using magnetic screw driver inside the PC case....... safe?

[dredd2929]

I've always used a magnetic screwdriver when working on PC's, never has caused a problem.

 

[xiaobao12]

thanks archangel.

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: dredd2929
I've always used a magnetic screwdriver when working on PC's, never has caused a problem.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: vapore0n
magnetic screwdrivers shoulnt be a problem unless you run it up and down really fast next to a coil.

Given the pathetic B-field that comes out of that screw driver, your arm wouldn't be able to run it that fast next to eh coil.

ArchAngel777: you're just really bad then no offense. I work on a few computers and while I don't have antistatic bracelet at home, I do make sure to touch the PSU when I'm working, etc.

At work I always wear antistatic equipment in the lab. I don't see why taking risks is necessary.

I recommend NOT PLUGGED in. Just touch the case as an antistatic bracelet does. Have you ever measured your VDimm only to find that it's still applied when your system is off? How smart is swapping RAM then? And it's not like I did this for maintenence. You never want power running when you swap things in. Even if your system is off, there could be trickle power. Turn it off.

The magnets in a screwdriver are so weak that you don't need to worry. tHey won't distort anything. And those people claiming magnets damage HDs? Those magnets used to read HDs are like 1000x more powerful...

 

[Arcanedeath]

Your safe using a magnetic screwdriver inside a pc, or at least as safe as any normal screwdriver is inside a working pc

 

[ArchAngel777]

ArchAngel777: you're just really bad then no offense. I work on a few computers and while I don't have antistatic bracelet at home, I do make sure to touch the PSU when I'm working, etc.

At work I always wear antistatic equipment in the lab. I don't see why taking risks is necessary.

I recommend NOT PLUGGED in. Just touch the case as an antistatic bracelet does. Have you ever measured your VDimm only to find that it's still applied when your system is off? How smart is swapping RAM then? And it's not like I did this for maintenence. You never want power running when you swap things in. Even if your system is off, there could be trickle power. Turn it off.

No offense taken, every tech has their own method. I cannot help but see a contradiction in your post. Your 4th paragraph goes against your 2nd and 3rd. Keep in mind that you are not grounded when the power cable is not plugged into the wall socket. So touching the case is not giving it an Earth Ground and therefore, depending on the theory, it will not discharge the static. So your 4th paragraph isn't doing anything to eliminate ESD.


Edit **

If you find yourself in a situation where you don?t have a grounding mat or anti-static wrist strap, then you should keep one hand on a bare, unpainted portion of the chassis as you?re working inside the case. This method is not that reliable and you?ll soon find it to be a little awkward. The ten or twelve dollars spent on a good wrist strap is a wise investment.

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Now, don't get me wrong, I believe that ESD can damge things, but it isn't likely to happen. In fact the odds are rediculously low... Also, when I did a lot of phone support for my company, we have USERS digging into the machines and removing ram, PCI card etc... for us. None of the parts ever fail, save for maybe 1 in a 10,000 type odds. I guess that is the point of all of this. ESD damage is possible, but not probable.


Edit 2 **

Addionally, I have fondled the crap out of video cards, rams etc... I use them for testing and they still work to this day. Even as a joke, I would rub my feet against the carpet and took a video card and tried to touch the chip and shock it... Did the card fail or suffer adverse effects? Nope... Again, this isn't to say damage cannot happen, it is just that ESD is overhyped.

 

[batmanuel]

The way I always heard to do it was to leave the case plugged in so you have a ground, but flip the switch on the PSU to turn off the power going to the mobo. Some PSUs don't have this switch, but most quality units do. Another method I've heard of is to leave the PC plugged in and swich off the power stip or UPS it is plugged up to.

I ususally just unplug everything and make sure to touch the metal part of the case before I pick up any components.

 

[GregMal]

I use a magnetic screwdriver and I always unplug the PC at the PS when
working inside it............

 

[orangat]

Ditto on leaving the case plugged in otherwise its not grounded. ESD not not overhyped. I've screwed up memory and a LAN card before.

