Proper way of using an Anti Static Wrist Strap

[Bronxbomber90]

I have an anti static wrist strap, since is my first PC build I prefer to be safe than sorry. Where I am building my PC is in my living room, more space for me to move around. My floor is marble and the desk I am going to be working on is made of wood. I have been reading around on how to use the wrist strap. I was going to basically strap it on, then place the other end (clip) to my PSU. Make sure that the switch on my PSU is switch off and connected to the wall???

Is this the proper way?

Freaking UPS is still not here with my RAM and aftermarket cooler should be here any minute now. I have the link of "Build your own PC" in handy so I am reading it right now but nothing about grounding yourself first!

[Force Flow]

An anti-static mat, if you have one. Or, something metal that's grounded. Or, a metal part of the case itself.

As long as you're not standing on a carpet and not wearing fleece or wool, and you touch the case to ground yourself first before working on anything, you can get away with not using a wrist strap at all.

[Bronxbomber90]

I don't have an anti static mat, I was planning in clipping it to my Case. I also heard as long as you touch the PSU or case every now and then you should be good. I was actually planning in building it naked!

[rwest]

Originally Posted by Bronxbomber90 strap it on, then place the other end (clip) to my PSU. Make sure that the switch on my PSU is switch off and connected to the wall??? Is this the proper way?

No. It's just one of many.
The clip should be to direct ground. Used accordingly with an anti-static mat, the aligator clips to the matt.

But since you don't have a mat, that is one way to do it.

If you don't want to use your power supply, you can use the screw that holds the outlet cover on an outlet. Back the scew out and if the wire is long enough you can clip it to the metal screw. That little screw leads to direct gorund.

But most folks will just clip it to the case.

The case while it is not direct ground, does become the path of least resistance for any ESD that may buid up when assembling your pc.

Electricity (even electrostatic discharge) will automaticaly travel the path of least resistance. Therefore by touching the metal case the charge will travel to it(the metal case) as opposed to you or your component. (metal is more conductive than you are) Cliping the wrist stap to the case just ensures that will happen. Why does the charge go to the case and not the component? With the solid metal structure of the case, it is way more conductive than your component. Any charge will follow the path of least resistance. But that's why direct ground is best. All ESD is looking for, is a path to ground. And that charge will travel continuously until it finds ground.

[edalbkrad]

Dont take the static crap too seriously.
We've built over 50 computers and never used that.
Just make sure your hands aren't wet or sweaty and you'll be fine.
Also keep the parts on their static bags / boxes until its time to add them to the build.

[quartet-man]

I thought the outside of antistatic bags were not antistatic, just the insides were.

[David M]

Interesting, I will have to break out my multimeter and test that tomorrow.

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by Bronxbomber90 I don't have an anti static mat, I was planning in clipping it to my Case. I also heard as long as you touch the PSU or case every now and then you should be good. I was actually planning in building it naked!

I'm actually trained in ESD having worked for Lockheed Martin building satellite electronics and those guys take this ESD stuff very seriously.

The whole purpose of the ground strap is to dissipate/discharge any static charge that builds up on your body in a CONTROLLED fashion. To discharge properly, there needs to be a path to EARTH GROUND. This means you can clip the wrist strap to any metal that is connected to EARTH GROUND. The PSU installed into the case or the case itself is earth grounded only if the PSU is plugged into a power outlet that is properly grounded. If you don't have the PSU grounded with the power cord, you may alternatively ground it using a wire that goes to earth ground.

Above I say CONTROLLED because the wrist strap typically has a series resistor or resistance built into it which serves to slowly discharge the static voltage from your body to earth ground. By slowly discharging, there is less chance of ESD damage due to the strong field of voltage that emits up to several feet from your body. I have actually seen evidence of this voltage field when a diode I was bench testing failed after I discharged myself by directly touching ground (without the aid of a wrist strap) when I was actually about 3 feet away from the diode. I actually saw the diode blow out because the diode was under an active test when I discharged myself. ESD damage is real.

You kid when you say naked, but it's actually a good idea. Actually, if you wear just a pair of shorts and cotton underwear and work barefooted, you will do much to reduce static buildup on your body.

Don't make yourself crazy over this ESD stuff. A few precautions and you will be fine. Many tech don't even bother with wrist straps, they just touch the case to discharge themselves and they never see any immediate failures, but the wrist strap is still your best insurance against damage due to ESD.

Good luck with your build!

---pete---

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by quartet-man I thought the outside of antistatic bags were not antistatic, just the insides were.

An excellent article all about ESD bags and the different kinds...

ESD Journal - ESD Bags

[strollin]

Originally Posted by edalbkrad Dont take the static crap too seriously. We've built over 50 computers and never used that. Just make sure your hands aren't wet or sweaty and you'll be fine. Also keep the parts on their static bags / boxes until its time to add them to the build.

