Reviewer in TLE

Use of Hand Tools

Computer

• Computer is an electronic device for storing and processing data, typically in binary form,
according to instructions given to it in a variable program.
• Computer has its 2 different wares:
• Computer Hardware
• Computer Software and each ware used different tools.

Computer Harware Tool

• Computer Hardware tool are apparatus, cutlery, tools, utensils used to a specific activity
towards a computer parts.
• Computer Hardware tools has group to four major classifications/ categories namely:
• Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) tools
• Hand tools
• Cleaning tools
• Diagnostic tools

Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) Tools

• It is the tools used to control sudden flow of electricity between two electrically charged objects
caused by contact, an electrical short or dielectric breakdown.
• The ESD occurs when differently-charged objects are brought close together or when the
dielectric between them breaks down, often creating a visible sparks.
1. Anti-Static Wrist Trap – It is used to prevent ESD damage to computer equipment. An anti-static
wrist strap is a key piece of safety gear that helps to prevent the buildup of static electricity near
sensitive electronics or other projects where static charge could damage electronics or cause
safety issues.
2. Anti-Static Mat – It is used to stand on or place hardware on to prevent static electricity from
building up. An anti-static floor mat or ground mat is an anti-static device that safeguards an
individual or piece of equipment like a PC from an electrostatic discharge (ESD).

Hand Tools

• A tool held in the hand and operated without electricity or other power. A hand tool is any tool
that is powered by hand rather than a motor.
1. Flat-Head Screwdriver – A flat-head screwdriver is a screwdriver with a wedge-shaped flat tip. It
is used to tighten or loosen screws that have a straight, linear notch in their heads. Its primary
use is to loosen or tighten slotted screws.
2. Phillip-Head Screwdriver – The Philips head screwdriver (otherwise known as the "cross-head
screwdriver") is one of the most common varieties of screwdriver. It is recognizable by its cross
or + shape tip. It used to loosen or tighten crosshead screws.
3. Torx Screw Driver – This is a kind of screw driver used to loosen or tighten screws that have a
star-like depression on the top, a feature that is mainly found on laptop. It is characterized by a
 6-point star-shaped pattern. This hand tool also called as “star”, as in star screwdriver or star
bits.
4. Hex Screwdriver – Also known as an Allen key or Allen wrench, is a small handheld tool that's
used for driving bolts and screws with a hexagonal socket.
5. Needle-nose pliers – These tools are both use for cutting and holding pliers to bend, re-position
and snip wire. Their namesake long nose gives excellent control while the cutting edge near the
pliers' joint provides "one-tool" convenience.
6. Wire Cutter – A tool that is used for cutting wire a pair of wire cutters. It used to hold small parts
of computer hardware.
7. Tweezers – A tool that is used for cutting wire a pair of wire cutters. It used to hold small parts
of computer hardware.
8. Part Retriever – This tool is also known as a Pearl-Catcher, is a useful tool in the world of
computers. It is essential tool to a computer technician's toolkit. It is used to retrieve parts from
location that are too small for your hand to fit.
9. Flashlight – A flashlight (called a torch) is a portable hand-held electric light. It is a source of the
light is usually an incandescent light bulb (lamp) or light-emitting diode (LED). This is used to
light up areas that you cannot see well.

Cleaning Tools

• A variety of necessary and vital tools and products created and designed in various colors,
materials, mechanisms, shapes, sizes and styles to meet a cleaning need and used to clean
easily, effectively and efficiently. Cleaning tools are vital to clean especially when your form of
employment involves cleaning.
1. Lint-Free Cloth – A lint free cloth is a special type of cloth used to clean different computer
components without scratching or leaving debris.
2. Compressed Air – Compressed air is a combination of under pressure gases that are squeezed
into a can for removing dust and dirt from sensitive electronics. It is used to blow away dust and
debris from different computer parts without touching the components.
3. Cable Ties – It is a type of fastener, for holding items together, primarily electrical cables or
wires. It used to bundle cables neatly inside and outside of a computer.
4. Part Organizer – A computer parts organizer organizes various computer parts according to size
and quantities of the computer parts. It is used to hold screw, jumpers, fasteners and other
small parts and prevents them from getting mixed together.

