Computers and Carpet

[The_Silent_One_1]

Hey,

Is it dangerous to have a computer running on bare carpet? I've heard some people say that there should always be something to insulate the machine from carpet because of the static electricity in carpet, but if the machine is plugged into a properly-grounded circuit, it shouldn't matter should it? Does the height of the feet make a difference?

TSO

[Gollo]

I'd say that's a wives tale. The only "danger" that I can see of having the computer on the ground/carpet is if it were to flood but even still that'd have to be a lot of water to actually reach an electronic component in the case.

[disclaimer]now I'm not saying that some freak occurrence of somebody rubbing their feet for 6 hours on the carpet and then touching the computer wont take it out because I just don't know[/disclaimer]

[TripleRLtd]

Originally Posted by Gollo

I'd say that's a wives tale. The only "danger" that I can see of having the computer on the ground/carpet is if it were to flood but even still that'd have to be a lot of water to actually reach an electronic component in the case.

[disclaimer]now I'm not saying that some freak occurrence of somebody rubbing their feet for 6 hours on the carpet and then touching the computer wont take it out because I just don't know[/disclaimer]

Here is good advice:
from:http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/...002/static.asp]

Whenever the casing of a computer is opened and its internal workings are exposed (to change a hard drive or add memory chips, for example), there is a danger of damaging the computer with the buildup of static electricity that is held by the human body. The internal workings of a computer, and especially the hard drive, are extremely susceptible to static electricity, which can cause considerable damage to the hard drive if it is zapped with even a small amount. Microchip damage can occur if it is exposed to static electricity as low as 10 volts, and humans are not able to perceive static electricity until it has reached about 1,500 volts. (Walking across a rug can produce a static electricity voltage of up to 12,000 volts, but static voltage is not life threatening.) So it is possible to damage a hard drive with static electricity that is not even felt by the person because it is at such a low voltage. Also, computers become increasingly susceptible to static electricity damage as more and more circuitry is built into them.
Static electricity is caused by a process called triboelectrification. Everything around us, and including us, is made of atoms, and every atom has in its center (nucleus) positively charged protons and neutrons, which have no electrical charge. Surrounding the atom are negatively charged electrons. The protons and neutrons in an atom do not change, but the electrons can move from one atom to another. When two objects touch, they exchange electrons, which causes one object to become electrically positive and the other to become electrically negative. When an object touches another object with either an opposite or neutral charge, electrons flow. Static electricity is created when electrons move back and forth between atoms.

To avoid zapping your components with static electricity, take precautions to ground the static electricity before touching any of the internal components of the computer. Wearing an ESD wrist strap or working on an anti-static mat will prevent any static electricity from damaging your computer. Another way to ground the static electricity is to touch the internal metal frame of the computer's case while the computer is plugged into an electrical socket. The static electricity will be discharged and grounded as the electrical circuit is grounded via the AC outlet.

[meatwad]

Originally Posted by TripleRLtd

I'd say YOU are an old wive's tale. Rant being said, here is good advice, not bull****: from:http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/...002/static.asp] Yeah Go_low, Electonics 101.] Try leariing something other than networking. And, if you don't care to, leave the advice to the pro's.

Like my locked hard drive?

[TripleRLtd]

Originally Posted by meatwad

Like my locked hard drive?

Well yeah meat, I confirmed your discovery.
PS
Hey, we ALL learn something everyday. I always say that my part time job is keeping up with this industry, and being here at WD and hearing all the other techs tales helps me immensely. Once you stop learing...or keeping up with this industry, you are lost. Besides, me and Go-low have issues which he won't let go of. That was my rant.

[Ya_know]

Originally Posted by TripleRLtd

I'd say YOU are an old wive's tale. Rant being said, here is good advice, not bull****: from:http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/...002/static.asp] Yeah Go_low, Electonics 101.] Try leariing something other than networking. And, if you don't care to, leave the advice to the pro's.

I think you are taking this grudge thing a little too far, someone has to be the big man, I thought you wanted be him…

There is nothing wrong with a PC being on bare carpet, mine run on shag in my home office. I work on mine at home on the floor all of the time. My server room at work has carpet as well, and maintains a very low humidity, which as you know, the dryer it is the more chance for buildup. What it boils down to is I have to pay particularly more attention to the immediate potential to build up static, and ensure I ground myself at all times before entering a case. It's that simple...I have never shorted a single piece of equipment, and I walk across the room with cards in my hand all of the time, holding the plate only, and grounding myself at every stop.

As a matter of principal, most server rooms are carpet-less, primarily because people forget, or fail to provide adequate grounding before working on a server, and it can eliminate some possibility for shock all the better when dealing with mission critical machines. But at home, no worries…just be careful!

[rgharper]

Originally Posted by Ya_know

There is nothing wrong with a PC being on bare carpet, mine run on shag in my home office. I work on mine at home on the floor all of the time. My server room at work has carpet as well, and maintains a very low humidity, which as you know, the dryer it is the more chance for buildup. What it boils down to is I have to pay particularly more attention to the immediate potential to build up static, and ensure I ground myself at all times before entering a case. It's that simple...I have never shorted a single piece of equipment, and I walk across the room with cards in my hand all of the time, holding the plate only, and grounding myself at every stop.

As a matter of principal, most server rooms are carpet-less, primarily because people forget, or fail to provide adequate grounding before working on a server, and it can eliminate some possibility for shock all the better when dealing with mission critical machines. But at home, no worries…just be careful!

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.

[Ya_know]

Originally Posted by TripleRLtd

Exactly!! I have never worn a "wrist band". But, hey, I also know enough to ground myself before touching anything. Besides, this is another "Fight Nite". Ya_know what I mean. Check the "final fantasy" thread. That is only the latest attempt by "it" to have a go at me...and I AM SICK OF IT. Of all people, you should know what I mean. Ya_know: push buttons!

EDIT:
Yeah, the grudge it old and tiring. And I would like it to end. But some don't want it to or won't let it end.

I'll have to check that thread tomorrow... Good night!

[Gollo]

Originally Posted by TripleRLtd

I'd say YOU are an old wive's tale. Rant being said, here is good advice, not bull****: from:http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/...002/static.asp] Yeah Go_low, Electonics 101.] Try leariing something other than networking. And, if you don't care to, leave the advice to the pro's.

Um yeah I understand that if he's working inside the computer he's not going to be rubbing his feet on the carpet. His question was if the computer was just sitting there. rgharper's line of thinking sounds about right.

And since when are you a "pro"?

[TripleRLtd]

Originally Posted by Gollo

Um yeah I understand that if he's working inside the computer he's not going to be rubbing his feet on the carpet. His question was if the computer was just sitting there. rgharper's line of thinking sounds about right.

And since when are you a "pro"?

Well, that would be: SINCE BEFORE YOU WERE BORN!!!!

PS
That being said: I am STILL learning, EVERYDAY.
PPS
Get over it Go_low, or....

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

[ilovetheusers]

Originally Posted by TripleRLtd

And, if you don't care to, leave the advice to the pro's.

YOU are telling HIM to... Ahaa, heh, heh, HAAAAA. LOL!!!!

OMG, I'm on the floor.


If zaping your case was such a big issue then you would hear a heck of a lot about it as most folks place their machines on carpet.

Oh and just to add my $.02 - Isn't the case and everything else grounded via the big black cord running to the wall from the power supply? My training was that ESD is something you should worry more about when reaching into the case wheteher or not you were on carpet or no. It's the components inside that are delicate and you should exercise care when handling them.

[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.