Safety regarding USB devices

Static Electricity is generated in many ways. It can be from walking on that carpet, rubbing your pants against the chair, the chair against the floor, etc., etc.

You're really lucky you didn't damage your computer or your USB device. To help prevent this from happening in the future: First make sure your computer equipment is powered from a properly grounded outlet, and the case is grounded. Then, before you touch any plug, jack, button, switch, etc. touch your computer's metal case in an area AWAY FROM any jack, switch, etc.

Ideally any exposed metal should be grounded but if there's a broken ground you could fry your computer.

While you're sitting at the computer, make it a habit to touch your computer's case every five or ten minutes, because as you move a charge can build up on you.

My method is having a metal plate near my keyboard which is securely connected to the case, so I don't have to reach down to the tower

Carpeted floor and slippers etc. with rubber soles does it for me, good zap touching anything grounded., especially in winter when airs drier and wood stoves cooking. I have my workstation resting on old metal highway signs (back shiny side up) "scrounged" off roadside(s). Never have had problem since.

Our church had a similar problem with static buildup, & after some research, I started spraying the floors once a week with a solution of fabric softener & 1/2 cup of vinegar in a pump type garden sprayer. Put enough fabric softener to cover the vinegar smell & keep well agitated during spraying. After 2 months of regular spraying, the static problem just disappeared completely! Hope this helps!!!!

Brian

It's called static electricity, you can get a shock by touching anything at a substantially different electrical potential than yourself, doorknob, refrigerator, car door, screws holding the plate on a lightswitch, etc. Those are all things I get annoying shocks from frequently this time of year when the air is dry.

snipped-for-privacy@my-deja.com wrote

Don't power-up the system?

Just my initial thought...

RobG

He`ll probably still get the clouts as long as the computer is earthed, It`s most likely him that is charged up and dumping the charge to earth. Less likely to do any damage to the puter tho, I imagine.

Try running your hand all over a crt face when it`s just been turned on, then holding your knuckle near a water pipe or radiator.

Ron(UK)

I am surprised so few people know of this tip for where they regularly get static electricity shocks from walking across carpets. Have a key or coin between the fingers and touch the locker or whatever with that first and it distributes the current so although you may see the discharge you don't feel anything.

-- Diverse Devices, Southampton, England electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on

More specifically, I believe that the reason this works is that it is not actually the flow of current through your finger that hurts when you experience a static shock, but rather the arc itself that hurts you.

So, by making the arc attach to the key instead of to your finger, you don't feel the pain.

We have a bottle of anti-static spray in the lab at work which is pretty effective, but you've gotta do it at the end of the day because it reeks like all sorts of nasty solvents, I think I like the vinegar and fabric softener idea better but I'd be concerned about corrosion.

Most carpet cleaning companies will anti-static treat your carpets. I recommend this if you live in a dry climate, or one in the northern tier of states/countries where heating during the winter drives down the humidity inside.

The key and coin trick work well but its more fun to use a small fluorescent tube.