can magnet damage PC, mouse or keyboard?

helios321

Reputable
Jan 9, 2015
27
0
4,530
Hello,

I'm planning to use some rather small but 'very powerful magnets' (http://www.bunnings.com.au/latch-magnetic-delf-concealed-del70189_p4010466) about 1 foot away from my computer and very close (<1 foot) to my mouse and keyboard. It will be used to attach 2 desks together which I can unlatch when i don't need it. does anyone know how powerful and close magnets have to be to cause any damage to my PC and peripherals?

Thanks
 
Solution
^That would have been a moving magnet, which will indeed induce small currents in nearby wiring.
If the magnets and PC will not move relative to one another, you'll be fine. You can see though, there are definitely risks.
These are designed for furniture that doesn't include desks which have PCs on them. I would stay away from using these anywhere near your PC, since they are classified as particularly powerful magnets, the EMF given off by these could damage your PC hardware.
 

This, with one notable caveat / exception. Hard drives contain magnets, yes, in a fixed position, which is why they have no effect. Magnets that strong being jiggled on or near the drive would kill it; hard drives are degaussed with strong magnetic fields to irrecoverably wipe them. Magnets affixed to your desk however, even strong ones, should have no affect on your PC.