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ESD vs. just blind luck



 
 
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  #1  
Old August 1st 04, 05:33 AM
rile
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default ESD vs. just blind luck

Several years ago, against my better judgement, I upgraded the memory
on my computer. I knew about the problem of ESD but was just careful
upon what I touched. Within a couple of days, I plan to add a video
card to a computer. What is the best way, short of a wrist strap, to
minimize the possibility of ESD? In my way of thinking, if I never
touch anything except plastic, I'll be fine. It just seems strange to
me that all of you "experts" go running to a strap in that type of
upgrade. It's like watching an electrician, which I've had ample
opportunity, work on house current without turning off a breaker.
  #2  
Old August 1st 04, 01:57 PM
Ron Cook
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

rile wrote:

Several years ago, against my better judgement, I upgraded the memory
on my computer. I knew about the problem of ESD but was just careful
upon what I touched. Within a couple of days, I plan to add a video
card to a computer. What is the best way, short of a wrist strap, to
minimize the possibility of ESD? In my way of thinking, if I never
touch anything except plastic, I'll be fine. It just seems strange to
me that all of you "experts" go running to a strap in that type of
upgrade. It's like watching an electrician, which I've had ample
opportunity, work on house current without turning off a breaker.


Each of us reading and / or posting to this newsgroup likely has his or her
own preferred device-handling method(s).

There are many ways to accomplish the same procedure; some, over time, have
been found more useful and reliable than others.

Some who post and read here are, without doubt, expert in one or more
fields.
Personally, I claim no expertise but I will claim competence in some areas.

Any method I use - whether it's my preferred method or one chosen to work
within the existing conditions - may not always conform to what is taught
or what follows 'the common wisdom'.

I do try to follow 'common sense'.
During thirty-odd years of experience in handling and installing electrical,
solid-state, and static-sensitive devices, I've found, used, and developed
procedures which - *for me* - work extremely well.

I've also managed to destroy my share of things like 120 nanosecond 16-k RAM
chips because I didn't follow normal or common-sense procedures.

Unless you can work with one hand I'd suggest purchasing a wrist strap.

The most important part of this is to make yourself electrically neutral by
placing yourself at ground potential.
A wrist strap helps with this by providing a medium to high resistance path
from you to ground.

Note: you *do not* want a direct, low-resistance path from you to ground.

Power off the computer, disconnect all peripherals, and move it to a
location at which you can comfortably work.

Open the case.

If the computer's power supply has its own main power switch then switch it
'Off' or to '0'.
This will disconnect the 'hot' and 'neutral' lines from the AC mains. The
ground line is always connected.

Connect a power cord to the computer and plug it into a receptacle with a
*known* good ground connection.

Fit the wrist strap comfortably around your wrist. It just needs to be snug;
you don't want it so tight that it interferes with circulation.

Clip the alligator clip to an exposed, bare metal section of the computer
case -- NOT to any part of the mainboard or directly to the case of the
power supply.

Now you can install or replace the card(s) or other devices.

Of course, there are other methods:

If you can't locate the computer near a grounded receptacle, place it on a
wood surface or some surface that is not likely to create a static charge.

Use a wrist strap to connect yourself to the computer case.

This will help equalize the charge(s) built-up by your body, clothing, and
environment with the computer case.

In a real pinch (I've done this often and successfully) you may have to work
on a machine in a room with a carpeted floor.

Put the computer (powered off) on the carpet, remove at least one shoe and
one sock, and keep that foot in contact with the carpet while you're
working on the machine.

Though a wrist strap obviously isn't required it does help eliminate or
reduce the possibility of ESD ruining that $600.00 nVidia graphics card

- --
Ron n1zhi

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  #3  
Old August 3rd 04, 01:25 PM
Zorknob
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Ron Cook wrote in message ...
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

rile wrote:

Several years ago, against my better judgement, I upgraded the memory
on my computer. I knew about the problem of ESD but was just careful
upon what I touched. Within a couple of days, I plan to add a video
card to a computer. What is the best way, short of a wrist strap, to
minimize the possibility of ESD? In my way of thinking, if I never
touch anything except plastic, I'll be fine. It just seems strange to
me that all of you "experts" go running to a strap in that type of
upgrade. It's like watching an electrician, which I've had ample
opportunity, work on house current without turning off a breaker.


Each of us reading and / or posting to this newsgroup likely has his or her
own preferred device-handling method(s).

There are many ways to accomplish the same procedure; some, over time, have
been found more useful and reliable than others.

Some who post and read here are, without doubt, expert in one or more
fields.
Personally, I claim no expertise but I will claim competence in some areas.

Any method I use - whether it's my preferred method or one chosen to work
within the existing conditions - may not always conform to what is taught
or what follows 'the common wisdom'.

I do try to follow 'common sense'.
During thirty-odd years of experience in handling and installing electrical,
solid-state, and static-sensitive devices, I've found, used, and developed
procedures which - *for me* - work extremely well.

I've also managed to destroy my share of things like 120 nanosecond 16-k RAM
chips because I didn't follow normal or common-sense procedures.

Unless you can work with one hand I'd suggest purchasing a wrist strap.

The most important part of this is to make yourself electrically neutral by
placing yourself at ground potential.
A wrist strap helps with this by providing a medium to high resistance path
from you to ground.

Note: you *do not* want a direct, low-resistance path from you to ground.

Power off the computer, disconnect all peripherals, and move it to a
location at which you can comfortably work.

Open the case.

