<h3>TL; DR</h3>
<p>You could try, powering off and connecting the <code>V-</code> to the <code>AC Earth</code> (either with, or without, a 100 Ω resistor - although the use of resistor <em>would</em> be preferable).</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/XBkvG.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Connect AC Earth to DC V-"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/XBkvG.jpg" alt="Connect AC Earth to DC V-" title="Connect AC Earth to DC V-" /></a></p>
<p>Then switch the PSU on to see if:</p>
<ul>
<li><em>First</em>, the PSU doesn't short and explode (this is rather unlikely, but you never know), and;</li>
<li><em>Second</em>, the mild shocking that you experience has stopped. If it has stopped, then all well and good. If it hasn't, then power off and remove the connection (as it would seem pointless).</li>
</ul>
<p>Personally, this is what I would try... and <em>then</em> get a replacement PSU anyway, when funds allow.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Notes</h3>
<p>It's obviously a dodgy earth/ground but without seeing inside, it might be difficult to determine exactly what the issue is.</p>
<p>Some of these LED power supplies are notoriously badly fabricated and there may be a poorly soldered connection inside, loose conenction, or a faulty part.</p>
<p>It is probably easily remedied, if you know what to look for... but not so easily fixed if you don't. I've had a lot of these LED PSUs in the past and some are fixable, some not. Normally the output faisl and just the power transistors need replacing. I haven't come across one which shocks me yet, though, so I couldn't say what the issue is (likely to be), apart from a bad ground.</p>
<p>If you think you could manage it, open it and check for bad ground/earth connections. If you don't feel confident, then, seeing as they are relatively cheap so, maybe obtain another PSU from a different source/manufacturer and try that one instead.</p>
<p><strong>If you do open it up, remember to disconnect from the mains supply..!</strong></p>
<p>To be honest, it sounds like a dodgy unit, but... As a sanity check: Does the wall socket that you are plugging into actually have an Earth connection. I have a rented flat (in SE Asia), that has &quot;three-hole&quot; wall sockets, but the earth isn't actually earthed, and I'm constantly getting shocks from everything. As a shoddy workaround, you <em>could</em> connect the earth to the plumbing (if you have metal pipework), to get a good earth... <strong>However, seeing as the unit is detective, then this could result in a shocking shower... so not advised!!!</strong>.</p>
<p>I can't help thinking that this <em>could be</em> quite a serious issue, and that (in the absense of a definitive answer here) maybe you should ask, or look, on <a href="https://electronics.stackexchange.com">SE.Electrical Engineering</a>.</p>
<h3>Further reading</h3>
<p><a href="https://electronics.stackexchange.com/q/589864/64015">Should I ground the DC output negative terminal to the chasis on my 12 volt project?</a>, in particular, <a href="https://electronics.stackexchange.com/a/589868/64015">this answer</a> (but <em>all of the answers</em> are both informative and worth a read).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-06T17:52:44.687Z
2022-12-10T13:15:56.097Z
2022-12-10T13:15:56.097Z
Greenonline
<p>I bought a 12V 33.3A switching power supply for my DIY 3d printer, it looks like this:
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/CIbIR.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/CIbIR.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>I connect all of the L, N, EGND to outlet. When I flashing firmware, I got electrical shocks several times from SD slot and screen in one hour. It is so frequent so I do not think it is static electric discharge.</p>
<p>When measuring around using AC voltage mode of multimeter, I found touching one probe and another probe connected to DC+ or DC-, it measures 3-4 volts. When I measure AC voltage between EGND and DC output, it reads around 28-30 volts. Is this why I got electric shocks? Should I connect DC- to EGND dirctly to prevent this?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-07T14:07:08.650Z
Following your guidance, I found [this answer](https://electronics.stackexchange.com/a/589868/207955) on SE Electrical Engineering. It looks like we should connect `AC ground` to `DC-` in 3D printers because touching is a concern. Also, take a look at [fourth image](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:965396) of this printer, the author connect `AC ground` to `DC-` too.
Page David
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-07T14:15:18.780Z
I have checked the grounding is okay, I currently guess this line should be connected but not not mentioned in most tutorials about 3d printer diy. Also, [this post](https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/original-prusa-i3-mk3s-mk3-others-archive/ground-pc-boards./) mentions "Connect all PCB ground plains directly to system ground, Power Supply Chassis, (Earth Ground)." But anyway, I'm not an electrician so this might not be true.
Page David
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-10T11:08:42.467Z
@Greenonline I connected the `V-` and `AC Earth`, my power supply did not explode and the problem is solved, thanks for your guidance. I think my power supply is originally designed for LED bulbs, as it labeled, so designer did take touching into account.
Page David
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-10T11:12:33.583Z
Excellent, that's great news. I'll update my answer with the info from the comments, and the link to SE.Electrical Eng. If you could mark it as the accepted answer, using the tick icon button, then that would be great. Or, alternatively, you could post your own answer, if you wish to...? Yes, they are indeed, LED power supplies. However, they don't always cause shocking. I think that the Earth is not grounded in your unit.
Greenonline
<grounding>
Do you ground your motherboard and screen?
Page David
# Do you ground your motherboard and screen?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-12-06)

I bought a 12V 33.3A switching power supply for my DIY 3d printer, it looks like this:
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/CIbIR.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/CIbIR.jpg)

I connect all of the L, N, EGND to outlet. When I flashing firmware, I got electrical shocks several times from SD slot and screen in one hour. It is so frequent so I do not think it is static electric discharge.

