Little red non-metal washers

  • Thread starter Thread starter meirman
  • Start date Start date
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meirman

My new computer, only the second one I've assembled, is running now,
and I'm wondering what the purpose was of those little red washers
made of fiber or heavy paper.

I've seen them under the screws that hold a motherboard in, but that
couldn't be for insulation, could it? Since the top of the post the
screw screws into is touching the ground trace on the underside of the
motherboard, why should it matter if touches it on the upside also?

Are the red washers shock absorbers or lock washers of a sort?

Thanks

Meirman
 
meirman said:
what the purpose was of those little red washers
made of fiber or heavy paper.

I've seen them under the screws that hold a motherboard
in, but that couldn't be for insulation, could it?
Since the top of the post the screw screws into is
touching the ground trace on the underside of the
motherboard, why should it matter if touches it on the
upside also?
Click to expand...

The red washers are only for electrical insulation, and sometimes one
is needed for the screw as well as for the post, depending on how the
board is designed. Don't assume that your motherboard doesn't need
washers; always inspect it on both sides and around each hole, and use
a fiber washer where ever theres a possibility of a short.
 
The red washers are only for electrical insulation, and sometimes one
is needed for the screw as well as for the post, depending on how the
board is designed. Don't assume that your motherboard doesn't need
washers; always inspect it on both sides and around each hole, and use
a fiber washer where ever theres a possibility of a short.
Click to expand...
What garbage, all motherboards of ATX design and BTX are supposed to ground
through the case as shielding, they are as you said to stop the screws
working loose and many case manufactures no longer supply them. As CPU
speeds venture further and further in to the microwave band this will be
more vital.


--
Chris
Technical director CKCCOMPUSCRIPT
Apple Computers, Intel, Roland audio, ATI, Microsoft, Sun Solaris, Cisco and
Silicone Graphics.
Wholesale distributor and specialist audio visual computers and servers
FREE SUPPORT @,
http://www.ckccomp.plus.com/site/page.HTM
(e-mail address removed)
 
What garbage, all motherboards of ATX design and BTX are
supposed to ground through the case as shielding, they are
as you said to stop the screws working loose
Click to expand...

Nonsense. Fiber washers may be the worst choice for holding screws in
place, worse than lock or bell washers or even no washers at all.
Their only purpose is to provide electrical insulation, and
motherboards are still manufactured with inadequate clearance around
some of their holes.
 
Nonsense. Fiber washers may be the worst choice for holding screws in
place, worse than lock or bell washers or even no washers at all.
Their only purpose is to provide electrical insulation, and
motherboards are still manufactured with inadequate clearance around
some of their holes.
Click to expand...
So when I designed motherboards over the last 11 years testing their ground
plane effect making sure the copper left around the edge and the stipples
around the holes that the impedance was correct and that harmonics did not
exceed each countries specification it was not correct? 27 years of this and
you know better, I think not. You may want to fry your balls with microwaves
I do not, why did Intel put metal shielding over the CPU core when it's just
another layer for heat to travel through, why have AMD now followed suit
because core speeds up in the GHz spell problems with harmonics.


--
Chris
Technical director CKCCOMPUSCRIPT
Apple Computers, Intel, Roland audio, ATI, Microsoft, Sun Solaris, Cisco and
Silicone Graphics.
Wholesale distributor and specialist audio visual computers and servers
FREE SUPPORT @,
http://www.ckccomp.plus.com/site/page.HTM
(e-mail address removed)
 
Chris said:
What garbage, all motherboards of ATX design and BTX are
supposed to ground through the case as shielding, they are
as you said to stop the screws working loose
Click to expand...
So when I designed motherboards over the last 11 years
testing their ground plane effect making sure the copper
left around the edge and the stipples around the holes
that the impedance was correct and that harmonics did not
exceed each countries specification it was not correct?
27 years of this and you know better, I think not. You may
want to fry your balls with microwaves I do not, why did
Intel put metal shielding over the CPU core when it's just
another layer for heat to travel through, why have AMD
now followed suit because core speeds up in the GHz spell
problems with harmonics.
Click to expand...

I'm not at all disagreeing with you about grounding motherboards; I'm
only saying that fiber washers don't improve the grip of screws, and
some holes need insulators to prevent shorts. You didn't design every
motherboard, and not every motherboard was designed properly.
 
I'm not at all disagreeing with you about grounding motherboards; I'm
only saying that fiber washers don't improve the grip of screws, and
some holes need insulators to prevent shorts. You didn't design every
motherboard, and not every motherboard was designed properly.
Click to expand...

Those washers are from days gone by. They were sometimes needed on the
older mb's for eletrical insulation of the screws but I doubt you
will find any contemporary mb will need them unless you are using big
fat screw heads (which you shouldn't). I never use them anymore and
never have a problem.
 
So when I designed motherboards over the last 11 years testing their ground
plane effect making sure the copper left around the edge and the stipples
around the holes that the impedance was correct and that harmonics did not
exceed each countries specification it was not correct? 27 years of this and
you know better, I think not. You may want to fry your balls with microwaves
I do not, why did Intel put metal shielding over the CPU core when it's just
another layer for heat to travel through, why have AMD now followed suit
because core speeds up in the GHz spell problems with harmonics.
Click to expand...
====================

I'm not getting a clear picture of what is the preferred method.

How about clarifying a little.

Thanks.

Jack
 
Take an unmounted mother board. Drop a mounting screw in all holes
that will be used for mounting the board to case. Now look at the
screw as it sits flush on board. If any electical trace material from
board circuitry passes under head of screw place a non conductive
washer under the head of the screw. If all that is under the head is
the isolated circular area around hole then no washer is needed.
 
Take an unmounted mother board. Drop a mounting screw in all holes
that will be used for mounting the board to case. Now look at the
screw as it sits flush on board. If any electical trace material from
board circuitry passes under head of screw place a non conductive
washer under the head of the screw. If all that is under the head is
the isolated circular area around hole then no washer is needed.
Click to expand...
============

Thanks for the info.

Jack
 
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