Recommended Ground while testing Laptop with Multimeter?
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I'm about to test my laptop motherboard to make sure a component is receiving power.
All guides point out I need to connect my multimeter to a proper electrical ground.
How do I locate such a ground?
motherboard hardware-failure power laptop-repair ground
asked 8 hours ago
Merudo
132
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Merudo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I'm about to test my laptop motherboard to make sure a component is receiving power.
All guides point out I need to connect my multimeter to a proper electrical ground.
How do I locate such a ground?
motherboard hardware-failure power laptop-repair ground
asked 8 hours ago
Merudo
132
New contributor
Merudo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I'm about to test my laptop motherboard to make sure a component is receiving power.
All guides point out I need to connect my multimeter to a proper electrical ground.
How do I locate such a ground?
motherboard hardware-failure power laptop-repair ground
asked 8 hours ago
Merudo
132
New contributor
Merudo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I'm about to test my laptop motherboard to make sure a component is receiving power.
All guides point out I need to connect my multimeter to a proper electrical ground.
How do I locate such a ground?
motherboard hardware-failure power laptop-repair ground
motherboard hardware-failure power laptop-repair ground
asked 8 hours ago
Merudo
132
New contributor
Merudo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
Merudo
132
New contributor
Merudo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
Merudo
132
New contributor
Merudo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
Merudo
132
asked 8 hours ago
Merudo
132
132
New contributor
Merudo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Merudo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Merudo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
Motherboards are covered in grounds. Any large metal pad on the motherboard should be a ground. However, there is an easier place to find a ground: The metal around any screw hole that mounts the motherboard to the case is a ground.
If you are unsure if a particular pad is a ground, put your multimeter into continuity mode - when it beeps if a circuit is made. Touch a known ground, such as a screw hole, with one probe and the other to what you are testing for ground. If it beeps, it is connected to ground.
answered 7 hours ago
Keltari
50.2k18115168
1
I've taken my laptop apart to test for the power so the motherboard is no longer screwed into its case.
– Merudo
7 hours ago
1
@Merudo the screw holes are still attached to the ground plane.
– Keltari
7 hours ago
That continuity mode has to send a current through the motherboard. If the two points are not directly connected but are connected through a component on the board I'd be a bit concerned. Could the current introduced by the multimeter damage the component? Could you incorrectly conclude the other point is also ground even though the current had to pass through a component on the board?
– kasperd
2 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
If your aim is to test if a component is being powered, why not just set your multimeter to DC voltage, and test for voltage across that component with the MB powered up (whilst observing all the usual safety precautions for such a task)?
Maybe if you can explain what the fault is/component is/what test you are trying to do, that might get you more helpful answers.
answered 1 hour ago
user1138
414
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
Motherboards are covered in grounds. Any large metal pad on the motherboard should be a ground. However, there is an easier place to find a ground: The metal around any screw hole that mounts the motherboard to the case is a ground.
If you are unsure if a particular pad is a ground, put your multimeter into continuity mode - when it beeps if a circuit is made. Touch a known ground, such as a screw hole, with one probe and the other to what you are testing for ground. If it beeps, it is connected to ground.
answered 7 hours ago
Keltari
50.2k18115168
1
I've taken my laptop apart to test for the power so the motherboard is no longer screwed into its case.
– Merudo
7 hours ago
1
@Merudo the screw holes are still attached to the ground plane.
– Keltari
7 hours ago
That continuity mode has to send a current through the motherboard. If the two points are not directly connected but are connected through a component on the board I'd be a bit concerned. Could the current introduced by the multimeter damage the component? Could you incorrectly conclude the other point is also ground even though the current had to pass through a component on the board?
– kasperd
2 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
Motherboards are covered in grounds. Any large metal pad on the motherboard should be a ground. However, there is an easier place to find a ground: The metal around any screw hole that mounts the motherboard to the case is a ground.
If you are unsure if a particular pad is a ground, put your multimeter into continuity mode - when it beeps if a circuit is made. Touch a known ground, such as a screw hole, with one probe and the other to what you are testing for ground. If it beeps, it is connected to ground.
answered 7 hours ago
Keltari
50.2k18115168
1
I've taken my laptop apart to test for the power so the motherboard is no longer screwed into its case.
– Merudo
7 hours ago
1
@Merudo the screw holes are still attached to the ground plane.
– Keltari
7 hours ago
That continuity mode has to send a current through the motherboard. If the two points are not directly connected but are connected through a component on the board I'd be a bit concerned. Could the current introduced by the multimeter damage the component? Could you incorrectly conclude the other point is also ground even though the current had to pass through a component on the board?
