Proper Grounding Techniques

[Jim Beacon]

From: "Eric Smith" <eric at brouhaha.com>



> David wrote:
> > Considering that resistors might open, but rarely short...i would expect
> > this to actually be parallel....
>
> Jim wrote:
> > No, the resistor is there to protect the engineer, not the equipment,
> > hence series.
>
> If they're in series, but one fails open, it's not going to be protecting
> either the engineer or the equipment.
>
But the engineer is protected by an open resistor - there is no path to
ground for a potentially fatal shock form the mains. The risk of static
damage is always secondary to the risk of a fatality. Remeber, the worst
case shock is one where the current passes through the heart, which is a
huge risk if one hand is connected directly to ground by a short
circuit.........

Jim.