By Jason - November 4th, 2020
Computer assembly and disassembly is very easy and straightforward for the most part, but there are still a number of things to look out for and be careful with.
To start off with, one of the most important parts of the computer is the power supply, which as the name implies provides the other components with the power they need to work. Generally, handling the power supply and its cables is perfectly safe, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't exercise caution.
First and most importantly, you should never attempt to disassemble a power supply. Even if you don't like the idea of spending the money to replace a dead power supply, it's better to spend the money than potentially risk your life attempting to repair your existing one.
As you can see in the picture below, there should be 2 or more large cylinders inside the power supply. These are the capacitors, and this is where the electrical charge is held. This means that even when the power supply is unplugged, it can still hold a charge. In fact, older power supplies can hold a lethal charge for up to 3 years or longer. Some modern power supplies will automatically discharge within an hour or so, but just to be safe it's best to treat every power supply as if it has a lethal charge, because there is a very real risk that it does. To be as safe as possible, do not attempt to disassemble a power supply or touch any damaged components like cables.
Before disassembling your computer, another good idea is not only to make sure your computer is off and unplugged, but also to make sure that the switch on the back of the power supply is switched to the off position. Keep in mind that not all computer power supplies will have this switch, however. You can see this switch circled in red in the image below.
There are other risks to computer assembly and disassembly, although fortunately the rest aren't nearly as important. If you work on a computer, it's a good idea to wear thin work gloves or have some smaller bandages on hand in case you accidentally cut yourself. Computer parts, especially the case, can have surprisingly sharp edges. This isn't a major risk, but small cuts can be surprisingly annoying so being prepared for them is always a good idea.
One last potential risk, albeit a very minor one, is consuming thermal paste. Thermal paste, also known as thermal compound, is the stuff that helps with thermal conductivity, i.e transferring heat from the processor to the cooler or fan mounted on top of it. Thermal paste is generally not harmful in smaller quantities, but it does contain very small quantities of toxic heavy metals that can potentially cause unpleasant side effects if consumed. That said, this is highly unlikely unless you decide to eat an entire tube of thermal paste (Which also doesn't taste very good either) or more. Despite the risk being very low, it's still a good idea to wash your hands when you're done working on a computer!
Generally, as long as you don't attempt to disassemble the power supply, you should be perfectly safe. That said, practicing proper safety around computers and other electronic equipment is always a good idea!
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