Grounding yourself

[SenseiJinx]

So I'm starting my build on Saturday, and I want to avoid ESD damage as much as I can. I have an anti-static wristband and everything. I know people suggest just to attach it to the case, but that doesn't actually ground you, and may or may not help when you're actually picking up other parts and whatnot. I've heard it suggested that you can attach yourself to the case, and install the PSU and plug it in, which should ground you. But that scares me -- how much danger of electrical shock would there be? Does anybody have any better suggestions?

And I don't really want people telling me "don't worry about it, there's no real danger of damaging your components with ESD." That's a bunch of BS, and besides, it's worth taking a few precautions if it might save these some parts. I've spent a lot of money on this build.

Thanks!

[minsonngo]

I usually just connect it to a metal part of the case.


And yes... some people suggest you install the PSU and plug it in... but do NOT turn it on though.

[EzyStvy]

Better safe then sorry....But, I can't make a static charge/electrical shock in this Texas humidity if my life depended on it..If you can't either...odds are you'll be ok with anti-static wristband.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by SenseiJinx So I'm starting my build on Saturday, and I want to avoid ESD damage as much as I can. I have an anti-static wristband and everything. I know people suggest just to attach it to the case, but that doesn't actually ground you, and may or may not help when you're actually picking up other parts and whatnot.

What touching the case does is equalize the charge between you and the case/chassis. If both have the same amount of charge the chances of a static jump is pretty much zero. That's the reason we touch the case prior to working on the computer...it doesn't ground us, it equalizes us.

Originally Posted by SenseiJinx I've heard it suggested that you can attach yourself to the case, and install the PSU and plug it in, which should ground you. But that scares me -- how much danger of electrical shock would there be?

No danger as long as you don't turn the PSU on. The computer is grounded through the power supply and if the power supply is plugged into a wall outlet, it's grounded...you don't have to turn it on since you just need the power cord physically plugged into the wall to ground the system.

Originally Posted by SenseiJinx And I don't really want people telling me "don't worry about it, there's no real danger of damaging your components with ESD." That's a bunch of BS, and besides, it's worth taking a few precautions if it might save these some parts. I've spent a lot of money on this build.

Sounds like you already know quite a bit about ESD...just use common sense when building and you should be fine.

Cricket

[XenaWP]

You could always do the build in the basement and ground yourself to the common house ground.

[Staren]

Originally Posted by XenaWP You could always do the build in the basement and ground yourself to the common house ground.

That would be ideal conditions of course, but here in Florida there isn't a basement within 100 miles probably. And where the main ground line is, you don't want to work. I've done 3 builds by simply touching the PSU, grounding to the case, and working on wood or tile floors and the box from the case.

Just be smart about it and you should be fine. Don't work on carpet, and cut the box the case comes in down so you can put it over the table.

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by SenseiJinx I've heard it suggested that you can attach yourself to the case, and install the PSU and plug it in, which should ground you. But that scares me -- how much danger of electrical shock would there be? Does anybody have any better suggestions?

The case needs to be grounded and the power cord does this via the ground
terminal and also the neutral side of the outlet. I understand your concern about
plugging in the power cable while working on the computer so the best solution
is to take a spare power cord and cut off the HOT side prong of the plug on the
cord and use that modified cord as your "grounding" cord. Use the wall outlet
diagram below as a guide to determine which is the HOT prong on the plug.

Wall outlet:

...Neutral--->...I...I <---Hot side
.......Ground---> 0

I also recommend that you test your wall outlet to ensure it's wired correctly.
It's always possible that your wall outlet is not wired correctly and this could
present a shock hazard. So get a wall outlet tester and test your oultet!
http://www.amazon.com/AEMC-Outlet-Te.../dp/B0000WS7M6

As an added safety measure make sure the PC will not turn on
when you connect your modified grounding cord.

---pete---

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by Staren Just be smart about it and you should be fine. Don't work on carpet..

Good point!
If you do work on carpet, take off your shoes and socks!
This will dramatically reduce you ability to generate static as
you move around the room.

This might sound weird, but if you can work on your PC bare footed
and wearing just your pants or shorts, you will dramatically reduce your
ability to generate static.

