Can static KILL your PC (ft. Electroboom)
The Dangers of Static Electricity: A Scientific Exploration
Static electricity is often considered a harmless and even amusing phenomenon, as exemplified by Linus' enthusiastic reactions to his own electric experiments. However, static electricity can pose a significant threat to sensitive electronics, particularly when it comes into contact with conductive materials such as metal components in personal computers.
The origin of static electricity lies in the buildup of electrical charges on our bodies, often caused by friction between our skin and other objects. When we walk on carpets or put on new clothing, we can generate a significant amount of static electricity that can be released through contact with conductive surfaces. This is why it's essential to take precautions when handling electronic components, such as touching them only on an anti-static surface.
But how dangerous is static electricity due to components actually? To find out, Linus has arranged a crossover event featuring ElectricBOOM, a renowned expert in the field of electricity and electronics. The two meet for the first time, with ElectricBOOM explaining that they will be using a special device called an E-S-D gun to simulate static discharges on human skin.
The E-S-D gun is a specialized tool designed to replicate the conditions under which static electricity can damage sensitive electronics. It consists of a long cable with a sensor at one end and a trigger at the other, allowing the user to apply controlled electrical discharges to their body. ElectricBOOM demonstrates how the device works by touching it to Linus' skin, causing him to feel a subtle buzzing sensation.
However, as they continue to experiment with the E-S-D gun, it becomes clear that not all static discharges are created equal. ElectricBOOM explains that the duration and intensity of the discharge can affect its perceived pain, citing the example of a DC power supply. He notes that while the Tesla coil is often associated with painful shocks due to its high voltage, the E-S-D gun produces a more manageable pulse.
Linus, however, remains skeptical about the severity of static electricity's effects on electronics. He even jokes about licking a 9-volt battery to see if it's charged, highlighting his own level of caution when dealing with electrical systems. This lighthearted approach belies the importance of taking static electricity seriously, as demonstrated by ElectricBOOM and their E-S-D gun.
As they continue their experiment, Linus becomes more excited about the possibility of exploring the limits of human tolerance for static discharges. He asks ElectricBOOM to increase the power output of the device, causing him to feel a growing sense of unease. The two experts engage in a banter-filled conversation, with Linus teasing ElectricBOOM about his fearlessness when it comes to electricity.
Despite their playful demeanor, the experiment continues, and Linus finally agrees to allow ElectricBOOM to increase the power output even further. As they prepare for this new level of experimentation, ElectricBOOM acknowledges that not everyone will be comfortable with the increased intensity of the discharge. However, he reassures Linus that it's all in the name of scientific discovery.
Throughout the experiment, it becomes clear that static electricity poses a genuine threat to sensitive electronics. The E-S-D gun proves to be an invaluable tool for understanding this phenomenon, allowing experts like ElectricBOOM to simulate and study the effects of static discharges on human skin. By exploring these limits, researchers can gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of taking precautions when handling electronic components.
The experiment also highlights the role of electronics in modern life, particularly in computing and technology. The devices we use every day are often subject to the whims of static electricity, which can cause damage or malfunction if not handled properly. By understanding the risks associated with static electricity, we can take steps to mitigate its effects and ensure that our electronic components remain safe and functional.
