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220-1102 Practice Question: During a network equipment upgrade, a technician…
During a network equipment upgrade, a technician finds several old switches with visibly leaking capacitors on the circuit boards. What is the correct procedure for handling these switches?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that visibly damaged equipment can be safely tested or cleaned with common tools, when in fact hazardous material protocols require containment and professional e-waste disposal without powering on or disturbing the leak.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Wear nitrile gloves, place the switches in a sealed bag, and label for e-waste recycling.
Leaking capacitors often contain hazardous materials such as electrolytes or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which require special handling to prevent environmental contamination and personal injury. The correct procedure is to wear nitrile gloves (to avoid skin contact with corrosive or toxic substances), place the switches in a sealed bag to contain any leaked material, and label them for e-waste recycling, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations like the WEEE Directive or RCRA.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Power them on to see if they still function before disposal.
Why it's wrong here
Powering on equipment with visible signs of damage, such as leaking capacitors, poses significant risks. The leaked electrolyte is often corrosive and conductive, which can cause immediate short circuits, further internal component damage, or even ignite a fire. This action could also increase the technician's exposure to hazardous chemicals and potentially render the device uninsurable for disposal.
- ✓
Wear nitrile gloves, place the switches in a sealed bag, and label for e-waste recycling.
Why this is correct
Wearing nitrile gloves is crucial for protecting the technician's skin from direct contact with the corrosive capacitor electrolyte. Placing the compromised switches into a sealed bag effectively contains the hazardous leakage, preventing environmental contamination and further exposure during transport. Labeling for e-waste recycling ensures that the devices are handled by certified facilities equipped to safely process hazardous materials, complying with environmental regulations.
- ✗
Use compressed air to blow out the leaked substance and then recycle the switches.
Why it's wrong here
Using compressed air to remove a leaked substance is highly dangerous and counterproductive. This action would aerosolize the corrosive capacitor electrolyte, creating a fine mist that can be easily inhaled, causing respiratory irritation, or absorbed through the skin and eyes. Furthermore, it would spread the hazardous contamination across the workspace and potentially to other equipment, exacerbating the cleanup challenge.
- ✗
Dispose of the switches in the regular office recycling bin.
Why it's wrong here
Disposing of electronic switches, especially those with leaking capacitors, in a regular office recycling bin is inappropriate and environmentally irresponsible. Electronic waste (e-waste) is classified as hazardous waste due to its content of heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium, along with corrosive capacitor electrolytes. These materials can leach into landfills, contaminating soil and groundwater, posing serious environmental and health risks if not processed through specialized e-waste recycling channels.
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SOHO Network Security
Key term
General Data Protection Regulation
A European Union law that gives individuals control over their personal data and sets strict rules for how organizations collect, store, and process that data.
Key term
Compliance
Compliance is the process of ensuring that an organization follows laws, regulations, standards, and internal policies that apply to its operations and data handling.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1202 exam.