Consequence of sunlight radiation exposure on desktop computer keyboard

This paper investigates the consequence of exposure of Zinox computer keyboard to sunlight radiation. Three experiments were conducted in two towns in Katsina state, namely; two in Katsina town latitude 13.000 N, longitude 7.530 E and one in Funtua latitude 11.530 N, longitude 7.320 E. The mainframe of a desktop computer was inserted in a wooden frame in order to protect it from being exposed to sunlight radiation. At the rear opening in the wooden frame a Zinox keyboard, a Mouse and a seventeen inch LCD monitor were attached at the Input Output ports of the mainframe. The keyboard was exposed to sunlight radiation for sixteen hours in three days. Couple with five minute accidental exposure of the keyboard to infrared radiation on the third day of experimentation, the sample developed a fault. Readings of solar insulation that fall on the Zinox keyboard, the atmospheric temperature and the relative humidity of weather conditions under which the experiments were conducted were taken using solar meter model 1333R and digital millimeter model MASTEC 8209. Results show that Zinox keyboard can withstand sixteen hour exposure to sunlight radiation. But, couple with five minute accidental exposure of the sample to infrared radiation from the sun heated floor on the third day of experimentation, this lead the keyboard to malfunction. Therefore, it is recommended that the Zinox computer keyboard should not be exposed to sunlight radiation for sixteen hours, coupled with five minute exposure to infrared radiation from the sun heated floor. This paper recommends that, research should be carried out to investigate the effect of solar radiation on different components of desktop computers.