PC Personal Safety

Inside a PC is a whole host of dangers awaiting you. The four big, most serious dangers are:

• High-voltage things
• Hot things
• Sharp things
• Spinning things

There are also some other miscellaneous dangers that face you too, but before we come to them let’s take a
closer look at the big four.

High-Voltage Things

Without a doubt the biggest danger that you face when inside a PC is from high voltage. PCs are designed to take in voltage ranging from 110 volts to 250 volts, which is then converted into lower voltages that will be
used by the motherboard, hard drives, optical drives (CD or DVD drives), and other devices, such as fans, that all live and work inside the PC. It’s no joke or exaggeration to say that high voltage can kill. An electric shock in real life isn’t like it’s depicted in the movies where someone touches a live wire, is thrown 30 feet away and then gets up, face black, clothes smoldering but otherwise OK. According to the National Institutes of Health, some 1,000 people die in the United States each year because of electrocution. Electricity kills by stopping the heart and breathing, and it can kill instantly. If you are lucky enough to survive
contact with electricity, then you are likely to suffer from burns and nerve, muscle, and this sure damage.

          We’re not telling you this to scare you; on the contrary, we’re giving you the dangers straight so that you understand them and are able to know what is safe to do and what is not. Everything that we show or tell you in this this 100% tried, tested, and safe. Follow the instructions and you’ll be OK.If you are ever in any doubt, pause and reread the instructions.The best way to protect yourself from electrocution is to limit your exposure to electricity. Most of the time when you are working on your PC you don’t need it plugged into the electrical supply. That way, no power is going into the PC and the dangers of electrocution are eliminated. There may be times when you will want to run your PC without having the case all buttoned up. For example, you might want to check out whether all the fans inside the case are spinning properly. The best advice here is to keep your hands, head, and all hand tools out of the case. If you want to look at something, do so from a distance and use a flashlight to get a better view.

Whenever a PC is plugged into the electrical supply without having the case buttoned up, remember the old adage of “look but don’t touch.

”The biggest danger from electrocution comes after a PC has been plugged into the electrical supply and is then switched off. It’s very easy to forget that it’s been on and still connected and then set about to work inside. A visual marker that the PC is connected to the power outlet can be very handy. Here are two good techniques:

• Tape a fluorescent bit of plastic, paper, or fabric to the power connector. You’ll find thepower connector at the back of the PC. By taping something to the power connector,you have a handy visual reminder that your PC is still plugged in and live. Unplug thepower socket from the back of the PC, and you make it safe again.

• Equip your workplace with a hanger for the PC power cable. For this, a bent over bit ofwire will do just fine. Make this a visible spot, and remember to hang the power cord onthe hanger when working inside the PC (the fluorescent plastic, paper, or fabric tagmakes it even easier to spot when the PC is safe!).

The following list includes additional safety tips:

• Let others know what you are doing. It always helps if everyone else is clear about whatyou are doing. This way those around you will be appreciative of the risks that you aretaking and hopefully ease off any practical jokes (those “pretend” electric shock gags getreal old, real fast, anyway). Also, this way you get other people to keep an eye on youwhile you are working just in case anything does go wrong.

• Keep liquids away from the PC work area. Spilling water or other liquids into a PC cancause short circuits and electrocution, as can working in a wet or damp environment.Wet rags, tools, and work surfaces can also conduct electricity. Keep liquids away fromthe work area, and keep the area clean and dry.

• Use insulated electrical tools. These tools are the types that have a rubber or plastichandle that can’t conduct electricity. No matter how careful you are, accidents can happen.These tools can offer you protection against accidents but shouldn’t be used as asubstitute for taking the proper safety steps.

Not all plastic or rubber handled tools offer protection from electricity. If you want to buy safety tools then make sure that the handle clearly states that the tool is insulated and also what the rating is (usually “electricians” tools protect the user from up to 1,000 or 10,000 volts, depending on the quality of the tool).
Chapter 2, “Choosing the Tools You Need,” takes a more detailed look at the tools you should be using to build your PC.