I’ve done basic internal computer stuff for the last 25 years or so. Back in the day there was lots of talk about not doing it over synthetic carpet, using static bracelets etc, discharging etc.
This rarely seems to be mentioned anymore in repair videos and guides. Was this just over thought as a problem or is this still a serious issue to worry about?
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TBH I’ve never even thought about it since the last time I was poking around inside a “traditional” tower unit switching out a 20GB harddrive for a 40GB one… yeah, at least a decade and a half ago.
Have done numerous other things since then that I *should* have technically grounded myself for - laptop repairs/RAM upgrades, mobile phone repairs etc… but completely slipped my mind and no resulting boom/zap/magic smoke so I guess it’s no big deal. The way I figure it, a lot of devices are made to be portable these days, and they’re bound to pick up static from simply being handled - how many times a day do you take your mobile phone in and out of pockets, tap the screen after walking on carpet etc?
To be fair even back in the day (and we’re going even further back in time here…) how many people would change a game cartridge in a SNES or Mega Drive and not even cast a thought to touching the bare edge connector of the PCB inside while doing so? Let alone blowing on them when they didn’t load, which only later in life did we get told this was a cause of corrosion.
In my experience modern components are far more resilient and resistant to static. I have been working on PCs for over 20 years and once cases stopped being beige no one made mention of it and I have never worried about ESD discharge personally and never had an issue with it.
This video is a bit over dramaticized but they do mess around with it a bit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXkgbmr3dRA
Thank you.
I asked an Electronics Engineer and they said in practice there’s usually no issue.
May have been more commonly an issue of the past.
It’s worth noting that dealing with raw components and smaller ratings will carry more risk than dealing with integrated components or raw components of higher ratings.
Never has been, even in the pcb assembly industry, it’s mostly a joke that makes your employees look good. Factories will have grounded floors with conductive tiles and ankle bracelets that will discharge you into the tiles. These cost a lot to implement and if badly implemented can be deadly to everyone walking on the floor. Having a floor that conduct electricity isn’t always the best thing. Suffice to say, it was mostly for appearance. Boss would remind you but it was never a big deal.