[techtalk] Re; Smoking kills!

David Merrill dmerrill at lupercalia.net
Fri Dec 15 09:46:32 EST 2000


On Fri, Dec 15, 2000 at 08:55:17AM +0100, Magni Onsoien wrote:
> David Merrill:
> > Some electronic devices store an electric charge even when unplugged,
> > but your keyboard does not. When it is disconnected from its power
> > supply, it is completely charge-free. Nothing can short when there is
> > no power. As long as it is completely dry before you reconnect it,
> > you're fine.
> 
> There is (at least) one important (expensive) exception to that: Sun
> keyboards have some transistor (or transformator?) stuff that will die
> if it gets wet. So don't put all the Sun keyboards of your Uni's lab
> into the dishwasher just to be nice for Christmas, it's expensive ;)
> That's why it actually makes sense to forbid coffee in some computer
> labs - a spilled cup may be quite expensive. It happenes to three or
> four keyboards in one of the labs at my Uni, and the admins were a bit
> furious because it was a bit too expensive for them.. (it was the
> students that did it)

So does anyone want to write the Keyboard-Cleaning-HOWTO? :-)

We'll put it in the LDP's "Hardware" section!!!
 
> > I take my keycaps off and put them in a laundry bag. You know, the
> > kind for washing sweaters in, that's a kind of netting. Then I throw
> > the bag and the keyboard itself right in the d/w and run it. On cold
> > temperature.
> 
> Sounds like a good idea. Should work in a washing machine as well,
> shouldn't it? I use to take mine intop the shower, that's also a bit
> cool. "I just had a shower with my keyboard today."

I think a washing machine would be quite hard on a keyboard! In the
dishwasher it is only exposed to sprays of water.

-- 
Dr. David C. Merrill                     http://www.lupercalia.net
Linux Documentation Project                dmerrill at lupercalia.net
Collection Editor & Coordinator            http://www.linuxdoc.org
                                       Finger me for my public key

Q:	Why did the chicken cross the road?
A:	To see his friend Gregory peck.

Q:	Why did the chicken cross the playground?
A:	To get to the other slide.




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