That little 'spark' in the build process...

[chzlchp]

Actually, I'm hoping to prevent any sparks-by getting properly grounded (and that's my question). I've got one of those wrist strap thingies with the two-foot pigtail and alligator clip, but I really don't have a clue what to do with it. I've got this image of attaching a 10' piece of copper wire to the clip, and running that to a mounting screw on a nearby wall socket. Guess what folks--that ain't happenin!

I'm gonna build my next box in my living room, on a very convenient drawing table, and I'm basically standing on a carpet-you know, the kind that makes you jump when you go to grab the doorknob--I can just see me touching my new ASUS mobo and watching a little wisp of smoke rise from the middle of it.

So, what's the state of the art? What do I do to prevent 'home-frying' my new toys?

[vtfanmv5]

Just clip it to some grounded, unpainted piece of metal. Somewhere on the case usually works.

[chzlchp]

Originally Posted by vtfanmv5 Just clip it to some grounded, unpainted piece of metal. Somewhere on the case usually works.

OK--but for that piece of metal to be grounded, wouldn't it similarly need to have been connected thru to a ground...either the aforementioned copper wire, or maybe something running out the front door onto a spike driven in the ground? i.e., somewhere in this picture, there has to be a true hard connection to a 'ground'.

[shadowpr]

Sounds like you're complicating a simple thing.

What I did, was just touch the case before you touch anything else. and if you're on a rug, or carpet, then wear shoes.

[piasabird]

Well you might try a kitchen table if you have no carpet in the kitchen. My dining room has a hardwood floor so I took an old blanket and put it on top of the dining room table and used that because I wanted a lot of light. A workbench in a garage can work just as well. A cement floor in a basement is nice but you need a lot of light in your work area.

Generally the metal casing of a computer case is enough for a ground. For simple static electricity that will suffice. Just put both hands on the metal structure of the case and you are grounded. You dont have to go all the way to the ground to get a ground. In a house they usually use a ground that attaches to a metal cold water pipe if available. Unfortunately some houses dont have metal pipes any more. Usually this extreme of a copper rod in the ground is only needed for a radio antenna or lightning arrestor. The electrical system may already have a metal grounding rod attached for the 3 pronged plugs.

[rwest]

While being truely groumded for any repair is an ideal situation, what you're looking for is the path of least resistance for static electricity to take. ESD is what your concerned about, electrostatic discharge.

ESD travels regularly thru life with out being noticed, it's always there. Just because it gets released and grounded once, doesn't mean you're entirely safe. The next time you reach for something, static electricity builds up and gets discharged again until it finds a new path of least resistance or finds ground. The wrist stap is made of a material more conductive than your body, the wire coming from the wrist stap is then attached preferably to ground or to the case, thereby sending the discharge to the metal case and not the componet you are about to grab. If you can installl your ps first do so, and plug it into the wall. This willl give the charge on the case a place to go; ground.

Touching the case before handling components is extremely common and is a decent way of contolling esd, but clearly not the best. Using a wrist strap is and has been the desired way of controling esd by professionals. If you have one, use it. Not only for peace of mind, but because it works.

[pcnutz]

Plug the power cable for the power supply into the wall then put your thumb over the end of it. You will ground out and can start working on the pc. The odds of getting the spark are rare. I work on pcs all the time and like someone else said touch the chassis first and you will be fine. Your more likely to drop the HD on the ground before you get a spark=)