Question Did this event likely damage my laptop ?

[ethan.crabtree45648]

I have a gaming laptop and I keep the power brick on my desk. My roommate set a plastic grocery bag on top of it by accident and it sat there for an hour or so. I know static can damage hardware so is it likely my power brick or laptop itself is damaged?

Did everything being plugged and connected to the wall prevent this?

I didnt see any problems right away but im worried some will pop up due to this somewhere down the line. Am i worrying too much?

 

[Aeacus]

Power brick has plastic casing and it will not conduct electricity (including ESD). So, there's no need to worry.

 

[ethan.crabtree45648]

Power brick has plastic casing and it will not conduct electricity (including ESD). So, there's no need to worry.

Isnt it possible for static to jump through a gap in the casing or where the power cable plugs into it? The case of it isn't one continuous piece of plastic.

 

[Aeacus]

Isnt it possible for static to jump through a gap in the casing or where the power cable plugs into it?

Electricity takes the shortest path to the ground (e.g look lightning strikes), rather than going all the way around, just to deliberately make a connection.

Also, power brick internals are grounded to the mains, when power cable is plugged into the wall.

As far as ESD goes, there would be FAR higher chance for ESD if you, yourself, touch the power brick, rather than plastic bag sitting on it.

 

[ethan.crabtree45648]

Electricity takes the shortest path to the ground (e.g look lightning strikes), rather than going all the way around, just to deliberately make a connection.

Also, power brick internals are grounded to the mains, when power cable is plugged into the wall.

As far as ESD goes, there would be FAR higher chance for ESD if you, yourself, touch the power brick, rather than plastic bag sitting on it.

Ah ok, so if a pc or laptop is plugged in it is protected fully from ESD then? (Sorry if this is a dumb question)

 

[Paperdoc]

Reasonably well protected. But more importantly for this scenario, a plastic bag does NOT create big electrical discharges. Even if you deliberately grabbed that bag and rubbed it over the power brick I REALLY doubt you could build up any significant charge. You do NOT have to worry about damage.

 

[ethan.crabtree45648]

Reasonably well protected. But more importantly for this scenario, a plastic bag does NOT create big electrical discharges. Even if you deliberately grabbed that bag and rubbed it over the power brick I REALLY doubt you could build up any significant charge. You do NOT have to worry about damage.

I thought plastic was one of the most static prone materials though?

 

[beyondlogic]

I have a gaming laptop and I keep the power brick on my desk. My roommate set a plastic grocery bag on top of it by accident and it sat there for an hour or so. I know static can damage hardware so is it likely my power brick or laptop itself is damaged?

Did everything being plugged and connected to the wall prevent this?

I didnt see any problems right away but im worried some will pop up due to this somewhere down the line. Am i worrying too much?

Highly unlikely to cause damage unless the bag is cold and has condensation build up e.g water droplets even then it's not likely unless the droplets got in the casing and there well shut.

However plastic is a excellent insulator and can cause components to overheat or cause a fire best to not make a habit of it.

 

[ethan.crabtree45648]

Highly unlikely to cause damage unless the bag is cold and has condensation build up e.g water droplets even then it's not likely unless the droplets got in the casing and there well shut.

However plastic is a excellent insulator and can cause components to overheat or cause a fire best to not make a habit of it.

So static from the bag cant hurt anything? I believe the bag was dry and didnt even feel hot when i took it off.

 

[beyondlogic]

So static from the bag cant hurt anything? I believe the bag was dry and didnt even feel hot when i took it off.

No plastic is non electric conductive. There is no static plastic on plastic.

Plastic is a heat insulator there's a reason that you don't leave these on things like bed sheets or any insulating material

Inside these bricks will be a thin metal sheet that will act like a heatsink it won't be like the best thing ever but the manufacturer will be hoping the end user doesn't throw a bag on top to let the natural air dissipate the heat made by the brick. But if a plastic bag of shopping is on it while your say gaming it can cause the brick to overheat and fail.