Never ever do this.

[Melting_Point]

I was searching some of the threads here last night to see if anyone had solved the issue of RIVE motherboards not booting after being powered down. (I did end up finding that removing the CMOS battery for 30 mins seems to have solved the issue for now.) I noticed some very dangerous advice being given in one of the thread, and just thought I'd point it out and why it was dangerous.

The advice was to place the MB in the box it came in, and power it up. The boxes these MBs are supplied in are conductive, which is why they protect the board from ESD damage. I'm sure I don't need to explain why it's not a good idea to power up a MB while it's sitting on a conductive surface, any more than I need to explain why it's a bad idea to power a MB up while it's submerged in water.

Please, don't power your board up in the box it came in, and if you're guilty of advising others to do so in the past, stop giving out bad advice.

PS, the post I'm referring to came from a Super-Mod, I'd have thought they'd know better.

[EnderDragoon]

3 Inches apart through 2 layers of cardboard (4 total coatings). 150-180k ohms. I've started well over 30 Maximus boards on the back of these boxes fine.

[Retired]

Uhh, you poked holes in your box!!!!

Warranty void now?

[EnderDragoon]

Meh, I got a few spares.

[Retired]

ahh, thats cool.....

always good to have spare boards

[PuffY]

I have used every motherboard box for initial set up for every build I have ever done, never had any issues at all.

[Retired]

i think the thread topic is busted...

or??

[Arne_Saknussemm]

I just stuffed my box into the mains socket and licked the other end of it...I am alive...:D




Disclaimer...no I didn't really

[twisted1]

LOL Arne!!

I've used the mb boxes for lot's of motherboards. And everyone does it, in reality it does not seem to be a problem.

[Melting_Point]

twisted1 wrote:
LOL Arne!!

I've used the mb boxes for lot's of motherboards. And everyone does it, in reality it does not seem to be a problem.

The problem with this logic is that you'll never know if you've shortened the life of the board. It may not be a problem in most cases, just as ESD damage is unlikely. But we should always take precausions with that, shouldn't we. If I were to make the statement "ESD is a myth, I've handled heaps of board without worrying about ESD, and I've never damaged one", I've sure I'd get shot down in flames for giving sach bad advice.

It's quite simple, if you're giving someone advice as to how to solve their issue, don't advice them to power their board up on a conductive surface. If you want to take that risk with your own equipment, I won't try to stop you, but don't advice others to take that risk with theirs.

I should also point out that I have over 10 years experience as a component level techician/design engineer, working on highly ESD sensative devices, and I do know what I'm talking about. Many of the boards I worked on would most likely go bang if powered up on a conductive surface.

[Retired]

ESD strap?

i have heard about them.....

take it to the edge.....

are your house insulated with aluminum foil, to protect you from the northern light?