Cabinet wiring: Earth ground

larrylemming

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I know most cabinets have all metal parts tied together, then to earth ground by either copper wire or a grounding strip. I also know that this is partially to satisfy FCC regulations.

Without it, there is definitely the possibility for pieces of metal to get unevenly charged, then discharge somewhere they shouldn't (worst-case scenario, all the extra charge hits the main board and fries it). However, the chances of this happening are fairly (really, almost astronomically) small, is this really 100% necessary?

If you were wiring a cabinet, would you ground everything?
 
It's more there to keep someone from being shocked from malfunction. All metal parts that someone can touch that have any ties to electronics should be grounded - ie coin door, control panel, speaker grill, monitor especially if any mounting bolts are through the cabinet like Nintendo cabs.

A couple years back when I started volunteering for the NW Pinball and Arcade show, it came to my attention that it is a prerequisite for the machine to be at the show it must have the ground prong on the plug and be properly grounded. Since then I have always made sure that my grounds were good, even on 60-1 machines I put together.

It's like having tempered glass on pins and cocktails - it's about safety. - Barry
 
However, the chances of this happening are fairly (really, almost astronomically) small, is this really 100% necessary?

If you were wiring a cabinet, would you ground everything?

'Fairly' low... yes.
'Astronomically' low... no.
I might go as far as saying the chances are 'very' low.

For home use, I don't lose sleep over it, but I do generally try to keep OEM ground wiring intact, or return it to that condition if it's still present but not done properly.

If you have something out where the public is using the things, liability becomes an issue, so it's another (more serious) matter.
 
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