Ultimately, Linus' experiments serve as a reminder to approach electronics with care and respect. While they may seem harmless at first glance, the potential dangers of static electricity should not be underestimated. By exploring these risks through scientific experimentation, we can gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon and develop strategies for preventing damage to our electronic components.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en( Linus screams)- If you've ever built your own PC,you've probably noticedthat most of the componentscome packed inthese shiny bags.These are called E-S-D bagsand they existto prevent thesensitive electronics insidefrom getting accidentally zappedby a static chargethat built up on your bodywhen you were doingmoonwalking on the carpet orputting on abrand new tukefrom lttstore.com.But how dangerousis static electricitydue to components actually.To find outwe have arranged thecrossover event of the century.And I'm not just talkingabout the crossoverbetween his eyebrows.We have got the one,the only ElectricBOOMin the studio.()- Hi- Oh my God!What are weeven doing right now?- Don't know, it's alittle bit too loud.Lets ... (laughs).Do you want to touch it? Sure.- Not really.- No, no go ahead.I encourage you.(ElectricBOOM laughs)(electricity buzzing)- First. I got to tell youabout our sponsor.Seasonic was all too eagerto be involved.as soon as we saidthat I was going to havethis guy hereand probably goingto get well, hurt.(ElectricBOOM chuckles)Go buy aSeasonic power supplyif you support this endeavor.(upbeat music)I'm the kind of personthat doesn't even liketo lick a nine voltyou know, to seeif it's charged,'cause it's likeis it worse than that?- Yeah man. Come on, touch it.- Oh That's fine.- There you go.- See you're a scaredfor no reason.- Well, I'm not scaredfor no reason.I've watched your video.(ElectricBOOM laughs)- Well, it's no power.I can increase the power.- I saw your electric guitar, man.- That's a music channel for now.Now bring it close.You feel it?Not at all probably.(upbeat music)- Tell me why that is.- The reason is thatinstead of the arcgoing through a single pointon your skinit's going overa large surfacein your hands.So it spreads out.You don't feel it.I can actuallyincrease the power nowa little bit, maybe.(electricity buzzing)- Feel it?- No actually.- There you go.- Ultimate power.- Let's try something.Let's do thesame thing with that.- Oh sure.- And I increasedthe frequency again.(electricity buzzing)Now let me seeif it jumps on me- Oh my God?(ElectricBOOM laughs)- Yeah- Why, Why does it hurtwhen you do it?So it's just becauseit's a very small point.- It's a point, yeah.It's more on asingle narrow ratherthan spreading overa big surface.But then this is not the sameas the static dischargethat we worrywe'll kill our,our RAM stickwhile we're installing it, is it?- No, it's not.- How do we,how do we simulate E-S-D?- That would bewith a special guncalled the E-S-D gun.- So this is it then?- Yes. That's the E-S-D gun- Okay, I'll try notto break it.And all it does is simulatelike a finger touching something.- Yeah. Yeah. So it's basicallyfor humans handlingelectronics, simulating that.- And then what elsewe got in here?- This is the gun,with the long cable.And this partwe can sensor that I think.- I think I just sawa robot dildo.- And that's where it goes- Before anyone gets upset by the way,the electronics that we'regoing to be sacrificing todayare from Free Geek,a local electronic salvager that says,yes these are working,but no, these arenot valuable parts.that anybody would wantintegrated into a salvage PC.So go ahead and kill it.We'll take it right backand make sure thatit gets recycled properly.- Do You wanna try this oneand see how it feels?- Okay. Yeah, that's fine.It was like a duller pain.I don't know.- More shocking.- More shocking, yes. Why?- Yes.- Well, it is DCand it is,like the durationof the pulse is longer.So it could feel actuallyit could hurt morecompared to the Tesla coil.