chillidog wrote:
allright bit stuck again :you_crazy i just braught a graphics card for my computer which im going to attempt to install,i’ve read all the manuals etc..the only thing i’m a bit worried about is they keep saying to use an anti-static ristband and a foam matt(which i dont seem to have!)because the static can ruin it.I was just wondering if 1:their over doing it to cover themselves just incase and the risk isnt that bad or 2:the next best thing to foam i could use that i might have laying about(sponges maybe?).Cheers!
OK – “anti static wristband” is a cool way to get you to pay for a piece of equipment you don’t need. All it is, is a cable linking you to an earth point, so any static charge build up – like you get when you are wearing woolen socks, and have a viscose carpet then zap a mate, or when you rub a balloon on your hair and stick balloon to wall – can drain away to ground…
The way to deal with this without being conned for equipment (this is for UK users BTW, and other countries (spain etc) that use common earth in domestic supplies – ie 3 pin plugs) is to leave the case plugged into the wall socket while working, but TURN THE SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION. The common earth is thus still connected (the switch only uncouples the live from negative – earth is left intact). Then any time you touch an unpainted metal part of the case, you will earth any residual static…:weee::weee::weee:
For people in other countries, where an earth system isn’t used (2 pin plug system with no earth collar) – you can touch a copper radiator pipe, or tap regularly (these are also earthed due to rushing water creating static charge).
The only people that need a static wristband are the ones who habitually have light bulbs explode on them, or cause random disturbances in their PC’s karma just by being angry at it – I live with one of these, and it can get expensive on light bulbs – our solution is that I do hardware – she does software for the most part (she can blow expensive silicon wafers just by giving them a funny look too :crazy_dru:crazy_dru, and till systems in shops fail regularly when she goes near. I put it down to Quantum – the scientists method of saying “haven’t a clue, but at least I’ve named it:wink:” without looking silly…:weee::weee::weee: )
But to get back to the point – the risk of static discharge ruining silicon is real enough – you can build up a charge of several thousand volts in the wrong circumstances. With logic gates being so small that they had to use lower frequency light in the etching lasers to make them, cos the visible light spectrum was too broad (we’re talking Picometers(one trillionth of a meter) here, a potential that size just blows them apart…
As for foam mats – the theory here is non-conductive material (rubber is good too. Plastic is also generally good.) Anything to stop any charge making it to a ground (and therefore draining through the equipment to the ground in one big zap, unleashing all of it’s current (usually only microamps), but with a huge potential (ie the voltage) which can be anything up to about 20KV (this is the bit responsible for the blue spark when you zap your mate:weee::weee::laugh_at::laugh_at:))
This has degenerated into a bit of a waffle, so I shall stop here (sorry – I get carried away:hopeless::weee::hopeless:)… If you want more info, or clarification on any of it, let me know. Also any help on the nuts & bolts of PC building – always happy to wax lyrical (ahem), and I’ve probably made most of the mistakes by now – should be able to help others not make them….:weee::weee::weee:. Hope this helps tho’…raaaraaaraaa.