---pete---

[Staren]

Really, if you don't have a good basement, the next place I'd go is a dining room or kitchen (IF it's dry) with wood or tile floors and work on the dining table (cut down the side of the case box and use it to protect the table).

[bluenadas]

It all comes down to one thing:

Getting the PC and you at the same potential.

If it's with a wrist strap to the chassis, it really matters not weather it's plug in to the wall.

And touching the case is a great method, but just remember that you can build a static charge even if you're buck-naked and standing on a rubber mat. Constantly touch the case before reaching in or grabbing items.

And as far tying your wrist strap to house ground without having the computer tied is not a wise choice. If you're ground and the computer is not, there can be a static discharge from the PC to you which can be just as devastating to fragile components.

I've gone as far as wrapping solder around the wrist before and hooking it to the PC case. Definitely NOT recommended if you're case is plug in to the wall. Because if your house wiring is retarded there is a potential for one crispy pcmech.

[yoloksky]

hello,

capacitors and some mobo components store some charges even when unplugged. even if you were barefoot on cement floor and touched something else (ex. ram), the surges will flow towards you ,discharging the static and possibly killing the ram.

on the other hand, if you are the one statically charged (walk on carpet,etc) and your computer is grounded correctly. Surge will come from you, going into your mobo component (ex. ram) and into your computer ground, possibly killing the ram again.

sorry i don't use grounding strap as it restrict movements and also the possibility of a 'fried pcmech' member as mentioned above.

you can try google on techniques/areas (telephone grounding, metal pipes) which you can ground both yourself and your computer correctly w/o the need to connect the 3 prong outlet (one of w/c is ground) into the psu. 2 prong outlet are much difficult as you need to make your own grounding. I advice you to take it seriously and learn its advantages. I see people get killed only because of improper grounding/related stuff.

also, watch out for ups (metal/non metal case) if you have. unplug it first because they pack a lot of surges when powered on.

wbr,

[perkster]

when i build mine, every room in my house is carpetted but i will put cardboard box down on the floor where i will walk, and on the kitchen table which is a good height to work on, and will have wriststrap connected to case and keep touching case. I will also have all components ready and handy so i do not have to walk around much if at all. Im hoping i will be ok without plugging anything in. Ill also keep items in their anti-static bags for as long as possible and only take something out when ready to put it in. only prob is where to sit the motherboard down when you are adding the chip and the heatsink.

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by bluenadas It all comes down to one thing: Getting the PC and you at the same potential. If it's with a wrist strap to the chassis, it really matters not weather it's plug in to the wall.

I believe the above is a false statement
Here's why:

You need a path to ground to disharge and the static electricity in a controlled fashion.
The ground strap provides resistance in series with the path to ground to give a slow
controlled discharge. If you don't ground the chassis by pluggin it into the wall you
can charge up the chassis itself with static electricity upon touching it and then when
you plug it in it will discharge suddenly creating an intense ESD field that could do
damage to any sensitive component within the PC.

You absolutley need a path to ground from yourself in order to disipate any static
buildup from your body.

Even in the situation where you are charged up with static and walk up to an open PC
case that is grounded and touch the case with your hand and not using a ground strap,
you will feel the shock as the static electricity is *rapidly* discharged. I say rapidly as opposed
to *controlled* as would have been the case if a ground strap was used. This rapid discharge
produces a field of energy and any sensitive electronic component within a few feet is in
danger of being damaged.

BTW: Having worked in the Satellite/Areospace industry for many years, I'm was
trained and certified for ESD compliance and that's what I'm drawing my knowledge
from. ESD is serious business because you can cause latent damage today and the
computer will still run perfectly, but days, weeks or months later it will fail and you'll
never know it was the ESD damage of today that caused it.

---pete---

[SenseiJinx]

Thanks for the help guys -- I'll keep your suggestions in mind. But excuse me if I take everything I've read with a grain of salt. ^_^ I'll try to use my own disgression.

Unfortunately, I have to put it together on a carpet floor (er, well on a table of course, that's on the carpet). Do you guys think laying some cardboard or wood on the ground where I'm going to be walking would be a good idea, or is it possible that could build up even more static?