While it was gone I noticed how much of a static electric charge I could build up just walking around my family room, and if the first metal thing I touched was in my electronics cabinet - well, you didn't need the lights on to see what you just touched.
I guess the technical term is ESD, or Electrostatic Discharge. If that little spark jumps 1/4 inch, it could be a 10,000 volt surprise going into all those low voltage circuits and chips. At least I think that is what I read. Anyway, bad stuff.
The realization hit me a few days before my repaired unit came back that maybe I had caused it's problems and maybe some other problems with other boxes through the years. I had never really thought of these shocks as being a SERIOUS problem, just an annoyance.
I don't know how easily this new eqiupment can be hurt by shocks, or if mine really was done in by one or more, but I am not taking chances anymore. I am building up the humidity in the room and am getting in the habit of grabbing the metal grate around the fireplace as the last thing to touch before opening my electronics cabinet. (Now I'll probably get electrocuted instead of my DVD player.)
At worst (hopefully), I'll wear off the finish of my fireplace grate.
