Yes people, opening a computer and touching the guts inside without wearing proper shock proof gear will kill your computer. It happens often to people who think they can try to fix a computer without knowing the knowledge and could cost them lots of money. The odds of a static discharge is low and at times people wear socks and walk on their carpet not thinking of the consequences. So you’re probably asking “how much damage can it do?” Well Patrick Norton and Michael Hand from DIY Tryin can show you how much damage.

The end result, if you can’t watch the video, is that sadly just about everything dies, most of it pretty quickly. Obviously if you’re in a low humidity, static free environment (like a PC building lab or a data center) you have less to worry about, but if you’re assembling your new PC on a carpeted floor, you may want to at least try to remember to ground yourself on the metal of the case every now and again if you don’t feel like wearing a strap.

So what Exactly is Static Electricity?

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is the term used to describe the transfer of static electricity from one object to another.

As we go about our daily lives, we gather certain amounts of electrostatic charge. This happens mostly in low humidity areas; more so, in winter and in dry seasons.

Our bodies also produce static electricity which is caused by excess electrons (negatively charged particles) being formed especially when we walk on carpeting.  It is very possible for you to be damaging your sensitive electronic components inside your case from Electroscopic Discharge without knowing it.

If you felt a discharge, it possibly was more than 2,000 volts. A discharge as low as 200 volts can destroy your computer chip.

Don’t risk it, let our experts handle your computer with care and professionally.

Schedule an appointment today : 574-387-6229