Static Electricity Static Electricity is just waiting for a chance to destroy your computer or other electronics. If you understand it, you can usually beat it. It is a very high voltage - low current electric charge created by friction of one type or another. You can walk across a carpet and touch a light switch and zap, a static discharge. When you see it and/or feel it, it is usually many thousands of volts. A static discharge can also be only several hundred or a thousand volts that you may not feel, notice, or see. These are just as dangerous to electronics. You surely remember the static cling with you clothes. That is static electricity. Wearing a sweater and a shirt can generate static electricity as they rub together just wearing them. Coats can gererate static electricity by rubbing your clothes. Static electricity is most noticible in the winter or in air conditioned rooms where humidity is low. During the summer when we have high humidity, and there is little or no air conditioning, static electricity is less of a problem, but still there. Modern electronics including computers, fax machines, video recorders and televisions use integrated circuit components that power from only 5 volts. Applying 10 volts would burn out most of them. A static discharge the goes thru or into a connection would place enough voltage to burn out an electronic product. The discharge finds the path of least resistance to complete a circuit and many times it's your computer or VCR. You can handle a product one day and get away with it and zap it the next day. Working inside a computer without an electic grounding strap on your wrist is asking for trouble and you will probably find it. Even handing new expansion cards for your computer to look at, is dangerous. Modems, video display cards, controllers, and other cards are commonly blow by static discharge. Memory chips blow even faster. Static cache memory is most sensitive and should never be handled by inexperienced persons. You can carry your computer from the first floor to the second and plug it in and poof, you blow it up. You can bring a computer from home to office and a static charge can get it. Here is how to prevent transportation problems. Use the computer power switch to turn on or off the computer. Do not use the power strip alone. You create a second problem with this bad habit on not using the power switch. All computers have a weakness in that you can NOT plug or unplug the keyboard with the computer power turned on. This will blow either the computer system board or keyboard or both. Now that you will use this practice, do not unplug the power cord till last when disconnecting your computer to move it. Likewise, when you reach your new location, plug in the power cord first. This will put a ground connection to the computer case first. After plugging the power cord in, plug in the keyboard, monitor, printer cable and mouse before moving around. If you must move around, touch the grounded computer case before resuming the connections. It is common to pop a circuit with static electricity by plugging in a keyboard or monitor before the power cable if you walk across a carpet with a static charge. Touching the computer screen for any reason while it's turned on may put a charge in you hand that may discharge thru the keyboard. Never wipe dust from a monitor while its on. If you constantly get static shocks while working near a computer, you need to get a fabric softner or other static spray to treat your carpets. You may also have additional problems. We have found that about 10 percent of power outlets in homes and businesses (and even schools) are wired improperly. A ground connection is absolutely necessary for modern electronics and your safety. The third ground wire must never be compromised. Older outlets without them are a disaster to you and your equipment. You can purchase an outlet tester at most hardware stores and Radio Shack for under $10. Not only have we found no grounds, but we have found reversed neutral and hot leads. Just because it is AC power, the proper hot and neutral wiring is a must. Electricians sometimes make mistakes and sometimes their young helpers don't know any better.