- That's why Iasked you beforeand you didn'tanswer me properly.You just said, \"It depends.\"And then pointeda gun at me.- I can put a higher voltageif you wantor are you okay with 12 kilovolt?- I don't know.Sure, you tell me?- Okay. I'll put 25.Let me knowhow it feels.25 kilovolt discharged to Linus.(Linus screams)(ElectricBOOM laughs)- Oh I missed it,can we do that one more time?Feel the pain again.Okay, go ahead.- Okay. That's fine.(ElectricBOOM laughs)- I can't make it lethal unfortunately.- That's very helpful to know.What kind of voltagecould I build upon my bodywhile I'm just walkingaround my housebefore I build my computer- At home, you usually pick upeight to 12.If you build your computeryou just wanna ground yourselfwith a proper strap, right?You don't, you don't wantto have anycharge on youbecause like RAMsor internals of the computers,components, ICS chips,they are usually ratedfor two kilovolts maximum.- That's it. Now I alwaysground myself correctlywhen I'm workingon our projects.- That's what he says(Linus screams)- It shocked me.(Linus screams)You know, let's say hypotheticallyI've had situationswhere I've goneto pick up a RAM stickand I have actuallyfelt the arcbut the RAM stickdid turn outto still work.How could that be?- Imagine all of usare standing on earth, right?If meteorite hits youon the head, you die.But if the meteoritehits the earththe whole earthshakes a little biteveryone on earthis fine, right?- Yeah.- It's the same thing on the ground here.When you hit the ground,the whole board moves together, right?- I see.- The voltage on the board,everything moves together.But if you hita certain weak spotthen its dead.- So if you manageto not kill a componentwith an E-S-D discharge,you got lucky.- Yeah. Pretty much yes.(ElectricBOOM laughs)Now you want to kill it?Zap it- Well, hold on a second.(Linus laughs)Should I be holding itwhile you do that?- Let's see what happens.- Hold on a second. Okay, fine.(upbeat music)(Linus screams)(ElectricBOOM chuckles)- Oh, you should have told him.- You knew thatwas gonna happen?- Exactly. What did you haveto learn your lessonthe hard way.So I had to do it.- Is it helpfulor does it hinderthat I'm touching itwhen you zap it?- No, it actuallymakes it worse.- It makes it worse.- Because when I zapit goes to your bodyso there is a pathdepending on where you touch,it could actually kill.It might already be dead actually.(ElectricBOOM laughs)- Only one way to find out.(ElectricBOOM chuckles)- When I dischargeat 25 kilovolts.- I think we killed it, sir.- Is it dead?- It appears to bedead as a doornail.Probably doesn't have a....(Linus screams)- Sorry.- So the casedoes work as a ground.Now we know,because I feltthat not just on my back,but also in my finger.That's why they saypain is nature's teacher.(Linus and ElectricBOOM laughs)- I've got my eyes on you.- Okay. Let's not kill themso quickly this time- So to give thisa chance of surviving,what should we do?- Don't hold it in your hand.- Oh, okay. And are yougonna do thesame voltage again?- It's 12 kilovolts nowSee all this areabehind it is ground.So let's zap that.Ready?- Yeah. I'm ready.- See it doesn't jumpas much anymore.- Yeah. I see that.It's only D-D-R2,but it's hard to watch.- But now that you touched it,you might have killed it.- Oh, damn it!- Oh, it's alive.Yes.Good.- Heeee! All right.The system works.- Linus didn't kill it.- You were involved.(ElectricBOOM laughs)- No, no, no, no.Don't put it on me.So just to be clearthey do ESD testingon a finished product.not on the internal component.- Right- On the casing. Okay.(Linus screams)- It wasn't me.It, it was him.- So is there a wayfor me to simulatewhat we didthe first time,but with my body,instead of with the gun.- I have tokeep charging you.- So wait, wait, hold on.We need to have a plan, okay.You don't even havethe RAM stick on hand ready.So I don't wanna beI don't wanna be doing thisany longer than we have to.Okay. So(ElectricBOOM laughs)So you tell mewhen it's time.Actually no, you canjust move the stickto touch mewhen you think it's good.