Diagnostic Tools

• Tools are available to help you diagnose and solve hardware-related problems. Power-on self-
test (POST) progress codes (checkpoints), error codes, and isolation procedures. The POST
checks out the hardware at system initialization.
1. Multi-Meter – It is an instrument designed to measure electric current, voltage, and usually
resistance, typically over several ranges of value. It is used to test the integrity of circuits and the
quality of electricity in computer components.
2. Loopback Adapter – Loopback refers to the routing of electronic signals, digital data streams, or
flows of items back to their source without intentional processing. It is used for testing the
communications infrastructure and the functionality of computer ports.
Proper use of Tools

Proper use of ESD Tools

• The purpose of an antistatic wrist strap is to equalize the electrical charge between you and the
equipment. It is a conductor that connects your body to the equipment that you are working on.
When static electricity builds up in your body, the connection made by the wrist strap to the
equipment, or ground, channels the electricity through the wire that connects the strap.
A. Wrist Trap – The wrist strap has two parts and is easy to wear:
1. Wrap the strap around your wrist and secure it using the snap or Velcro. The metal on the back
of the wrist strap must remain in contact with your skin at all times.
2. Snap the connector at the end of the wire to the wrist strap, and connect the other end either to
the equipment or to the same grounding point that the antistatic mat is connected to. The metal
skeleton of the case is a good place to connect the wire. When connecting the wire to
equipment that you are working on, choose an unpainted metal surface. A painted surface does
not conduct the electricity as well as unpainted metal.
B. Anti-Static Mat – An antistatic mat is slightly conductive. It works by drawing static electricity
away from a component and transferring it safely from equipment to a grounding point
1. Lay the mat on the workspace next to or under the computer case.
2. Clip the mat to the case to provide a grounded surface on which you can place parts as you
remove them from the system. Reducing the potential for ESD reduces the likelihood of damage
to delicate circuits or components.

Proper use of Hand Tools

A. Screws – Match each screw with the proper screwdriver. Place the tip of the screwdriver on the
head of the screw. Turn the screwdriver clockwise to tighten the screw and counterclockwise to
loosen the screw. Screws can become stripped if you over-tighten them with a screwdriver. A
stripped screw, may get stuck in the screw hole, or it may not tighten firmly. Discard stripped
screws.
B. Flat head screwdriver – Use a flat head screwdriver when you are working with a slotted screw.
Do not use a flat head screwdriver to remove a Phillips head screw. Never use a screwdriver as a
pry bar. If you cannot remove a component, check to see if there is a clip or latch that is securing
the component in place.
C. Phillips head screwdriver – Use a Phillips head screwdriver with crosshead screws. Do not use
this type of screwdriver to puncture anything. This will damage the head of the screwdriver.
D. Hex driver – Use a hex driver to loosen and tighten bolts that have a hexagonal (six-sided) head.
Hex bolts should not be over-tightened because the threads of the bolts can be stripped. Do not
use a hex driver that is too large for the bolt that you are using.
E. Part Retriever, Needle-nose pliers, or Tweezers – The part retriever, needle-nose pliers, and
tweezers can be used to place and retrieve parts that may be hard to reach with your fingers. Do
not scratch or hit any components when using these tools.

Proper use of Cleaning Materials

• Keeping computers clean inside and out is a vital part of a maintenance program. Dirt can cause
problems with the physical operation of fans, buttons, and other mechanical components.
 • On electrical components, an excessive buildup of dust will act like an insulator and trap the
heat. This insulation will impair the ability of heat sinks and cooling fans to keep components
cool, causing chips and circuits to overheat and fail.

