[lug] OT: static electricity

[Mike Stanczyk]

On Fri, 4 Mar 2005, Lee Woodworth wrote:

> A zap through the signal lead of a mouse can fry a motherboard/ps.
> I know through unfortunate experience -- I reached for the mouse,
> there was discharge to the mouse and the system died hard. You might
> be able to do it through speakers too.

I was trying to get video capture working in one of my computers.  After
installing the second card I hooked the card up to a vcr to provide
video.  When I plugged in the cable, I got a large shock and the computer
went dead.  Something in the voltage regulator circuits fried.

Stray voltage potiental(sp?) between the vcr and the computer was the
cause, not static electricity.

Mike