ZAP Out Static Electricity
With CAREL Humidifiers |
| In today's hi-tech world, the most common enemy has become static electricity. When humidity levels drop below 35 %RH, static electricity can build up on surfaces and in clothing, ready to discharge at a single touch. Static discharge can destroy microchips, pit surfaces, ignite volatiles and generally make hand-shaking a nasty experience.
Recently, it was discovered that hand-held personal computers and data devices (PDAs) can transmit static electricity through their cradles to the PCs they are connected to when a person touches the device. Losses of data and hardware due to this are not known, but this certainly is a VERY good reason to humidify offices. It is estimated that global losses in the electronics industry due to static electricity discharge are in excess of $45 Billion each year. Purchase of relatively inexpensive Carel humidifiers could cut this figure in half easily. Payback on a Carel humidifier is generally less than 6 months! |
 Hi Tech Micro Chip Manufacturing: With today's smaller and smaller chips, manufacturers are no longer talking about distances measured in Microns, but rather, distances measured in Angstroms! Even a slight change in the dimension of the silicon wafer during photographic masking will result in a relative mis-registration of the mask of over 100 miles. A single human touch to a microchip can result in burning out of the circuits.
Touching a stack of CDs can result in pitting of every CD in the stack from a single static discharge. |
 Computer Rooms & laboratories: Obviously, poor humidity control in a computer room results in the potential build up of static charges that can discharge, wiping out memory and circuitry components. Dry air and a secretary with an Angora sweater spell disaster to an IBM mainframe. High speed printers in computer rooms are also a source of problems because of dimensional changes of the paper itself, if the air is dry.
Printing: Aside from the hygroscopic paper used in the printing process, there is the static electricity problem. solvent fires are started in the ink wells of presses when static discharges ignite the vapors. A commercial newspaper press can develop up to 2,000,000 volts of electricity at the roll as paper is feeding off. This puts extra tension on the web as it moves through the press, but also can knock a truck driver on his butt if he gets too close! |
 Plastic Films: Plastic production needs humidity control to reduce static problems which causes the attraction of dust and also the usual problems of plastic films attracting themselves to rollers and machinery.
Photographic Films: Most commercial photo labs use humidity control to eliminate static discharge which can show up on films. This is particularly important when considering hospital x-ray films. |
Personal Data Assistants (PDA): It is known that static electricity discharge to a PDA sitting in its cradle connected to a PC, can result in damage and loss of data in the PDA as well as in the PC. Sort of gives "reach out and touch someone a whole new meaning. A class action suit has already been filed against one of the PDA manufacturers. |
Gun Powder Production: This is too obvious to warrant elaboration!
A basic simple fact:
Maintain the relative humidity above 35 %RH and static charges are automatically drained off to ground. No need for grounding straps or ionizers or other voodoo.
Call CAREL USA today
to eliminate your static electricity problems! |