 

[DLBlank]

I put my new computer together not pluged in no antistatic wrist wrap and a GOOD magnetic scruedriver, FIRST BUILD EVER! And no problems at all.

 

[CrimsonCutie]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Yes it's safe. People are way too scared of teh 3v3l magnetz. It's the deadly PSU caps that they should be afraid of.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Ditto on leaving the case plugged in otherwise its not grounded. ESD not not overhyped. I've screwed up memory and a LAN card before.

That sucks, maybe your an electric eel. It is overhyped, and you can consider it a fact ... I mean, you can argue it, which is fine. But you have to remember all of the computer MFG's that do hardware phone support that require you to replace a PSU, or Hard Drive, or memory over the phone... If, say for instance, you were correct, I doubt all of these companies would have an inexperienced end user working on the inside of a machine... But, I rest my case, because I have been there and walked people through working on machines that are sitting on carpet, unplugged from the back of the wall and fix the machines right over the phone. Does ESD claim the life of things? Never happened to me, nor anyone I know. Though even if a component did die, it would be hard to blame it on ESD with any absolute certainty.

Thanks for the input, though.

Edit **

Also, keep in mind that maybe you just do not know how to handle a computer part. Perhaps your hands were wet when you touched the memory... Maybe you still have chocolate on your shirt and it fell off on the cards gold contacts... Heck, maybe mini-me came in there and spit on your system. Just joking with this paragraph... But, you never know.

Edit 2 **

One more thing, I am not telling anyone here that they have to take my advise. They can choose to work on their PC any way they want. If you want to wear an anti-static band, that is great! If you don't want too? That is fine, I understand. You can do whatever you want with your computer. It isn't my place to tell you how to handle your computer parts and what to wear. *shrug*

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: ArchAngel777
Nope, I advise people not to leave them plugged in. But I do understand why a lot of techs do. Having the power cable plugged into the wall and into your PC provides a ground when you touch the case. So, you essentially ground yourself when putting any part of your skin on the metal case. Typically a lot of techs will touch the case, then pickup the component they are going to install and place it in. The way they can be sure they do not have any charged static electricity is to touch the case (which is grounded through the PSU ---> Power Cable ---> Outlet ---> Earth Ground

As someone mentioned above with modern systems and constand power unless the PS has a hard off switch, which many OEMs do not I don't bother plugging it in...

Have worked on literally thousands of systems and have never had a problem with ESD Damage...as long as you are careful and don't manhandle the parts everything should be fine.

 

[ArchAngel777]

As someone mentioned above with modern systems and constand power unless the PS has a hard off switch, which many OEMs do not I don't bother plugging it in...

Have worked on literally thousands of systems and have never had a problem with ESD Damage...as long as you are careful and don't manhandle the parts everything should be fine.

That is a very good point that I did not take into consideration in my intinial post way above, the 1/0 switch on the back of some PSU's. The problem as you pointed out, is that many PSU's do not contain the switch. Most of the PSU's I have replaced have been OEM and did not have the switch, a few did though. But, yes, in any case, you can leave it plugged in and flip the switch to "0" (off).

Second paragraph is QFT.

 

[RaiderJ]

I use a magnetic screwdriver and no wrist strap. Haven't had a problem yet.

I think plugging in a computer while you're working on it is silly. Being connected to 120V isn't the smartest thing a person could do. If you're that concerned about being grounded, just make sure to touch a bare metal portion of your case before working on it. That will equalize the voltage levels between you & your computer.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Intelia
No its not unless your very careful not to touch any components. Just use a non mag driver. I bet you don't use a grounding wire either.

EHHH!!!! WRONG!

 

[daniel49]

used magnetic screwdrivers all the time its safe

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

Eh, I used a magnetic screw driver to like retrieve lost screws that drop into my case. It's fine.

 

[vegetation]

Been using it since the 80's without a problem. As for static, it's highly dependent on your locale. I'm in an area with constant year round 70-80% humidity so static is no issue at all.