- If it doesn't stop jumping,let me know.(upbeat music)- Stop jumping.- Yeah, stop jumping.- Good. Now you're charged.(Linus screams)- That was a properhuman simulation. I guess- We are booting,but that clearly took longerwith stranger behavior than before.Should we see what happensif we hit it again?- Sure.- Okay. A different pin.- Sure we want it to go offof what we hopeis the data pin, right?- Right.- So then you should,you should touch this part.- Yeah.- Okay. So I'llhold it like this.- Okay. - All right.- Ready? - Charge me.- Charge. Is it good? Yeah.Okay you're charged.- I'm fully charged.- Fully charged and I'm gonnatouch one of these.(ElectricBOOM screams)- Oh, is it running?- Yeah.- Okay. Then unplug it.Let's try it one more time.- Okay. So tell me somethingIf it arcs anyway,could we have itarc through a chip?- Oh no, not through a chipbecause these plastic stuffis quite non-conductive.It will block the E-S-D.- Sure.- It will probably go around ithitting something else.- Got it. Alrighty all then.Well, let's just,let's just hit it then.- Yeah. Just let's justfeel the pain.- Okay.- How long? How long should we go?- I don't know, man.- This is five hertz. Yes.- Okay. All right.- And it's gonna hurt.- Yeah. Okay.- Ready? Don't let goReady?- Wait, wait. Oh my God!Is that whatyou're gonna do?- Yes.(ElectricBOOM and Linus scream)- Oh my God!If it's not dead,it's quite a strong RAM.- Holy (beep).- It is back.Maybe it going through our bodyloses some of its power.So it's muchmilder on the RAM.What you can dois do just leave the boardon your hand and I just zapthe board righton the chipsand see what happens.Like this or charge youand zapping my finger.Let me knowif it hurts morewhen I zap here.- Wait where are you zapping?Probably gonna hurt more.- Probably, Yeah, just...Okay, I'll zap you in the...- Just zap wherever.(Linus screams)- Okay good.- Its fine.- Ready. Oh my God!(ElectricBOOM and Linus scream)- It better be dead now. Damn it!- Bloody hell, it's posting.- Wow. This is some good RAM.We can break it in half.Forget it then.That module is magic.In the meantime,let's try another module.So let's tryto kill this one through us.This will beour last attempt at that.- Okay 12 kilovolts charged.(ElectricBOOM screams)(Linus laughs)How could you?- What do you meanhow could I?- I trusted you.(ElectricBOOM cries)- You did no such thing.(ElectricBOOM laughs)Okay. No, that works fine.What we've learned so faris that the weakest dischargeto the modulewas when it was justsitting on the tablebecause it's not grounded to anythingand it reachesequilibrium very quickly.Then, we have ahuman hold itand we get amuch stronger discharge.So that's because of thecapacitance of the human body?- Right? Yeah you have amuch body of chargeto transfer electricity.- But we can make it much strongerby grounding the human bodySo the charge passesmuch more easily through it.So that's what you,so wait, really,this is your method?Okay. So we've got a groundto your wedding ring and then.- We gonna charge youwith this oneand then touch itwith that one.- Okay.- Ready? - Here we go.- Oh my God!(Linus groans)Ready? My Godwhere should I touch?(ElectricBOOM and Linus scream)Oh my God.That was much more painful.(ElectricBOOM laughs)- What the hell- Its not dying.We go throughso much pain for nothingWho designed this stupid RAM?- Well, how did wekill the first one?Did we just get lucky?- I think so.- We have a new plan.What's the new plan?- So we are gonnaconnect it directly to ground.- Yeah.- So we won't feel pain.The problem is thatbecause we are in pain,we let go quickly.We connect it to groundand just zap it directlyand hopefully it'llkill it right.Ready? Die.(electricity buzzing)- Okay.- You think it's dead now?- I think it's dead.I think it's dead.- Is it coming up?- Hold on. No.I think it's dead.