If the computer's power supply has its own main power switch then switch it
'Off' or to '0'.
This will disconnect the 'hot' and 'neutral' lines from the AC mains. The
ground line is always connected.

Connect a power cord to the computer and plug it into a receptacle with a
*known* good ground connection.

Fit the wrist strap comfortably around your wrist. It just needs to be snug;
you don't want it so tight that it interferes with circulation.

Clip the alligator clip to an exposed, bare metal section of the computer
case -- NOT to any part of the mainboard or directly to the case of the
power supply.

Now you can install or replace the card(s) or other devices.

Of course, there are other methods:

If you can't locate the computer near a grounded receptacle, place it on a
wood surface or some surface that is not likely to create a static charge.

Use a wrist strap to connect yourself to the computer case.

This will help equalize the charge(s) built-up by your body, clothing, and
environment with the computer case.

In a real pinch (I've done this often and successfully) you may have to work
on a machine in a room with a carpeted floor.

Put the computer (powered off) on the carpet, remove at least one shoe and
one sock, and keep that foot in contact with the carpet while you're
working on the machine.

Though a wrist strap obviously isn't required it does help eliminate or
reduce the possibility of ESD ruining that $600.00 nVidia graphics card

- --
Ron n1zhi

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=AFu9
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The bottom line is this: You don't want any charge differential to
build between you, the add-in card, and the computer, so keep an
electrical connection between each.

A wrist strap is the best way to achieve this, but keeping a body part
in contact with the case works too. Just remember that a static
discharge that is smaller than you will notice can destroy an
electronic component.

Note: if your computer does *not* have a power switch on the power
supply itself, then *do not* keep your computer plugged in while
installing the add-in card, because even with the power "off" with
this type of supply there still is power being delivered to the mother
board.
  #4  
Old August 3rd 04, 04:31 PM
Bob Day
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Zorknob" wrote in message
om...
Ron Cook wrote in message

...
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

rile wrote:

Several years ago, against my better judgement, I upgraded the memory
on my computer. I knew about the problem of ESD but was just careful
upon what I touched. Within a couple of days, I plan to add a video
card to a computer. What is the best way, short of a wrist strap, to
minimize the possibility of ESD? In my way of thinking, if I never
touch anything except plastic, I'll be fine. It just seems strange to
me that all of you "experts" go running to a strap in that type of
upgrade. It's like watching an electrician, which I've had ample
opportunity, work on house current without turning off a breaker.


Each of us reading and / or posting to this newsgroup likely has his or her
own preferred device-handling method(s).

There are many ways to accomplish the same procedure; some, over time, have
been found more useful and reliable than others.

Some who post and read here are, without doubt, expert in one or more
fields.
Personally, I claim no expertise but I will claim competence in some areas.

Any method I use - whether it's my preferred method or one chosen to work
within the existing conditions - may not always conform to what is taught
or what follows 'the common wisdom'.

I do try to follow 'common sense'.
During thirty-odd years of experience in handling and installing electrical,
solid-state, and static-sensitive devices, I've found, used, and developed
procedures which - *for me* - work extremely well.

I've also managed to destroy my share of things like 120 nanosecond 16-k RAM
chips because I didn't follow normal or common-sense procedures.

Unless you can work with one hand I'd suggest purchasing a wrist strap.

The most important part of this is to make yourself electrically neutral by
placing yourself at ground potential.
A wrist strap helps with this by providing a medium to high resistance path
from you to ground.

Note: you *do not* want a direct, low-resistance path from you to ground.

Power off the computer, disconnect all peripherals, and move it to a
location at which you can comfortably work.

Open the case.

If the computer's power supply has its own main power switch then switch it
'Off' or to '0'.
This will disconnect the 'hot' and 'neutral' lines from the AC mains. The
ground line is always connected.

Connect a power cord to the computer and plug it into a receptacle with a
*known* good ground connection.

Fit the wrist strap comfortably around your wrist. It just needs to be snug;
you don't want it so tight that it interferes with circulation.

Clip the alligator clip to an exposed, bare metal section of the computer
case -- NOT to any part of the mainboard or directly to the case of the
power supply.

Now you can install or replace the card(s) or other devices.

Of course, there are other methods:

If you can't locate the computer near a grounded receptacle, place it on a
wood surface or some surface that is not likely to create a static charge.

Use a wrist strap to connect yourself to the computer case.

This will help equalize the charge(s) built-up by your body, clothing, and
environment with the computer case.

In a real pinch (I've done this often and successfully) you may have to work
on a machine in a room with a carpeted floor.

Put the computer (powered off) on the carpet, remove at least one shoe and
one sock, and keep that foot in contact with the carpet while you're
working on the machine.

Though a wrist strap obviously isn't required it does help eliminate or
reduce the possibility of ESD ruining that $600.00 nVidia graphics card

- --
Ron n1zhi

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.2.2 (GNU/Linux)

iD8DBQFBDOJGa9fyRcf4bIYRAle4AJ9Qf8QWe+1iRu6X89nR3m mZpyPcdACfQRhK
3C1M5m1BZuDI016Iy6h1lwo=
=AFu9
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----


The bottom line is this: You don't want any charge differential to
build between you, the add-in card, and the computer, so keep an
electrical connection between each.

A wrist strap is the best way to achieve this, but keeping a body part
in contact with the case works too. Just remember that a static
discharge that is smaller than you will notice can destroy an
electronic component.
snip


Perhaps worse yet, it can degrade a component and cause intermittent
errors.

-- Bob Day
http://bobday.vze.com


 




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