– kasperd
2 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
Motherboards are covered in grounds. Any large metal pad on the motherboard should be a ground. However, there is an easier place to find a ground: The metal around any screw hole that mounts the motherboard to the case is a ground.
If you are unsure if a particular pad is a ground, put your multimeter into continuity mode - when it beeps if a circuit is made. Touch a known ground, such as a screw hole, with one probe and the other to what you are testing for ground. If it beeps, it is connected to ground.
answered 7 hours ago
Keltari
50.2k18115168
Motherboards are covered in grounds. Any large metal pad on the motherboard should be a ground. However, there is an easier place to find a ground: The metal around any screw hole that mounts the motherboard to the case is a ground.
If you are unsure if a particular pad is a ground, put your multimeter into continuity mode - when it beeps if a circuit is made. Touch a known ground, such as a screw hole, with one probe and the other to what you are testing for ground. If it beeps, it is connected to ground.
answered 7 hours ago
Keltari
50.2k18115168
answered 7 hours ago
Keltari
50.2k18115168
answered 7 hours ago
Keltari
50.2k18115168
answered 7 hours ago
Keltari
50.2k18115168
50.2k18115168
1
I've taken my laptop apart to test for the power so the motherboard is no longer screwed into its case.
– Merudo
7 hours ago
1
@Merudo the screw holes are still attached to the ground plane.
– Keltari
7 hours ago
That continuity mode has to send a current through the motherboard. If the two points are not directly connected but are connected through a component on the board I'd be a bit concerned. Could the current introduced by the multimeter damage the component? Could you incorrectly conclude the other point is also ground even though the current had to pass through a component on the board?
– kasperd
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1
I've taken my laptop apart to test for the power so the motherboard is no longer screwed into its case.
– Merudo
7 hours ago
1
@Merudo the screw holes are still attached to the ground plane.
– Keltari
7 hours ago
That continuity mode has to send a current through the motherboard. If the two points are not directly connected but are connected through a component on the board I'd be a bit concerned. Could the current introduced by the multimeter damage the component? Could you incorrectly conclude the other point is also ground even though the current had to pass through a component on the board?
– kasperd
2 hours ago
1
1
I've taken my laptop apart to test for the power so the motherboard is no longer screwed into its case.
– Merudo
7 hours ago
I've taken my laptop apart to test for the power so the motherboard is no longer screwed into its case.
– Merudo
7 hours ago
1
1
@Merudo the screw holes are still attached to the ground plane.
– Keltari
7 hours ago
@Merudo the screw holes are still attached to the ground plane.
– Keltari
7 hours ago
That continuity mode has to send a current through the motherboard. If the two points are not directly connected but are connected through a component on the board I'd be a bit concerned. Could the current introduced by the multimeter damage the component? Could you incorrectly conclude the other point is also ground even though the current had to pass through a component on the board?
– kasperd
2 hours ago
That continuity mode has to send a current through the motherboard. If the two points are not directly connected but are connected through a component on the board I'd be a bit concerned. Could the current introduced by the multimeter damage the component? Could you incorrectly conclude the other point is also ground even though the current had to pass through a component on the board?
– kasperd
2 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
If your aim is to test if a component is being powered, why not just set your multimeter to DC voltage, and test for voltage across that component with the MB powered up (whilst observing all the usual safety precautions for such a task)?
Maybe if you can explain what the fault is/component is/what test you are trying to do, that might get you more helpful answers.
answered 1 hour ago
user1138
414
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
If your aim is to test if a component is being powered, why not just set your multimeter to DC voltage, and test for voltage across that component with the MB powered up (whilst observing all the usual safety precautions for such a task)?
Maybe if you can explain what the fault is/component is/what test you are trying to do, that might get you more helpful answers.
answered 1 hour ago
user1138
414
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
If your aim is to test if a component is being powered, why not just set your multimeter to DC voltage, and test for voltage across that component with the MB powered up (whilst observing all the usual safety precautions for such a task)?
Maybe if you can explain what the fault is/component is/what test you are trying to do, that might get you more helpful answers.
answered 1 hour ago
user1138
414
If your aim is to test if a component is being powered, why not just set your multimeter to DC voltage, and test for voltage across that component with the MB powered up (whilst observing all the usual safety precautions for such a task)?
Maybe if you can explain what the fault is/component is/what test you are trying to do, that might get you more helpful answers.
answered 1 hour ago
user1138
414
answered 1 hour ago
user1138
414
answered 1 hour ago
user1138
414
answered 1 hour ago
user1138
414
414
add a comment |
add a comment |
Merudo is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Merudo is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Merudo is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Merudo is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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