Computers and Carpet

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February 12th, 2004, 10:19 AM
TripleRLtd

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovetheusers

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

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.

Err, did you actually read the whole thread?
February 12th, 2004, 11:08 AM
Shard92

Let me add or better yet clarify.... Having a computer on carpet MAY not be a big deal BUT...

1) It does increase the chance of a static discharge that may damage some of the components....

2) The carpet itself may block air flow through the computer causing heat issues

3) The carpet fibers and dust is more likely to get sucked into the computer and cause heat issues... ie gather around heatsinks/chips thereby insulating them or getting in fans and possible slowing and/or stopping them...
February 12th, 2004, 11:14 AM
Ya_know

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shard92

Let me add or better yet clarify.... Having a computer on carpet MAY not be a big deal BUT...

1) It does increase the chance of a static discharge that may damage some of the components....

2) The carpet itself may block air flow through the computer causing heat issues

3) The carpet fibers and dust is more likely to get sucked into the computer and cause heat issues... ie gather around heatsinks/chips thereby insulating them or getting in fans and possible slowing and/or stopping them...

Where have you been? This thread is no longer a thread about carpet (forgive the pun). It has instead been contorted into a flame fest! :flame:
February 12th, 2004, 11:35 AM
Shard92

I know I was just summing up for the poor person who got caught in the war....

That way he doesn't need to read through all the flames for all the answers..

--- edit ---

this is tech-to-tech the flaming should be left in the lounge IMO! Tech-to-tech SUGGESTS it's professional to professional, not a bunch of kids yelling about who's right and who's wrong.... If you disagree fine say so, but leave the personal stuff in the lounge...
And no this is not a shot at you Ya_know.....
February 12th, 2004, 11:47 AM
Gollo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shard92

Let me add or better yet clarify.... Having a computer on carpet MAY not be a big deal BUT...

1) It does increase the chance of a static discharge that may damage some of the components....

2) The carpet itself may block air flow through the computer causing heat issues

3) The carpet fibers and dust is more likely to get sucked into the computer and cause heat issues... ie gather around heatsinks/chips thereby insulating them or getting in fans and possible slowing and/or stopping them...

This was my point exactly (although I didn't touch on the ventilation part)
February 12th, 2004, 11:51 AM
TripleRLtd

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shard92

...this is tech-to-tech the flaming should be left in the lounge IMO! Tech-to-tech SUGGESTS it's professional to professional, not a bunch of kids yelling about who's right and who's wrong.... If you disagree fine say so, but leave the personal stuff in the lounge...
...

And you're absolutely right. Apologies Silent One. https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2006/04/1.gif But, he did already get through it all:

Quote:

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.

PS
Edit's on the way.https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2005/03/1.gif
February 12th, 2004, 12:03 PM
jitBob

The biggest danger I have seen is from the vacumn cleaner stirring up dust, damaging cords and banging into the machine.
February 12th, 2004, 01:57 PM
ilovetheusers

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripleRLtd

Err, did you actually read the whole thread?

Yeah, I just felt like bustin' yer chops. :devil:

All in good fun.
February 12th, 2004, 03:54 PM
NooNoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by jitBob

The biggest danger I have seen is from the vacumn cleaner stirring up dust, damaging cords and banging into the machine.

Hey!!!
February 12th, 2004, 04:06 PM
Ya_know

Quote:

Originally Posted by NooNoo

Hey!!!

Haaa!
February 13th, 2004, 12:10 AM
Humilliation

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovetheusers

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.

Even with the black cord plugged into the back of the machine plugged into a properly grounded outlet we've had people zap their machines into reboots from static charges at work. I've done it myself at home while picking a lighter up off the top of my case. During the winter with all this dry air and heat really generates some major static. Sometimes I don't even like turning on/off the lights in my house, some of the zaps freakin hurt so bad, I can actually see arcs not sparks jumping to the wall plates. ouch!
February 13th, 2004, 08:15 AM
Ya_know

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humilliation

Even with the black cord plugged into the back of the machine plugged into a properly grounded outlet we've had people zap their machines into reboots from static charges at work. I've done it myself at home while picking a lighter up off the top of my case. During the winter with all this dry air and heat really generates some major static. Sometimes I don't even like turning on/off the lights in my house, some of the zaps freakin hurt so bad, I can actually see arcs not sparks jumping to the wall plates. ouch!

Sounds like you need to get an electrician out to your house to check things out, something is faulty. If I ever saw a spark from my finger to a light switch, I too would not turn it on! Really, something there isn't right if you ask me...
February 13th, 2004, 09:01 AM
confus-ed

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ya_know

Sounds like you need to get an electrician out to your house to check things out, something is faulty. If I ever saw a spark from my finger to a light switch, I too would not turn it on! Really, something there isn't right if you ask me...

NO ... sounds to me like he is highly charged - some folks are more 'static' than others - I can generate sparks to my car !! & there''s no mains supply on my drive ;)

Now if the sparks going the otherway around THEN you do have trouble ;)
February 13th, 2004, 12:38 PM
Tekboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by confus-ed

NO ... sounds to me like he is highly charged - some folks are more 'static' than others - I can generate sparks to my car !! & there''s no mains supply on my drive ;)

Now if the sparks going the otherway around THEN you do have trouble ;)

Yeah, I get that car thing in the winter, too. A blue spark sometimes when I go to put the key in the lock. I have begun taking antistatic precautions at the gas station!

I saw a guy with no concept of ESD kill ten sticks of brand new RAM in a computer store. AND, he was a professor at the local university, teaching Hardware Troubleshooting!

I guess it may be true that they who cannot, teach.

In my experience, it is always a good idea to eliminate any possibility of ESD when doing ANYTHING involving ANY electronic equipment.
February 13th, 2004, 01:44 PM
The_Silent_One_1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tekboy

Yeah, I get that car thing in the winter, too. A blue spark sometimes when I go to put the key in the lock. I have begun taking antistatic precautions at the gas station!

I saw a guy with no concept of ESD kill ten sticks of brand new RAM in a computer store. AND, he was a professor at the local university, teaching Hardware Troubleshooting!

I guess it may be true that they who cannot, teach.

In my experience, it is always a good idea to eliminate any possibility of ESD when doing ANYTHING involving ANY electronic equipment.

It is unbelieveable how not only some "technicians" don't ground themselves before touching circuitry, but how they touch any and all parts of circuit boards when they handle them. That happened a lot at the shop that I used to work at. Now that I'm on my own, I'm interested in seeing if my failure rate of new equipment is significantly lower than the shop's, being that I'm the only one handling it, and trying to take precautions.

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