Anti-static precautions

[AnotherMuggle]

Does anyone know the deffinate correct procedure to follow when working inside a computer?

Is it ok to just hold onto the case when touching the components? Must the mains be plugged in? Rocker switch turned on or off?

Look forward to seeing some responses

Thanks crew

[Spirit]

Originally Posted by tomkear2006 Does anyone know the deffinate correct procedure to follow when working inside a computer? Is it ok to just hold onto the case when touching the components? Must the mains be plugged in? Rocker switch turned on or off? Look forward to seeing some responses Thanks crew

Wear a wristband: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16899888207
They are pretty cheap... I saw someone just suggest it, lol

[AnotherMuggle]

I have a wristband and have used it when building my system.

Is it ok to connect the wristband to the case only because that would mean the case would become live as its still not earthed

[minsonngo]

If you don't have a wrist band. Just make sure you touch something metal every so often to discharge any static electricity you may accumulate to avoid damaging any computer components.

[jayb1234]

An antistatic wristband is a good idea.

edit: must be static questions day 3rd time in the last hour or so.

[AnotherMuggle]

Must the computer be plugged into the mains to make it earth? If so does the rocker switch need to be in the I or O position?

[AnotherMuggle]

haha I'd not seen a question about it in here before so decided it would be a good conversation to raise.

I didnt know anyone else had mentioned it today...Id not looked properly

[Mr.Ferrari]

Truth be told, ive only once used a antistatic wrist strap and decided it was to annoying. Lol. Never had a problem with static as long as you keep touching a unpainted side of your case to discharge. But if you can, it would be a great precaution to use. I just plugged mine into the case itself lol.

[Staren]

Originally Posted by tomkear2006 Must the computer be plugged into the mains to make it earth? If so does the rocker switch need to be in the I or O position?

Others may tell you otherwise, but I do NOT use the power cord plugged into the wall as a ground. Too easy to forget about the power switch on the PSU and shock yourself if something isn't quite right. Static isn't that pwerful. It will discharge into the metal case and disapate just fine. What I do is clip the anti-static strap to a side of the case and tap the PSU with the back of my hand from tme to time before and after I handle something sinsitive. Even that might be a little paranoid.

[AnotherMuggle]

Sounds like a plan to me.

I have used the wristband but spent a fair bit of time inside the case just holding onto some bare metal of the case while handling components with the other hand...Im assuming this is all good.

[doctorgonzo]

I ground myself to a cold water faucet and I haven't had problems. I think it is more important to keep from moving around too much, and don't work on carpet!

[AnotherMuggle]

Oh dear, the carpet parts just put the willies up me...in a non-literal sence.

I normally kneel down and work on the carpet

[doctorgonzo]

That's a poor idea. Work on a table on a solid floor, like in your kitchen. Walking on carpet builds up static.

[AnotherMuggle]

Yeah good point...what a twat...I never thought about it...I did touch the metal all the time though so hopefully that means Im ok.

[Staren]

You should be fine. I work on carpet at times for minor stuff like cleaning the case. Just use a little common sense. Don't work in socks. Wear sneakers or something, and lay your tools out so you can stay in one place and not move around a lot. Or if you have to get up, take your hands off the computer before and then tap metal again a few times to discharge anything before workiing again.

[DarkPacMan77]

one main thing you should make sure to do is (after you take the motherboard out of it's anti-static bag) put the motherboard on the side of the box that came with it. It is a non-static surface. Putting it on the bag can actually make static.

doing so makes it easy to install the cpu and heatsink/fan also

[Staren]

Another trick that also helps if you are working on a table you actually like and don't want to scratch up, here is something I figured out.

Take the box that the case came in and cut down one corner of the side of the box, then down a corner of the bottom of the box that intersects it so that the box will lay flat. That way you can lay it down on the table. You have a nice big surfice to work on, and it won't conduct static so you can set parts and tools down whereever's handy, and you won't scratch anything you arn't going to recycle or throw out anyway.