Destroying a computer...

epninety

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

A discharge of static electricity can damage the surface of a microchips circuitry, but I've never managed to do anything by not wearing my wrist-strap yet.

Unless it's a massive shock, static damage is usually cumulative, i.e. it tends to reduce the life of devices, rather than destroy them instantly. Static discharges punch small holes in the silicon which reduces the working area, increasing the stresses on the bits still working. I have (very rarely) used devices which are so sensitive that some died between removal from the packaging and fitting them. Full static protection improved their odds dramatically.

Once the chips are fitted to a circuit board they tend to be protected by the circuitry around them, so the risk of damage is much lower. Still worth putting your strap on when you can though!

Millionaire

epninety wrote: »

Still worth putting your strap on when you can though!

:rotfl:

superscaper

Have to say I don't bother with a strap, I tend to earth myself first but I think the risk is extremely low. I don't think I can remember seeing it ever happen with extremely sensitive experimental electronics (I personally built nanoparticle based devices) so I presume commercial components are going to be much more robust. I think you'd have to have built up a very large amount of static to cause any significant damage.

vaio

epninety wrote: »

Still worth putting your strap on when you can though!

Millionaire wrote: »

:rotfl:

Has one else seen this? Got to be post of the thread if not of the week

superscaper

Unfortunate choice of phrasing really. Missed that completely until Millionaire highlighted it.