(ElectricBOOM laughs)- Killed it- Just because we had tocreate such a contrived scenarioin order to killthe memory moduledoesn't necessarily meanthat you just shouldn'tworry about electrostatic discharge.Let's show you something different.This more realistic scenariois not that differentfrom what ElectroBOOM,just set up on the table.Because the moduleis plugged into a computerthat is pluggedinto the wallit is groundedin a very similar manner.Now, what we don't knowis whether or not our leadwas actually connectedto like a data pin.And obviously here,none of the data pinswould be groundedin that manner,but this is still- Sorry(Linus laughs)- But this is stillway more realisticand not that differentfrom what we just did.So to test it,we're going tocharge me upand I'm going to,so I don't know,give me five Hertzand then I'll reach inand take out the module.How about one Hertz?- One hertz okay.You are weak that way.Okay. Sure. Right?(Linus groans)Okay. Yeah am ...(Linus screams)Okay all right(ElectricBOOM laughs)Okay, screw itlet's just go for that.(Linus groans)Dang it! Okay.So the pointof that exercisewas to simulate me workingin a very careless environment,building up chargeon my bodywhile I'm working on the PC.Is that, is that reasonable?- Yeah.That's right yeah.- Okay.- But as you also sawit's very hardto get insidewithout touching anything else.- Unless you're workingon an open test bench, for examplein which case,this is totally realistic.I really don't wanna do this again.I really hope it's dead.(beep)(ElectricBOOM laughs)So How do we kill it with a finger?Oh yeah. We could have it running.- Yeah.- Okay.The computer may crash.It might not die though.You might have to restart the computerwhen it comes back up.- All right, here we go.- You wanna ground yourself firstand I zap youwith 25 kand see how he feels.- Not really.- It's a good opportunity for.- Good opportunity for what.(ElectroBOOM laughs)Good opportunity.- Okay lets see- Oh, I actually, okay.Can I have 15?Let's do 20 first.- Ready? Where should I zap?- I don't know man.- Ready(Linus groans)Okay. You go straightfor the super...This is whereyou're supposed to checkthe baby's milk, okay.(baby cries)Make sure it's not too hot.He goes straightfor the most sensitive spoton the arm.- That's the sensor for that purpose- I'm onto you.(ElectroBOOM laughs)It wasn't super painful.More shocking.- Right?(Linus laughs)So, okay. Give me 25.Give me 25.(Linus groans)Oh that oneI could actually feelmuscle contraction a little bit.Like that's- Good.That's more?And I like.- You want one more- No, not just yet.Okay. So here's whatwe're gonna do.I'm gonna, found you.(ElectroBOOM laughs)- Try to bring your handas close as possibleto the data linesat the bottom maybe.- Oh, okay. Okay. Well, hold on.Hold on.Wait.- I can't contain myself.- Okay. Just a second.Just a second.Just a second.- I am gonna charge your bodyand see what happens.- Okay. Well(Linus screams) (beep)- That was, that was powerful. Nice.- Okay.- How do you feel now?- I don't knowif I got the RAM though.You gotta befreaking kidding me.(ElectroBOOM laughs)- See, that's why theyput all these groundsexposed right in the wayof your touchingso that it alwaysjumps to ground firstbefore anything elseGood design.- But it felt likeit actually hurt morewhen it jumped multiple times.Why would that be?- Well, maybe becauseyou are jumpingdirectly to ground.- But I was jumping directly to groundwhen I was holding the ground.- Lets see this was on one hertz.So maybe it was chipping.It was charging you every time.- So you forgot to change it.- Was I supposed to change it?- Well I was onlysupposed to zap it once.Okay. That explains whyit hurts so much.- Yeah. But if I don'tput it on one hertz.- Yeah- It just jumps to you oncedoesn't charge you anymore.- Yeah- You lose charge right away.You could still directly discharged.- No, no wait.Okay. I wanna kill itwith a finger.- After this, you might have togo to a consultation.- ElectroBOOM therapy.- Exactly.- Ready?- Do it.- Okay. 20 kilovolt(electricity buzzing)(Linus groans)- Okay. No, no.Hit me again.- Oh my God, Linus- Oh my God.(Linus screams)(ElectroBOOM laughs)(Linus groans)- It's alive?- No, it's dead.Yeah (beep)(ElectroBOOM laughs)- Well restart your computeror maybe the RAM is fine.It's just crashed.