Electrical Safety Precautions

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is a key difference between the ATX and MicroATX form factors?

MicroATX motherboards use fewer expansion slots than ATX motherboards. (correct)

ATX motherboards require a higher wattage power supply than MicroATX motherboards.

ATX motherboards are always larger than MicroATX motherboards.

MicroATX motherboards use a different type of processor socket than ATX motherboards.

Which of the following connector types is primarily used to provide additional power to modern CPUs?

20-pin P1 Connector

6-pin and 8-pin PCIe Connectors

24-pin or 20+4-pin P1 Connector

4-pin and 8-pin Auxiliary Connectors (correct)

What is the primary function of a grounding wire in a computer system?

To regulate the voltage supplied to components.

To increase the efficiency of electrical circuits.

To prevent the accumulation of static electricity on components.

To provide a path for electricity to flow to the earth in the event of a short circuit. (correct)

What is the purpose of a rectifier in a power supply unit?

To convert AC to DC. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following components typically draws the most power in a computer system?

Video Card Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a safe practice when working inside a computer case?

Touching metal surfaces to discharge static electricity. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common cause of overheating in computer components?

All of the above. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following power supply connectors is typically used to power a hard drive?

Molex Connector Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a valid reason why a power supply might fail to start a computer?

All of the above. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following power connectors is commonly used for connecting to a power supply's motherboard?

24-pin P1 Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main form factors for cases, power supplies, and motherboards?

ATX and MicroATX Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following standards is used by hard drives to interface with a motherboard?

Serial ATA (SATA) Signup and view all the answers

What type of electrical current do microcomputers require?

Direct Current (DC) Signup and view all the answers

Which item is critical for preventing electrostatic discharge (ESD) when handling computer components?

Ground bracelet Signup and view all the answers

What should always be checked to avoid trip hazards with cables?

Location of the cables Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a power supply tester?

To test the output of each power supply connector Signup and view all the answers

What type of ROM chips can be overwritten?

Flash ROM Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an essential way to lift heavy objects safely?

Lift with your legs and keep the object close Signup and view all the answers

What should be included with chemical cleaning solutions to guide proper handling?

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential warning sign that an electronic device may be unsafe to use?

The device emits a strong electronics odor Signup and view all the answers

Which method should NOT be used when working with power supplies and CRT monitors containing capacitors?

Avoid grounding yourself Signup and view all the answers

Which class of fire extinguisher is suitable for putting out electrical fires?

Class C Signup and view all the answers

What type of failure can result from electrostatic discharge (ESD)?

Catastrophic failure Signup and view all the answers

What should be done before passing a circuit board to another person to avoid ESD?

Ensure the other person is grounded Signup and view all the answers

How can you minimize ESD when working on sensitive computer components?

Wear antistatic gloves Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following tools is considered essential for a PC repair technician?

Anti-static wrist strap Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of post diagnostic cards?

To help discover computer errors at power-on self test Signup and view all the answers

What is an incorrect practice when using grounding methods for ESD safety?

Staying seated in a plastic chair while working Signup and view all the answers

Which rule helps to ensure safety during the handling of electronic components?

Remove all packing tape from around your area Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Here are the study notes in markdown format:

Potentials Dangers of Electrical Shock and Burns

Power cord is frayed or damaged
Water or other liquid is spilled near electronic devices
Device has been dropped or physically damaged
Strong electronics odor is present
Power supply or fans make a whining noise
Smoke is observed or case feels unusually warm

Protecting Yourself Against Electrical Shock and Burns

Ground yourself with an anti-static grounding bracelet when working on sensitive low-voltage equipment
Do not ground yourself when working with power supplies, printers, and CRT monitors that contain capacitors
Never use water to put out a fire (water is a conductor)
Use a fire extinguisher rated to put out electrical fires
Fire extinguisher ratings: Class A (wood, paper, or other combustibles), Class B (liquids), Class C (electrical)

Protecting Equipment Against Static Electricity or ESD

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) occurs when two objects with dissimilar electrical charges touch
ESD can cause two types of damage: catastrophic failure (destroys the component) and upset failure (damages the component so it does not work well)
Protect against ESD by grounding yourself with:
- Ground bracelet (ESD strap, anti-static wrist strap, or ESD bracelet)
- Ground mats (ESD mats)
- Static shielding bags (anti-static bags)
- Anti-static gloves (ESD gloves)

Rules for Protecting Equipment Against ESD

Rule 1: Ground yourself and touch the other person before passing a circuit board or other component
Rule 2: Leave components inside anti-static bags until ready to use them
Rule 3: Work on hard floors, not carpet
Rule 4: Don't work on a computer in a cold and dry atmosphere
Rule 5: Remove packing tape and cellophane from around work area (materials that attract ESD)
Rule 6: Keep components away from hair and clothing

Tools Used by a PC Repair Technician

Essential tools:
- Ground bracelet, ground mat, anti-static gloves
- Flat-head screwdriver
- Phillips-head or cross-head screwdriver
- Torx screwdriver set (size T15)
- Insulated tweezers
- Extractor
- OS recovery CD or DVD
Many other non-essential tools exist
Use a toolbox

What's Inside a Computer Case

Computer case: holds power supply, motherboard, processor, memory modules, expansion cards, hard drive, optical drive, and other drives
Motherboard: largest and most important circuit board
Processor (CPU): processes most of the data and instructions for the entire system
Expansion cards (adapter cards): provide more ports than those provided by the motherboard
Memory modules (RAM): temporary storage for data and instructions as they are being processed by the CPU
Hard drives and other drives: permanent storage used to hold data and programs

Form Factors Used by Computer Cases, Power Supplies, and Motherboards

Form factors: standards that describe the size, shape, screw hole positions, and major features of computer cases, power supplies, and motherboards
Two form factors used by most desktop and tower computer cases and power supplies: ATX and Mini-ATX

Drives, Their Cables, and Connectors

Hard drives: two standards - Serial ATA (SATA) and Parallel ATA (PATA)
Floppy drive: uses a 34-pin twisted cable
Other drives: optical drive, tape drive

Protecting Yourself and Equipment Against Electrical Dangers

Important to understand electricity and how to protect yourself and equipment against it
Must learn to prevent getting shocked or damaging a component

Measures and Properties of Electricity

Alternating current (AC): oscillates between negative and positive voltage
Direct current (DC): travels in one direction
Rectifier: a device that converts AC to DC
Inverter: a device that converts DC to AC
Transformer: devices that changes the ratio of voltage to current

Tools and Safety Precautions

Power supply tester: measures output of each power supply connector
Multimeter: measures several characteristics of electricity in a variety of devices
Loopback plug: used to test a port in a computer or other device to make sure the port is working
Cleaning solutions and pads: use with care and follow Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) instructions
Managing cables: keep cables in a safe place and use cable or cord covers if necessary
Lifting heavy objects: follow guidelines to avoid back injury

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Description

Learn about potential dangers and take necessary precautions to protect yourself from electrical shock and burns when working with low-voltage equipment.