molex connector/ PS question

[cheapgoose]

so I'm wondering, on your avg. molex connector, you have 12v, 5v and 2 ground terminals.

do we really need 2 grounds? would it be safe to just a common ground for both 12v and 5 v lines.

 

[MDE]

Better safe than sorry. Plus four is an even number, and we know everything in PCs is in even numbers

 

[Zepper]

Both ground wires were necessary in the olden days when PSUs were analog (big heavy transformers, etc.) when the different voltages were supplied from different txfmr windings. So the grounds could possibly be floating relative to each other.
With switching PSUs the grounds are all common, so the extra wire is unnecessary - just "best practice". I've seen some real cheapo power Ys where the connection to the 2nd gnd pin was made by a small U of wire...
.bh.
:moon:

 

[cheapgoose]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Both ground wires were necessary in the olden days when PSUs were analog (big heavy transformers, etc.) when the different voltages were supplied from different txfmr windings. So the grounds could possibly be floating relative to each other.
With switching PSUs the grounds are all common, so the extra wire is unnecessary - just "best practice". I've seen some real cheapo power Ys where the connection to the 2nd gnd pin was made by a small U of wire...
.bh.
:moon:

tks! I spent good money on a true430. hopefully I wont' blow up anything. tks