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From: cormack@sequent.UUCP (Michael Cormack)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Static worse for computer on the floor???
Message-ID: <30081@sequent.UUCP>
Date: 23 Feb 90 04:09:19 GMT
References: <3618@sage.cc.purdue.edu>
Reply-To: cormack@sequent.UUCP (Michael Cormack)
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc
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In article <3618@sage.cc.purdue.edu> ssy@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Kyler Laird) writes:
%I've recently been informed that I'd better get a Zenith 386-25 off the
%floor or risk the perils of increased static buildup.
%
%Is this a crock?  The case is metal.  It's grounded.  What's the difference
%between it sitting on the floor soaking up static electricity (to ground)
%and sitting on the desk getting a charge everytime someone brushes against
%it?
%
%I'd love a reply so that I can, perhaps, reply intelligently to this.
%
%Thanks...
%
%--kyler

I can think of one reason, how true it is I don't know because I've
never actually tested it out with a static meter.

When your shoes (especially nike's or reebok's) rub against the ground
(or even better a rug), they build up a charge. This is called a
triboelectric effect. Most people realize this by the ZAP they get
from a door knob or equiv. What most people don't realize is that
there is also an electric field associated with this charge and *that*
is probably the reason why it's been suggested to move your tower.
Like I said I don't know how true this is. I use a tower in the lab
and me reebok's are right against it. I haven't lost any data yet.

 Hope that helps,
mike