Recommended Ground while testing Laptop with Multimeter? [closed]
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 Dec 15 at 7:42
Merudo
182
closed as off-topic by Scott, DavidPostill♦ Dec 15 at 18:24
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "This question is not about computer hardware or software, within the scope defined in the help center." – Scott, DavidPostill
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |
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 Dec 15 at 7:42
Merudo
182
closed as off-topic by Scott, DavidPostill♦ Dec 15 at 18:24
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "This question is not about computer hardware or software, within the scope defined in the help center." – Scott, DavidPostill
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |
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 Dec 15 at 7:42
Merudo
182
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 Dec 15 at 7:42
Merudo
182
asked Dec 15 at 7:42
Merudo
182
asked Dec 15 at 7:42
Merudo
182
asked Dec 15 at 7:42
Merudo
182
asked Dec 15 at 7:42
Merudo
182
182
closed as off-topic by Scott, DavidPostill♦ Dec 15 at 18:24
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "This question is not about computer hardware or software, within the scope defined in the help center." – Scott, DavidPostill
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
closed as off-topic by Scott, DavidPostill♦ Dec 15 at 18:24
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "This question is not about computer hardware or software, within the scope defined in the help center." – Scott, DavidPostill
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
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 Dec 15 at 8:17
Keltari
50.7k18117169
1
I've taken my laptop apart to test for the power so the motherboard is no longer screwed into its case.
– Merudo
Dec 15 at 8:32
1
@Merudo the screw holes are still attached to the ground plane.
– Keltari
Dec 15 at 8:36
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
Dec 15 at 13:13
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
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 Dec 15 at 8:17
Keltari
50.7k18117169
1
I've taken my laptop apart to test for the power so the motherboard is no longer screwed into its case.
– Merudo
Dec 15 at 8:32
1
@Merudo the screw holes are still attached to the ground plane.
– Keltari
Dec 15 at 8:36
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
Dec 15 at 13:13
add a comment |
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 Dec 15 at 8:17
Keltari
50.7k18117169
1
I've taken my laptop apart to test for the power so the motherboard is no longer screwed into its case.
– Merudo
Dec 15 at 8:32
1
@Merudo the screw holes are still attached to the ground plane.
– Keltari
Dec 15 at 8:36
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
Dec 15 at 13:13
add a comment |
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 Dec 15 at 8:17
Keltari
50.7k18117169
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 Dec 15 at 8:17
Keltari
50.7k18117169
answered Dec 15 at 8:17
Keltari
50.7k18117169
answered Dec 15 at 8:17
Keltari
50.7k18117169
answered Dec 15 at 8:17
Keltari
50.7k18117169
50.7k18117169
1
I've taken my laptop apart to test for the power so the motherboard is no longer screwed into its case.
– Merudo
Dec 15 at 8:32
1
@Merudo the screw holes are still attached to the ground plane.
– Keltari
Dec 15 at 8:36
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
Dec 15 at 13:13
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
Dec 15 at 8:32
1
@Merudo the screw holes are still attached to the ground plane.
– Keltari
Dec 15 at 8:36
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
Dec 15 at 13:13
1
1
I've taken my laptop apart to test for the power so the motherboard is no longer screwed into its case.
– Merudo
Dec 15 at 8:32
I've taken my laptop apart to test for the power so the motherboard is no longer screwed into its case.
– Merudo
Dec 15 at 8:32
1
1
@Merudo the screw holes are still attached to the ground plane.
– Keltari
Dec 15 at 8:36
@Merudo the screw holes are still attached to the ground plane.
– Keltari
Dec 15 at 8:36
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
Dec 15 at 13:13
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
Dec 15 at 13:13
add a comment |