Actually, having wet or sweaty hands (humidity in general) would decrease static charge and lessen the need for an anti-static strap.

[edfair]

quartet-man:
I thought the outside of antistatic bags were not antistatic, just the insides were.

David M:
Interesting, I will have to break out my multimeter and test that tomorrow.

Won't show. BTDT.

petef56:
the wrist strap typically has a series resistor or resistance built into it which serves to slowly discharge the static voltage from your body to earth ground.
Sorry, the resistor is to limit the current flow to an amount under what would kill you if you do something stupid, like connect to the hot leg of AC. The actual current flow is so small with static that it is effectively instantaneous through the resistor. People can, however, hold charges and the discharge across a gap of part of an inch will result in pain if the current is not limited.

[Khalil]

Originally Posted by edalbkrad Dont take the static crap too seriously. We've built over 50 computers and never used that. Just make sure your hands aren't wet or sweaty and you'll be fine. Also keep the parts on their static bags / boxes until its time to add them to the build.

I agree and that is after over 15,000 builds. I use a Mat at my build benches but I have built them all over the place and at home for me and the kids and never used anti-static anything.
Just touch the chassis before you handle any of the components and you are good to go.

[David M]

Originally Posted by edfair quartet-man: I thought the outside of antistatic bags were not antistatic, just the insides were. David M: Interesting, I will have to break out my multimeter and test that tomorrow. Won't show. BTDT. petef56: the wrist strap typically has a series resistor or resistance built into it which serves to slowly discharge the static voltage from your body to earth ground. Sorry, the resistor is to limit the current flow to an amount under what would kill you if you do something stupid, like connect to the hot leg of AC. The actual current flow is so small with static that it is effectively instantaneous through the resistor. People can, however, hold charges and the discharge across a gap of part of an inch will result in pain if the current is not limited.

I tested an ASUS motherboard anti-static bag with the honeycomb shaped grid. The bag does not conduct electricity on the inside but it does conduct electricity on the outside.

I got infinite resistance on the inside and 150k ohms of resistance on the outside of the bag by placing the multimeter conductors on opposite sides of one of the honeycombs.

These bags do indeed conduct electricity and it is measurable....which is why you never place a live board on one of these bags.

[Bronxbomber90]

Originally Posted by David M which is why you never place a live board on one of these bags.

Which I never did I did my HW before my build

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by edfair quartet-man: Sorry, the resistor is to limit the current flow to an amount under what would kill you if you do something stupid, like connect to the hot leg of AC. The actual current flow is so small with static that it is effectively instantaneous through the resistor. People can, however, hold charges and the discharge across a gap of part of an inch will result in pain if the current is not limited.

Excellent ESD article...
http://www.minicircuits.com/app/AN40-005.pdf

Excerpt...

"Cautionary note: Materials which are conductive (e.g. stainless steel surfaces) are not recommended for use as a static-safe work surface; the low electrical resistance could result in a transient-like (surge) discharge of static electricity. A rapid discharge is far more damaging to the electronic device than a gradually paced discharge through a static dissipative material."


Ok, so aside from the note above, it is more commonly known that the 1 meg ohm series resistance of the ground strap serves to protect the user from electric shock if he accidentally touches a live electric circuit, but a large series resistance also helps to control the static discharge such that a rapid discharge does not occur.

That's my understanding. Are you saying that the 1 meg ohm resistor has negligible effect on the discharge rate of the static discharge?

---pete---

[edfair]

Are you saying that the 1 meg ohm resistor has negligible effect on the discharge rate of the static discharge?

Would not deny that it has an affect on a static discharge.

We are still talking about a wrist strap, are we not? And the wearer is at one static potential (1 m to ground)? And a board is at another static potential? At the moment the board is touched, assuming some resistive skin contact with electrically conductive surface there is an equalibrium reached between the board and person as the resistor is not between them. Both are then at an other than ground potential and the resistor comes into play.

[edalbkrad]

I usually put all the parts on my bed when I build a pc in my room (is that bad?)
I do keep the parts in their static bags/boxes until I add them to the case.

I just touch the case before building and make sure that their are no screws or small metal lying inside the case before turning it on

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by edfair Are you saying that the 1 meg ohm resistor has negligible effect on the discharge rate of the static discharge? Would not deny that it has an affect on a static discharge. We are still talking about a wrist strap, are we not? And the wearer is at one static potential (1 m to ground)? And a board is at another static potential?

Hold it right there. The person wearing the wrist strap is at zero static potential. That's the purpose of the wrist strap, to keep the person constantly discharged to ground. The 1 meg ohm resistor affects the TIME or RATE of discharge as not to create a too fast a discharge which would result in a strong electrostatic field emitting from the person's body that could damage a sensitive electronic component close by without even touching that component.

---pete---