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12 Posts
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24788
March 11th, 2004 06:00
Static electricity - how harmful is that?
Hello guys,
I have constant problems with static electricity on my body - most probably because of chemical structure of carpet in my company. I try to remember to touch something grounded before I go back to my laptop, however it is impossible to remember about it every time. I have just touched the metal bottom covering of my CD-ROM and... again small shock. I tested whole system using Dell Diagnostics software - no problem, yet.
Nevertheless, I don't know how harmful might be some static electricity short circuits. I do not open of course laptop, if I touch something, it is outside the laptop, like metal parts of sockets at the back of computer, or lately - metal bottom of CD ROM's tray. Was Dell aware of such things when designing laptops? I just don't want to destroy it. Tell me please if should worry about it. Please note again that I do not touch pins in sockets, nor elements inside the computer. Just metal parts outside/touchable laptop, which are probably grounded.
Thank you in advance for reply and suggestions,
Peter
Steve0073
10 Posts
0
March 11th, 2004 09:00
static electricity can be very harmful to components. You may not notice the damage it causes right away, usually the components are not destroyed - just harmed. That means their expected lifetime decreases. That means your components will break sooner than advertised (MTBF).
You can reduce static electricity by wearing other shoes, best are shoes which don't isolate (from an electric point of view, not temperature).
But it's not that bad: Most components have special shields/wires/circuits to weaken the effect, to make the electrical current flow outside the component to the ground. Especially components which are meant to be "touched" (like your laptop) have such guards. So you should be safe, if you just touch it where you are expected to touch it. But don't touch it inside (even if you open the CD-ROM drive - don't touch something there!).
Peter M.
12 Posts
0
March 11th, 2004 16:00
Just as I thought, unfortunately
I had to prop CD ROM drive's tray from the bottom, because otherwise pushing CD could damage its construction - I'm somehow dissatisfied with Inspiron 8200 - this is definitely not a laptop you can use without taking extra, special care. Top lid is loosen, although I was dealing with it like with an egg, keyboard (perhaps from the heat) is curved in its center, also loosen, every plastic part is crackin, even when gently push... Laptop very much like a toy, not a tool. Powerful PC, but very vulnerable construction.
Thank you very much for professional reply.
Best regards
Peter