Dust filled computer

[Mac Cool]

ToolPackinMama:

I'm just wondering if you know of even one case where that actually
happened. If that has occurred, what are the signs that it has
occurred? Maybe one can't see the offfending spark, but surely the
after-effects of such damage are immediately obvious, yes?

I think it's a case of taking reasonable precautionary measures. If you
believe that static presents no danger to electronics then you may behave
accordingly; those of us who do believe that static can damage electronics
will take precautionary measures as we see fit. It is dumb to argue about
it.

 

[ToolPackinMama]

ToolPackinMama:




I think it's a case of taking reasonable precautionary measures. If you
believe that static presents no danger to electronics then you may behave
accordingly; those of us who do believe that static can damage electronics
will take precautionary measures as we see fit. It is dumb to argue about
it.

I'm not arguing, I'm sure you guys are right. I just want to know your
reasons that's all.

 

[Ed Coolidge]

I'm not arguing, I'm sure you guys are right. I just want to know your
reasons that's all.

Nothing wrong with that.

 

[John Doe]

John Doe wrote:
....

A few opinions [about static electricity being hazardous to
electronic components] derived from much reading and lots of personal
experience.

Do you personally know of one such case?

I already said so.

Have you personally ever verified that it's true?

You could try doing things for yourself.

The following is for someone (else) who can act grown up enough to
accept hard evidence.

I don't do everything manufacturers say, but I wouldn't rake my fingers
across the pins of a CPU or the underside of a mainboard. I handle
components by their edges and (as much as possible) avoid touching
contacts/pins.


AMD(R) Processor
Installation Guide
Beware of Static Electricity

The AMD Athlon and AMD Duron processors and all computer motherboards
have sensitive electronic components that can be easily damaged by
static electricity. We recommend that you leave the processor and
motherboard in their original packaging until you are ready to install
them. The installer should only touch the edges of the processor, and
never touch the processor pins.

IMPORTANT
Never touch a processor without wearing a functioning grounded
antistatic strap.


Intel(R) Pentium(R) Processor
FDIV Replacement Program Information: FAQs

Q17: If I decide to do the replacement myself, what are the specific
steps to do that?

A17: Instructions are included with every replacement
processor shipped. In general, however, the user will need to ... ground
himself/herself to avoid static electricity,

 

[Spajky]

I don't do everything manufacturers say, but I wouldn't rake my fingers
across the pins of a CPU or the underside of a mainboard. I handle
components by their edges and (as much as possible) avoid touching
contacts/pins.

well, discharging itself from static electricity by touching the metal
case is not a bad idea but anyway I did not kill any components by
static discharge handling them with my bare hands; these days cmos
products are quite well protected against that like all Cpu pins
beeing internaly protected with clamping diodes at 4V anyway ...

 

[John Doe]

well, discharging itself from static electricity by touching the metal
case is not a bad idea but anyway I did not kill any components by
static discharge handling them with my bare hands; these days cmos
products are quite well protected against that like all Cpu pins
beeing internaly protected with clamping diodes at 4V anyway ...

So you think you know more about CPUs and mainboards than Intel and AMD
engineers? I think you are wildly kidding yourself.

(See the citations in my prior post which Spajky snipped.)

 

[Al Dykes]

well, discharging itself from static electricity by touching the metal
case is not a bad idea but anyway I did not kill any components by
static discharge handling them with my bare hands; these days cmos
products are quite well protected against that like all Cpu pins
beeing internaly protected with clamping diodes at 4V anyway ...

When you're reseating a $300CPU when you don't have a spare on hand,
it's late on a Sunday night when you're very tired and forget to put
the strap op, and you'll be fired if the system isn't running by 8AM
is when static strikes.

It's not like you hear of feel the static, or a smoking hole appears
in the chip.

The system just stops working and you have no idea why.

 

[Dave C.]

When you're reseating a $300CPU when you don't have a spare on hand,
it's late on a Sunday night when you're very tired and forget to put
the strap op, and you'll be fired if the system isn't running by 8AM
is when static strikes.

It's not like you hear of feel the static, or a smoking hole appears
in the chip.

The system just stops working and you have no idea why.

Shit, It sounds like you speak from experience, Al. -Dave (veteran of many
late-night, network gotta be running by morning sessions)

 

[Spajky]

So you think you know more about CPUs and mainboards than Intel and AMD
engineers?

not exactly, just expressed my opinion ...

 

[GEO Me]

I don't do everything manufacturers say, ...

<echo>
So you think you know more about CPUs and mainboards than Intel and
AMD engineers?
</echo>


Geo

 

[John Doe]

<echo>
So you think you know more about CPUs and mainboards than Intel and
AMD engineers?
</echo>

That is a misquote taken out of context.

 

[User N]

well, discharging itself from static electricity by touching the metal
case is not a bad idea but anyway I did not kill any components by
static discharge handling them with my bare hands; these days cmos
products are quite well protected against that like all Cpu pins
beeing internaly protected with clamping diodes at 4V anyway ...

Depends on the device. Many I/O chips are spec'd to withstand 15kV
human body [model] discharges. Other chips, particularly those which
won't be directly connected to external connectors/devices, are spec'd
for less (2 to 4, sometimes 8 kV). I've read that the thresholds at
which one would normally feel/hear/see static discharge are somewhere
in the neighborhood of 3000v/6000v/8000v respectively, and the really
good zaps are above 15kv. Which is probably why, in every lab I've
ever encountered, chip & board handling was required to be conducted
at an ESD workstation like this:

http://www.intel.com/design/quality/eosesd/esd.htm

 

[Jeff Jonas]

re: PC board cleaning: during manufacturing
- some parts are added AFTER the wave/mass soldering
because they're NOT machine solderable, such as sockets and connectors.
And they have places for water to get trapped inside.
- some parts have covers/tabs/coatings so they're sealed during manufacturing
but they're bared after all the washings.
Speakers, buzzers, chirpers tend to have stickers covering their openings
that are removed after the wash cycle.

That's why it's not always possible to re-clean a board the same way.


Because the vac is moving dust and other particles thru a plastic hose
at high velocity. There's enough friction and rubbing to generate static.
Woodworkers ground their dust collectors
and/or use metal ducts to prevent static:
see "Preventing Static Electricity Build-up"
http://home.att.net/~waterfront-woods/Articles/Electricity/static.htm
http://www.woodworkingtools.com/Editorials/february.html