Q: Using a Magnetised Screwdriver on a Computer Motherboard

[Eyman]

Hi,

Im about to remove my motherboard from my computer case to install a
heatsink fan.

Ive typically been using a standard non magnetised screwdriver in the past,
but am thinking about using a magnetised screwdriver to remove and install
the motherboard in and out of the case.

I know static electricity is a danger but will the manget effect of the
screwdriver stuff up my motherboard?

thanks in advance

Eyman

 

[John Larkin]

On Fri, 11 Jul 2003 10:46:48 +1000, "Eyman" <user@anon.com> wrote:

Hi,

Im about to remove my motherboard from my computer case to install a
heatsink fan.

Ive typically been using a standard non magnetised screwdriver in the past,
but am thinking about using a magnetised screwdriver to remove and install
the motherboard in and out of the case.

I know static electricity is a danger but will the manget effect of the
screwdriver stuff up my motherboard?

thanks in advance

Eyman

No problem.

John

 

[Chesucat]

On Fri, 11 Jul 2003, Neil wrote:

I don't think a typically weakly magnetized screwdriver will do any harm.
As long as you don't wave any strong magnets around you'll be OK.
Static is more of a risk - make sure the case is earthed (plugged in to
3-pin wall socket but not switched on) and if no strap then rest a finger on
the metal case often.
hth
Neil

Actually, static is really not a problem if you touch some metal to
discharge your self. My brother-in-law has been building 'puters for
several years now and he never "straps up". Hell, he even put the
motherboard on the carpet or sometimes a towel to work on it. He says he
hasn't had any problems with that. I think the ESD FUD is just the
electronics industries trying to get newbies tech to buy expensive
grounding straps, mats, and bags!

ches

--
chesucat@sdf.lonestar.org
SDF Public Access UNIX System - http://sdf.lonestar.org
The bigger the theory the better.

 

[Bob Myers]

"Chesucat" <chesucat@freeshell.org> wrote in message
newsine.NEB.4.33.0307111639220.22152-100000@norge.freeshell.org...

Neil

Actually, static is really not a problem if you touch some metal to
discharge your self. My brother-in-law has been building 'puters for
several years now and he never "straps up". Hell, he even put the
motherboard on the carpet or sometimes a towel to work on it. He says he
hasn't had any problems with that. I think the ESD FUD is just the
electronics industries trying to get newbies tech to buy expensive
grounding straps, mats, and bags!

He's been lucky, maybe. ESD is a very real concern, and the damage
doesn't always show up immediately. I hate to think how many
boards your brother-in-law has caused to have problems
somewhere down the line. Or do you think all of the electronics
manufacturers in the world take pains to control ESD simply
because we don't know any better?


Bob M.

 

[Neil]

"Chesucat" <chesucat@freeshell.org> wrote in message
newsine.NEB.4.33.0307111639220.22152-100000@norge.freeshell.org...

Actually, static is really not a problem if you touch some metal to
discharge your self. My brother-in-law has been building 'puters for
several years now and he never "straps up". Hell, he even put the
motherboard on the carpet or sometimes a towel to work on it. He says he
hasn't had any problems with that. I think the ESD FUD is just the
electronics industries trying to get newbies tech to buy expensive
grounding straps, mats, and bags!

ches
I saw my first static-damaged chip many years ago. Since the industry I'm

in (avionics) has to test and soak its products before delivery, and support
repairs for about 20 years, we've seen many failures with the hallmarks of
static damage. The general consensus is that the damage may not manifest
itself imediately, but be a weakening of the chips so that they fail later -
days/months/years - dependig on other stresses.
Even resistors are labeled as static sensitive now because of the small
physical geometries involved.
My approach is better safe than sorry, so use cheap but effective
protection - leaving the case grounded, touching it to discharge before
removing things from packaging etc. Aluminium foil is a pretty good cheap
substitute for anti-static packaging.
The best demo we showed one of our disbelieving bosses - again many years
ago - was to get him to hold one leg of a wire-ended neon (the tiny
indicator thingies) with the other end touching the metal door frame
(earthed via the building), and shuffle his feet on the nylon carpet tiles.
The neon glowed quite brightly. They breakover at 90V, so it was a good
demo that there are quite a few volts generated.
hth
Neil

 

[Dr Engelbert Buxbaum]

Chesucat wrote:

Actually, static is really not a problem if you touch some metal to
discharge your self. My brother-in-law has been building 'puters for
several years now and he never "straps up". Hell, he even put the
motherboard on the carpet or sometimes a towel to work on it

This may well depend on the sort of carpet and towels he has. Synthetics
can lead to considerable voltages when walked upon, while cotton is much
safer.

 

[Rich Grise]

Dr Engelbert Buxbaum <engelbert_buxbaum@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<bf88le$t6h$06$1@news.t-online.com>...

Chesucat wrote:

Actually, static is really not a problem if you touch some metal to
discharge your self. My brother-in-law has been building 'puters for
several years now and he never "straps up". Hell, he even put the
motherboard on the carpet or sometimes a towel to work on it

This may well depend on the sort of carpet and towels he has. Synthetics
can lead to considerable voltages when walked upon, while cotton is much
safer.

If you're wearing leather shoes, you can build up quite a charge by
rubbing your feet against a cat.

;-}

 

[David Smith]

In article <cq6sgvkkhvflh13dvvs8i5mbses3o95ir3@4ax.com>, John Larkin
<jjlarkin@highlandSNIPtechTHISnologyPLEASE.com> wrote:

Im about to remove my motherboard from my computer case to install a

Apple Computer factory training says "Nope, no effect whatsoever." - I
asked the same question also.

 

[Bob Myers]

"David Smith" <d9smith@mail.localnet.com> wrote in message
news:d9smith-2007032245110001@ppp44.pm3-4.syr-ch.ny.localnet.com...

In article <cq6sgvkkhvflh13dvvs8i5mbses3o95ir3@4ax.com>, John Larkin
jjlarkin@highlandSNIPtechTHISnologyPLEASE.com> wrote:

Im about to remove my motherboard from my computer case to install a

Apple Computer factory training says "Nope, no effect whatsoever." - I
asked the same question also.

Would you mind providing just a LITTLE more context? WHAT has
"no effect whatsoever"? If you're claiming that Apple trains its factory
workers that ESD is not a concern, I seriously suspect you're
misinterpreting
the training.

Bob M.

 

[Chris1]

In article <3f1c3b12$1_3@hpb10302.boi.hp.com>, "Bob Myers" <nospamplease@addressinvalid.com> wrote:

"David Smith" <d9smith@mail.localnet.com> wrote in message
news:d9smith-2007032245110001@ppp44.pm3-4.syr-ch.ny.localnet.com...
In article <cq6sgvkkhvflh13dvvs8i5mbses3o95ir3@4ax.com>, John Larkin
jjlarkin@highlandSNIPtechTHISnologyPLEASE.com> wrote:

Im about to remove my motherboard from my computer case to install a

Apple Computer factory training says "Nope, no effect whatsoever." - I
asked the same question also.

Would you mind providing just a LITTLE more context? WHAT has
"no effect whatsoever"? If you're claiming that Apple trains its factory
workers that ESD is not a concern, I seriously suspect you're
misinterpreting
the training.

From the thread title, I assume it had to do with magnetized screwdrivers
and their effects. Reminds me of the urban legend about refrigerator
magnets and floppies. Turns out that a fridge magnet is nowhere near
powerful enough to effect the data on a floppy. So the smartass telling the
UL is really a dumbass for assuming the floppy would be damaged.

Chris