Computers and Carpet

[The_Silent_One_1]

Well, I didn't follow the whole "grudge" thing too well, but I thank everyone who replied on this thread. General Concenses (which is likely mispelled) seems to be that there is no danger to computers just sitting and running on carpet, but (to as always), ground yourself when working with components as well as touch as little circuitry as possible.

[Platypus]

The two main potential disadvantages of having a computer on carpet are:

Carpet collects dust, mite faeces etc, and sheds fibres (fluff), if this is stirred up by feet passing by, floor vibrations etc, it is more likely to be sucked up by the air intake if it is at floor level. That is, bigger dust bunnies.

If the carpet is long pile, it could block the cooling air intake most systems have under the lower edge of the front panel. Tower cases that are designed for floor placement often have large elevating legs to give adequate clearance for good air circulation.

[confus-ed]

Well, I didn't follow the whole "grudge" thing too well, but I thank everyone who replied on this thread. General Concenses (which is likely mispelled) seems to be that there is no danger to computers just sitting and running on carpet, but (to as always), ground yourself when working with components as well as touch as little circuitry as possible.

Synthetic carpets make static ... & computers & static don't mix ! period ... I just made a contractor pull up 200 yards of carpeting because of that, it was specifically detailed in the project plans to be 'natural', but the so called 'pro's' on site didn't seem to acknowlege this 'danger' either also dismissing it as 'an old wives tale' - they can't though get the certification from their Insururers until its replaced, as to quote their letter "Synthetic carpeting substantially increases the chances of accidental Electro Static Discharge in the the server areas over the stipulated 'natural' floorcoverings, we look forward etc etc etc"

I follow the 'whole' grudge thing though unfortunately ...

Oh & an edit on the subject of 'potentiality' (if I can spell that ! )

Not being an electrical engineer it seems to me that the problem with static electricity is the difference in potential. You walk across a room and touch something with a different ground potential and that's why you (and it) get shocked. If the PC chassis is touching the carpet it should be at the same potential as the carpet so there should be no difference in potential there. Or so my high school science seems to remind me.

Errr but of course computers generally live on little iddy biddy rubber feet - so they aren't touching the carpet 'really' , carpet also isn't flat & even (for our 'equally charged' arguement to work) & you aren't stood on the carpet either - you are stood on your shoes & socks which might be synthetic too giving you more 'charge' than anything around you, corners 'sticky out bits' etc also concentrate static discharges & people sweat also increasing their 'potentiality' ... all reasons why I get about 20 shocks a day

[slgrieb]

Geeze! Some amazingly nasty posts on this topic. Certainly brightened my day. About the only real problem I have encountered with a computer sitting on carpet, is overheating caused by a poorly vented case that had all the air intake (what little there was to begin with) on the front underside. Totally blocked by a really deep pile carpet.

But speaking of true boneheads and carpet, I have one client who expanded his building, built a new office for himself, installed lovely new carpet, and then moved his computer to the new quarters by turning it onto its side and pushing it along the rug something like 70 or 75 feet. Called me 'cause he was really puzzled when it faied to boot afterwards.

[JeffO93]

One day while everyone was gone, and there weren't any computers on, three network cards and three ports on my network switch were fried.

The phone cable drops from the ceiling and the modems were fine.

All other cables were off the carpet (thin indoor/outdoor carpet).

The only cables that touched the carpet were the CAT5 network cables. The computers were grounded. There must've been a static jolt that came from the carpet, was picked up by the CAT5 (acting as antennas), and traveled the path of least resistance through the network port, blowing the network I/O, before heading into the grounded computer.
ZAP - $200 worth of damage.

Since no one was home, who knows what caused the static? Maybe the house was hit by lightening, but there wasn't a storm. High dusty wind can cause static buildup. People walking around a house can actually help even out the static here and there. With no one home, it can build until it gets too high and then ZAP.

[jimmm33]

With customers machines I'm very cautious. I keep them on the bench and handle everything carefully.

Not so much so with my own equipment. My primary machine has sat on carpet for years. I ground myself to the case as a habit.

Once I was working on a PIII 450 slot 1 machine and another tech (who is famous for zapping people with static) walked up and touched the heatsink. The machine instantly powered down. He immediately realized what he did and just stood there with a stunned look. He said he felt the zap and was certain it was static. Killed the cpu. Luckily one of the company machines had a PIII 450 so we put it in and all was well.