Safety, Safety, and More Safety
If you are ready to disassemble a PC or even begin minor repairs, then undoubtedly you’ve read a number of reminders concerning safety. If you are sitting in a classroom, then it is likely that your instructor has covered safety in detail as well. To ensure that you’re safe and that your equipment isn’t damaged during any of these labs, let’s recap some general guidelines.
Use Your Anti-ESD Equipment
ESD charges can cause problems such as making a computer hang or reboot. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) happens when two objects of dissimilar charge come in contact with one another. The two objects exchange electrons in order to standardize the electrostatic charge between them. This charge can, and often does, damage electronic components.
To use an ESD strap, you attach one end to an earth ground (typically the ground pin on an extension cord) and wrap the other end around your wrist. This strap grounds your body and keeps it at a zero charge.
| Warning | There is only one situation in which you should not wear an ESD strap. If you wear one while working on the inside of a monitor, you increase the chance of getting a lethal shock. |
Because many of the devices you’ll be working with are extremely sensitive to ESD damage, you should also have an ESD mat in addition to an ESD strap. The mat drains away excess charge from any item that comes in contact with it. ESD mats are also sold as mouse/keyboard pads to prevent ESD charges from interfering with the operation of the computer. Many wrist straps can be connected to the mat, so you and any equipment in contact with the mat are at the same electrical potential, thereby eliminating ESD.
Finally, remember to have plenty of antistatic bags on hand to protect sensitive electronic devices from stray static charges during your lab work. If you can’t get to an electronics supply store before you begin the work in this book, you can reuse any of the bags from previous computer or component purchases.
Power Supply
Do not take the issue of safety and electricity lightly. Remember that computers not only use electricity, they store electrical charge after they’re turned off. In addition, the computer’s processor and various parts of the printer run at extremely high temperatures, and you can get burned if you try to handle them immediately after they’ve been in operation. When you open your computer to inspect or replace parts (as you will with most repairs), be sure to turn off the machine before you begin.
| Warning | Other than the power supply, one of the most dangerous components to try to repair is the monitor, or cathode ray tube (CRT). In fact, we recommend that you do not try to repair monitors. Reserve these repairs for trained electrical repair professionals. |
Common Sense
When you’re repairing a PC, do not leave it unattended. Someone could walk into the room and inadvertently bump the machine, causing failure. Worse, they could step on pieces that may be lying around and get hurt. Most of the components have cords. Although there usually isn’t much danger associated with tripping, it still poses some concern. Keep your workspace tidy by keeping cords tucked and unused tools out of the way.
Always remember to handle parts and electronic components correctly. Be careful to avoid direct contact with connectors and expansion slots, or anything that could be damaged from ESD.
It is also not a good idea to work on a PC alone. If you’re injured, someone should be around to help if necessary. Finally, if you’re fatigued, you may find it difficult to concentrate and focus on what you are doing. There are real safety measures related to repairing PCs, so the most important thing to remember is to pay close attention to what you are doing.
