Static Electricity

[MrRX7]

1. How will i know if static electricity is in my system from putting it on carpet?
2. Will it damage the components straight away? if not how long until i know?
3. What components are sensitive / can be affected by it?

[Excon]

1. When it goes zap, don't put it on your carpet

2. Yes it will, you will know when you try to turn it on and it doesn't

3. All of them except the case (maybe kill the USB ports?)

[MrRX7]

1. When it goes zap, don't put it on your carpet

2. Yes it will, you will know when you try to turn it on and it doesn't

3. All of them except the case (maybe kill the USB ports?)

thanks so it wont damage over time it will happen fairly quick?

[Kayn]

Just don't work on your computer on the carpet.

[MrRX7]

Just don't work on your computer on the carpet.

how about on a bed with sheets on it?

also i see you have a CM Hyper 212 evo, did your bracket screws stay in the middle for 1155 install or did they move a bit?

[Kayn]

how about on a bed with sheets on it?

also i see you have a CM Hyper 212 evo, did your bracket screws stay in the middle for 1155 install or did they move a bit?

Don't you have a flat surface to work on?

 

And yes my screws for the Evo did stay in place.

[MrRX7]

Don't you have a flat surface to work on?

 

And yes my screws for the Evo did stay in place.

no i dont at the moment, would their be much static on a bed with sheets on?

[Kayn]

no i dont at the moment, would their be much static on a bed with sheets on?

that depends on how much you move/bed sheets. Find a way to ground yourself if you really need to work on your computer just to be safe.

[CwGoh]

thanks so it wont damage over time it will happen fairly quick?

 

Depends. If you were dancing on carpet and went to press your thumb on the motherboard, the shock would be so large that it would kill the computer immediately. However, it it's a gradual build-up, like dust accumulation, it won't kill it since it isn't a sudden shock, but it will cause troubles like preventing the computer from turning on.

[MrRX7]

Depends. If you were dancing on carpet and went to press your thumb on the motherboard, the shock would be so large that it would kill the computer immediately. However, it it's a gradual build-up, like dust accumulation, it won't kill it since it isn't a sudden shock, but it will cause troubles like preventing the computer from turning on.

Ok so I would have felt a shock if their is any static on or in my system when I touch it?

[CwGoh]

Ok so I would have felt a shock if their is any static on or in my system when I touch it?

 

That will be either you discharging static to your computer or the other way round.

[MrRX7]

That will be either you discharging static to your computer or the other way round.

I men't I will know if static is on me and or in my system simply by touching the case? correct?

[CwGoh]

I men't I will know if static is on me and or in my system simply by touching the case? correct?

yep

[Cosmos_i7]

no i dont at the moment, would their be much static on a bed with sheets on?

Hi mate I think you're getting confused as to what static electricity is. It doesn't build up over time just by leaving it on carpet. If you put it on carpet and leave it the chances of static building up is very unlikely. 

 

Basically static electricity is the movement of electrons (electricity is the flow of electrons) caused by two materials, usually an insulator. What happens is one becomes positive and one becomes negative. Thus causing a flow between them if a conductor is introduced. So as electrons build up on an object it is now charged waiting to be discharged across a conductor.

To answer your question, static can not be built up over time unless there is something with movement across a conductor. You will be safe leaving you computer on the carpet or your bed sheets as long as you don't cause too much movement which will build up a charge. 

[Art Vandelay]

If your power supply is connected to a properly grounded outlet, you should not have a problem with static electricity on your carpet. Power supplies should ground the complete computer case. The problem with carpets is if you are on a carpet, you can build up a static charge and touching components could be dangerous, but as long as you don't move your feet around too much and touch the case before touching components, it should be fine.

 

You could also wear an antistatic wrist strap if you are worried, although they are pretty unnecessary.

[Canoas]

If the computer case is grounded, like it should be, then static electricity won't change anything. Just don't touch the components inside and you'll be fine.

[smjpl]

I men't I will know if static is on me and or in my system simply by touching the case? correct?

 

Was your question answered yet? I think people are getting confused by your question (maybe I am too).

 

I read your question as: "If I leave my computer sitting on a carpet, will it break due to static electricity?" - The answer to this is no. It is extremely unlikely.

 

Now most people thought you meant you were building your computer in a room that has carpet. Doing this could easily break your computer, especially if you are wearing socks without shoes. Walking around in socks on carpet will cause you to build up a static charge on your body. If you don't ground yourself (touching metal radiators, metal PC case/psu that is plugged in), then it would be dangerous to touch the components inside your PC case.

 

By the way you won't necessarily feel a shock. You might feel a shock if the static charge is large enough but that generally won't happen from walking around on a carpet in socks. The charge wouldn't be large enough for you to feel it but it could still be large enough to damage your components. 

[Hoppa]

If you have ever gotten a zap at home, then you should watch out.

Me, since I have timber floors, I don't have to worry about it.

[MrRX7]

is the case grounded even when the psu is unplugged from wall? @Art Vandelay

[Art Vandelay]

is the case grounded even when the psu is unplugged from wall? @Art Vandelay

I'd recommend keeping it plugged in.

[nicehat]

When the psu is disconnected and your case is closed and on the carpet, no static will reach your motherboard. The surface area of the case itself completely dissipates any static well before it reaches the stand offs to your motherboard. Which brings me to my next point.

 

As long as you have standoffs on your motherboard and chassis, your board is 100% insulated 

[Dopplegangers]

If you're paranoid like me, then you can buy an anti-static wrist strap and have some sense of security when handling your pc components.