| Electronics > Repair |
| On PCB spark gap? |
| (1/3) > >> |
| Phil1977:
Hi, doing a rough sanity check over a super low cost power supply I was asking myself why there is no solder stop lacquer under the Y-capacitor (see pic). Is this intended as a spark gap so that if the voltage between primary and secondary rises to high, e.g. by electrostatic charge, the current is flowing there instead of breaking the insulation somewhere else? Is this good or bad? Just asking generally, I will replace this PS anyhow. |
| ataradov:
It looks like a spark gap, but it is not clear why it would be needed in a low voltage power supply. My best guess - they just used some existing footprint with embedded spark gap. |
| wraper:
It's better if (say static) discharge happens there than breaks relatively thin insulation somewhere else and becomes a permanent safety risk. |
| squadchannel:
I don't think any number of Pikachus would be enough to spark this distance. |
| Phil1977:
They even put another spark gap of that kind on the other side of the PCB. Is it anywhere state of the art to build spark gaps that way? Somehow I wouldn't feel comfortable if burn marks from the sparks are generated there. |
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