Will I get shocked if a touch a PSU that is outside of its case?

[scienceisfun91]

I need to run my power supply outside of its case. But will I get shocked if the touch the PSU outside of its case if it is laying on the floor?

 

[jammydodger]

Why on earth would you want/need to?

I would never touch a live power supply that has had its case removed. Even touching one that no longer connected to the mains can be dangerous due to charge being stored in capacitors. Touching the components of a live PSU may at best lead to a shock, and at worst lead to a bad case of death.

 

[Motopsychojdn]

When you say 'outside of its case' do you mean the actual powersupplies case? or simply running the psu outside of the computer case?
as eloquently put by Jammy, even a minor case of death is to be avoided
you can run the psu INTACT outside the computer case, although its not really ideal, but never remove the psu casing and try running it, unless you happen to be a qualified electrician by trade
**Edited for spelling plus volunteering to video if Op is in U.K. 😛**
Moto

 

[casualbuilder]

+1 to the slight case of death...please record and post on youtube if you are intending to remove the case of the actual psu and touch things...live broadcast is best unless you have a very sick and twisted friend.

 

[inuyasha-rules]

yeah, vlotages inside a psu are around 400 to 600 volts. generally not enough to kill you, but will give a hell of a shock. what are you trying to do to that poor power supply that you need to run it naked?

@jammy is there a good case of death??! makes me want to find one

 

[Motopsychojdn]

^Volts don't kill, Amps do,
in fact less than one amp is capable of killing you if it passes through your heart
whereas people have survived many thousands of volts
Moto

 

[casualbuilder]

^ +1

true story moto. however, call me sadistic, i would still like to watch that video!

 

[compulsivebuilder]

A power supply that is unopened, but outside a PC case, is fairly safe. The metal outside of a power supply is grounded.

If you open the power supply's case, however, then you can kill yourself.

So it depends what you mean by "outside its case"...

 

[HEXiT]

touching the cables or box when its out side the case is fine. you shouldn't get any shocks... touching the connectors on the wires is generally thought of as safe as they put out a maximum of 12 v so you can run tests like the psu fan test relatively safely...

but if you open the unit and turn it on the chances of a high voltage/amperage shock are pretty high. you get to close with an unshielded screwdriver or soldering iron on a freshly turned off psu and you could wake up in the E.R. or worse. not wake up in the morgue.