but that CD-rom is an issue. You realy dont want leaked laser light to burn your eyes out.

[Spike-X]

Now that's what I call a bare-bones PC!

[Paqman]

i was wondering whether the laser from the cdrom will cause some harm

No, the laser diode is staring at the bottom of the disk. You might get a minimal amount of diffuse reflection, which would be eye-safe. I'd be more concerned about crud getting into the mechanism or on the lens than lasers getting out.

[MelDJ]

its a pentium 3
thanks for explaining


Now that's what I call a bare-bones PC!

i was trying to make into a laptop :D
maybe i will try to shed more off it and test reactos or bsd

[hardfire_avk]

o! haha good ol days!sexy PC huh!

yeah, the laser may create problems..

PS: did notice the chemistry book :-)

[MelDJ]

PS: did notice the chemistry book :-)

great eyes

[K.Mandla]

It'll more than likely work fine; if it was me I'd do something to raise the power supply and motherboard up off the desk. But I only say that because I like to think the air circulation is of benefit to the hotter parts of the machine.

I'm definitely no expert though. ;)

[MelDJ]

good point. but its already exposed, so is air circulation and cooling needed?

[Paqman]

good point. but its already exposed, so is air circulation and cooling needed?

Not really. But a layer of thick cardboard under the mobo wouldn't hurt as insulation. The standoffs in a case are just there to insulate, since there's no real air flow behind the mobo anyway.

[MelDJ]

update:
it works. its quite fun to see the cd spinning in the cd rom.
thanks everyone for the assistance :D

[MelDJ]

new question. see the attached picture. its my power supply with the top taken off.
now, i can remove the circuit board from the container but is it safe?
(the sticker on the top said 'do not remove cover! only for trained personnel")

[Paqman]

now, i can remove the circuit board from the container but is it safe?


No, leave that in there. Double insulation is a safety feature. Best to put the cover back on, too. Best not to mess around inside your power supply unless you really know what you're doing.

[MelDJ]

No, leave that in there. Double insulation is a safety feature. Best to put the cover back on, too. Best not to mess around inside your power supply unless you really know what you're doing.

just curious, what would happen if i take it out from the case and use it?

[Paqman]

just curious, what would happen if i take it out from the case and use it?

It would work fine, but you're eliminating one of the built-in safety features.

[MelDJ]

It would work fine, but you're eliminating one of the built-in safety features.

what does it prevent? and what can happen which will be dangerous?

[fromthehill]

just curious, what would happen if i take it out from the case and use it?
nothing as long as you don't touch it at the wrong places
otherwise you will probably die :D

[anaconda]

I wouldn't put the circuit board against a table, (mainboard or the power supply) because you dont know how well the surface of your table conducts electricity.

But it will be safe if you add some nibs under the boards, to keep them atleast 5mm above the table...

[Paqman]

what does it prevent? and what can happen which will be dangerous?

Double insulation protects you from an electrical fault on the board giving you a zap. Without the cover you've just cut your safety margin in half. You may also have some exposed conductors that are at input voltage (ie: either 110V or 230V AC, lethal voltages)

Watch out for big capacitors when you've got the cover off that thing btw. A capacitor will hold a charge for quite a while after the PSU is unplugged, and could give you a zap. This is a mains voltage device you've got the cover off, if you don't know what you're doing around electricity, don't mess with it.

[MelDJ]

nothing as long as you don't touch it at the wrong places
otherwise you will probably die :D

lol

i am going to screw the cover back then. not confident enough!