How To Protect Your Computer From ESD
ESD, Electrostatic Discharge, or simply called static shock can damage delicate computer components. In this presentation you will learn how to protect the insides of your computer.
Step 1: ESD Protection
Hi I’m Scott Ford from Mr. Ford’s Class and I want to talk really briefly about ESD protection. Now during your course at A+, we really kind of scare you about the whole ESD thing. Talking about only 30 volts required to fry any computer components and we’re talking about several thousand as far as what you feel when you zap your friend from rubbing your feet against the carpet.
Step 2: Concept
This is not as big of a concern as it’s made out to be during your basic training. But we have to drill this in your heads so you understand this concept. Also when you’re dealing with customers and they’re trying to fix their computer on their own, you might get a lot of questions about how do I put in a memory stick or how do I put in a processor. And it’s important that you do warn them about the possibility of destroying their computer if they get in here without knowing what they’re doing.
Step 3: Precautions
For those of you in warm, humid environments, I’m from Houston, TX, actually we’re in Humble which is actually a little bit north of Houston. It’s very warm, very humid. ESD is not so much of a concern. Lived in Iowa a couple of years. It was very cold, very dry, you were zapping everything. So if you are in a warm, humid environment, you don’t have to worry about ESD so much. If you’re in a cold, dry environment you better take extra precautions.
Step 4: ESD Mats
Now from the powerpoint, you saw that you can use fabric softener on the carpet, humidifier if you have a serious problem with the ESD. For the most part most people will find what I’m going to show you helpful. We have of course, here, the anti-static mat. This should be standard for any tech bench. Anybody working on a computer should have some sort of mat underneath. Now you don’t want to use aluminum foil, as we showed you in the powerpoint, although there’s some website that say you should; do not use aluminum foil.
ESD mats don’t cost much, you can get them from Fry’s or any computer retail store, any that contains computer parts. This will work just fine, always work on your mat. Second thing you should have in your tool kit is an ESD strap. Now I don’t really use mine very much. I don’t really use mine very much, but what you would do is you put the strap on. Then you would take the alligator clip and attach it somewhere to the metal chassy. It can be anywhere you want but it has to make contact with the metal chassy.
Step 5: Basic Physics
Remember from basic physics, or IPCU, or earth science, or whatever class that you’ve taken; electricity only moves when there’s a difference. If you have a high charge here and a low charge here, it’s going to go to the low charge, so you want to equalize the charge between you and the computer. It’s okay if you have a charge, as long as it’s equal to the computer there’s not going to be any real flow of electricity, which means your components aren’t going to take a hit. This is an ESD strap, they don’t last forever, there’s a tiny little string here. Every now and then you need to get a new strap.
Step 6: Computer Protection
The only time, only two times I’ll actually wear a strap, for the most part, is when I’m installing a processor or when I’m installing a motherboard. That’s when I like to be a little extra cautious. But for the most part, this thing sits in my tool kit, off to the side. What I typically do when working on a computer, is I rest my arms, my forearm against the computer itself. As long as you’re in constant contact with the metal frame of the computer, you should be okay. When I have my students work on computers, I always make sure that some part is in contact. If you reach in like this, the first thing that’s going to get hit is whatever component you’re working on. So rest your elbows, rest your arms against the computer case. You’ll stay equal with the case, you won’t have any problems with ESD and you can leave this thing in your case.