- That is possible.- Messing with data lineswill crash your computerbut doesn't necessarily meanthat your RAM is dead.So you see, is it back?It's alive(ElectroBOOM cries and laughs)- I can't do that again.What's that 20 or 25?- 20.- My fingers like(ElectroBOOM laughs)a little bit lost sensation.- Yeah after a whileit gets a little bit numb.- Fine. I do wanna usethe gun now.- Okay there you.- I have a score to settle.(ElectroBOOM laughs)- It's ready now.- How do you know for sure?(ElectroBOOM screams)- Stop touching me.- I didn't even get you.- Well, I was quick.- Yeah.- It's working.So that's one Hertz.Okay. Well that's whyI couldn't get you'cause it was just at 12.I was thinkingI was gonna get you right away.Like- Yeah you haveto get much closer.- Like I got likethis distance and I thought- Oh my God! Damn it.- All right.- I deserve that probably.- You did a 100%.(ElectroBOOM laughs)Okay. Well that was more immediate.- Yeah.- Computer crashed right away.But again might just be a crash.- You gotta be kidding.- Restart it- That's a graceful ish crash.It's still alive somehow.- I think if we gofrom the side hereyou can get closer.- You want that side?- Okay. All right.Does that look good?- Yeah.- What?- Nothing. Move it around.(upbeat music)For the love of God, die.No signal. Please check your input.Who's dead. The motherboardor the RAM.When the RAM is inyou zap the data lines,it's also going directlyto the restof the motherboard, right?- All right. But the factthat the motherboardis giving us a beep codeis a good sign.That means the motherboardhas at least initialized and knows,Hey, there's some problem.That doesn't mean though,that the entiremotherboard is working.- Right. Yeah.- All right. This should be good.Okay.- It's alive.- Yeah, I think so.- Kill the RAM, okay good.- I am impressedby the resiliencyof everything (both laughs)we tried today.My finger is stilla little numb.- I'm impressed by your resiliency.- I do my best.- Anything for science I guess?- Anything for the viewers.(ElectroBOOM laughs)Help lttstore.com.Come on. Help me out here, guys.Make it worth it.- Did you just see the pain?You have to buy his merch now.- Buy a hoodie.At this pointI'm ready tokinda draw a conclusion here.Electrostatic discharge. Can it kill yoursensitive electronic components?Abso-freaking-lutely. I mean, theywouldn't put warning labelson the thingsif there wasn't a chancethat it was going to be destroyed.But on the other hand,in the real worldis it necessarily a guaranteethat if you forgetyour E-S-D strap one timethat you're goingto kill somethingby touching it?Probably not.- Yeah, not that often.- But you're rolling that dieevery time you don'tground yourself correctlywhile you're workingon your component.- If it dies, it's gonna bean expensive failure., right?- Exactly. So it comes down towhat are you working on?Are you working onsome old refurb thingwhere replacing the RAMis gonna be literally $2?Then you know what?I probably wouldn't inconvenience myself.If I'm working on the latestR-T-X 3090, that costs $1,500and I can't even replaceif I did kill it,I'ma be real, super carefulfrom now on.That's my promise.(ElectroBOOM laughs)Just like I promisedto my sponsors to a,- Express V-P-N- Wait, what's going on here?This is my sponsor.This is my show.I have a sponsor to you know.- This is my sponsor.- Fine, I'll do mine at home.- Seasonic power supplies.High quality longwarranties, great efficiencyand you know,hey, if youopened up the chassisand touched the internal componentsI'm sure itwould zap you real goodbut that's not really a,that's not really a feature.Don't do that.That would legitimatelyprobably kill you so.Go check out Seasonicat the linkin the video discretion.I might've wimped out,but ElectroBOOM told methat he's actually planninga follow-up videoon his channel,where he is going to continueto try to kill thestick with a finger.So make sure you're subscribed.We're gonna to havea link in the video description.So you don't miss that.\n"