When measuring around using AC voltage mode of multimeter, I found touching one probe and another probe connected to DC+ or DC-, it measures 3-4 volts. When I measure AC voltage between EGND and DC output, it reads around 28-30 volts. Is this why I got electric shocks? Should I connect DC- to EGND dirctly to prevent this?

**Tags:** grounding

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Following your guidance, I found [this answer](https://electronics.stackexchange.com/a/589868/207955) on SE Electrical Engineering. It looks like we should connect `AC ground` to `DC-` in 3D printers because touching is a concern. Also, take a look at [fourth image](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:965396) of this printer, the author connect `AC ground` to `DC-` too.  
> **username_0**: I have checked the grounding is okay, I currently guess this line should be connected but not not mentioned in most tutorials about 3d printer diy. Also, [this post](https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/original-prusa-i3-mk3s-mk3-others-archive/ground-pc-boards./) mentions "Connect all PCB ground plains directly to system ground, Power Supply Chassis, (Earth Ground)." But anyway, I'm not an electrician so this might not be true.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I connected the `V-` and `AC Earth`, my power supply did not explode and the problem is solved, thanks for your guidance. I think my power supply is originally designed for LED bulbs, as it labeled, so designer did take touching into account.  
> **username_1**: Excellent, that's great news. I'll update my answer with the info from the comments, and the link to SE.Electrical Eng. If you could mark it as the accepted answer, using the tick icon button, then that would be great. Or, alternatively, you could post your own answer, if you wish to...? Yes, they are indeed, LED power supplies. However, they don't always cause shocking. I think that the Earth is not grounded in your unit.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-12-06. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

### TL; DR

You could try, powering off and connecting the `V-` to the `AC Earth` (either with, or without, a 100 Ω resistor - although the use of resistor *would* be preferable).

[![Connect AC Earth to DC V-](https://i.sstatic.net/XBkvG.jpg "Connect AC Earth to DC V-")](https://i.sstatic.net/XBkvG.jpg "Connect AC Earth to DC V-")

Then switch the PSU on to see if:

* *First*, the PSU doesn't short and explode (this is rather unlikely, but you never know), and;
* *Second*, the mild shocking that you experience has stopped. If it has stopped, then all well and good. If it hasn't, then power off and remove the connection (as it would seem pointless).

Personally, this is what I would try... and *then* get a replacement PSU anyway, when funds allow.

---

### Notes

It's obviously a dodgy earth/ground but without seeing inside, it might be difficult to determine exactly what the issue is.

Some of these LED power supplies are notoriously badly fabricated and there may be a poorly soldered connection inside, loose conenction, or a faulty part.

It is probably easily remedied, if you know what to look for... but not so easily fixed if you don't. I've had a lot of these LED PSUs in the past and some are fixable, some not. Normally the output faisl and just the power transistors need replacing. I haven't come across one which shocks me yet, though, so I couldn't say what the issue is (likely to be), apart from a bad ground.

If you think you could manage it, open it and check for bad ground/earth connections. If you don't feel confident, then, seeing as they are relatively cheap so, maybe obtain another PSU from a different source/manufacturer and try that one instead.

**If you do open it up, remember to disconnect from the mains supply..!**

To be honest, it sounds like a dodgy unit, but... As a sanity check: Does the wall socket that you are plugging into actually have an Earth connection. I have a rented flat (in SE Asia), that has "three-hole" wall sockets, but the earth isn't actually earthed, and I'm constantly getting shocks from everything. As a shoddy workaround, you *could* connect the earth to the plumbing (if you have metal pipework), to get a good earth... **However, seeing as the unit is detective, then this could result in a shocking shower... so not advised!!!**.

I can't help thinking that this *could be* quite a serious issue, and that (in the absense of a definitive answer here) maybe you should ask, or look, on [SE.Electrical Engineering](https://electronics.stackexchange.com).

### Further reading

[Should I ground the DC output negative terminal to the chasis on my 12 volt project?](https://electronics.stackexchange.com/q/589864/64015), in particular, [this answer](https://electronics.stackexchange.com/a/589868/64015) (but *all of the answers* are both informative and worth a read).


---