Things to remember on using your cleaning materials:

1. Always make sure that all the materials are clean and not damage before using.
2. Make sure that the fabric or lint-free cloths that are you using are appropriate on how you will
use it. Know when it should be wet or dry.
3. Put enough cleaning solution to eliminate the dirt on the tools to be used.
4. Only used the appropriate material on a specific item.

How to properly clean the part of the computer

Computer Cases and Monitors

• Clean computer cases and the outside of monitors with a mild cleaning solution on a damp, lint-
free cloth.
• Mix one drop of dishwashing liquid with four ounces of water to create the cleaning solution. If
any water drips inside the case, allow enough time for the liquid to dry before powering on the
computer.

LCD screens

• Do not use ammoniated glass cleaners or any other solution on an LCD screen, unless the
cleaner is specifically designed for the purpose. Harsh chemicals will damage the coating on the
screen. There is no glass protecting these screens, so be gentle when cleaning them and do not
press firmly on the screen.

Component contacts

• Clean the contacts on components with isopropyl alcohol. Do not use rubbing alcohol. Rubbing
alcohol contains impurities that can damage contacts. Make sure that the contacts do not
collect any lint from the cloth or cotton swab. Blow any lint off the contacts with compressed air
before reinstallation.

Keyboard

• Clean a desktop keyboard with compressed air or a small, hand-held vacuum cleaner with a
brush attachment.
• CAUTION: Never use a standard vacuum cleaner inside a computer case. The plastic parts of the
vacuum cleaner can build up static electricity and discharge to the components. Use only a
vacuum approved for electronic components.

Mouse

• Use glass cleaner and a soft cloth to clean the outside of the mouse. Do not spray glass cleaner
directly on the mouse.
 • If cleaning a ball mouse, you can remove the ball and clean it with glass cleaner and a soft cloth.
Wipe the rollers clean inside the mouse with the same cloth. Do not spray any liquids inside the
mouse.

Computer Hardware Service

Prevent Maintenance – t is one great practice in maintaining computer hardware tools. Preventive
Maintenance is the systematic care and protection of tools, equipment and machines in order to keep
them in a safe, usable condition, limit downtime and extend productivity.

A succesful maintenance program is

A. Well organized and scheduled

B. Control hazards
C. Define operational procedure
D. Trains key personnel

General Reminders:

• Maintenance tasks themselves are potentially hazardous and can lead in injury.
• The degree of detail to include regarding tools and equipment maintenance will depend on the
kinds of tools or equipment used.
• Damaged equipment or tools should be tagged and removed from service
• Most manufacturers can provide maintenance schedules for their equipment. (Due to capital
investment)

General requirements for tools and equipment maintenance

1. Obtaining a copy of the maintenance schedule recommended by the manufacturer

2. Ensuring that maintenance is performed as required.
3. The person(s) performing the maintenance are competent (e.g., Licensed mechanic.)
4. Retaining records of maintenance/service conducted and status of tools and equipment.

Proper storage of tools, parts and equipment

Good Practices include:

• Parts should be properly stored and labeled.

• Tools should be properly placed on the board and labeled. Consider drawing the shapes of the
tools on the board so that they can always get put back in the same position.
• Use bins for storing small parts.
• Consider making an individual (or individuals) responsible for the good maintenance of tools and
parts.

Summary:

Preventative maintenance is the systematic care and protection of tools

4 Successful maintenance programs:

A. Well organized & scheduled

 B. Controls hazard
C. Defines operational procedures
D. Trains key personnel

General requirements for tools & equipment maintenance:

1. Obtaining a copy of the maintenance schedule recommended by the manufacturer.

2. Ensuring that maintenance is performed as required
3. The person(s) performing the maintenance are competent.
4. Retaining records of maintenance/service conducted & status of tools and equipment.

(Proper storage) Good practices include.

A. Parts should be properly stored and labeled.

B. Tools should be properly placed on the board, and labeled.
C. Use bins for storing small parts.
D. Consider making an individual(s) responsible for the good maintenance of tools and parts.