Proper Handling of Electronic Devices

The Test Equipment Superstore

Introduction

        A healthy installation of any video card, GPIB device, motherboard or electronic board begins with a careful observation of the environment. Static electricity was fun in elementary science experiments, but if the goal is working hardware, static electricity will be a costly nightmare. By definition, static electricity is “an accumulation of electric charge on an insulated body” or also “electric discharge resulting from the accumulation of electric charge on an insulated body”1. For our purposes, we will be examining the second definition. Nearly everyone has dealt with static electricity at least one point in their life--shuffling down the halls in elementary school and shocking unsuspecting friends, or making “lightning” in bed sheets after the lights go out.

        Not all materials can hold the same amount of static electricity. Some hold more than others and on principle; this is what makes computer chips work. Electricity, transmitted in intermittent bursts, is sent through electronics as binary. This is the basics of all computer languages, which dictate every aspect of computing today. Cards are relatively closed environments, meaning there is not much electrical travel other than what is intended. By introducing static electricity into this system, the data and functionality of the electronic can be seriously harmed.

Safety and Precautions

        The easiest way to avoid static electricity damage to cards while working on computers or internals of other electronics is to use a ground. Some of the most effective, cheapest, and easiest to use are bracelets. When the bracelet is snug against the wrist, the metal piece touches the skin and provides a path for the static electricity to flow to the ground (hence the term “ground”) where it is no longer an immediate threat. There are also static safe mats. Some are made of materials that do not conduct static electricity and therefore will not endanger the card when placed upon the mat. Other mats are grounded. Also, there exist static safe floor mats that ground the entire person.

   
        Static electricity is mostly not a large issue when dealing with electronics, but failure to observe proper precautions will lead to bad outcomes. In areas, where the air is less humid, static electricity will tend to form more often, but regardless of climate, using a ground is a good idea. Storage in static bags is also very important, because of the varying materials that may come in contact with the card.

        The Test Equipment Superstore always makes use of grounding techniques. We store all electronics in static safe bags. All cards are handling in a static safe environment.

1.    static electricity." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 01 Sep. 2007. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/static electricity>.