Anti-Static Straps & Static Electricity

[cragfin]

Hi, before I build my new computer I plan on removing some parts from my old one, I wanted to know if I should leave the system plugged in but switched off or unplug the system from the wall (or in my case power strip) & switched off?

Also should I connect the anti-static strap to the case (even if the PC is unplugged from the wall) or should I connect the anti-static strap to something else?

The case is made of Aluminium just incase if this makes a difference.

 

[RyanW2050]

switch the psu off, then try to power it up. It will fail.

After that, just sit down and touch the case before removing parts. As far as I know anti-static straps are a joke in normal situations.

 

[Roguestar]

I just touch a heater before I mess about inside the PC, after rolling my sleeves up to ground myself.

As long as you don't roll about on a woolen carpet with acrylic fluffy sleeves and then rub yourself all over the motherboard you'll be fine. Just be careful.

 

[cragfin]

I forgot to mention that my whole house is carpeted (this includes bathroom, kitchen & bedrooms), any suggestions with that in mind will be very helpful & thanked in advance?

Thanks

 

[Roguestar]

Yeah; don't set it on the carpet!

Just put it on a table, roll your sleeves up, touch a heater or the case to ground yourself, then when handling PCBs hold them by the edges and don't brush over the circuits. You'll be fine.

 

[Skraeling]

and please unplug the psu, little bit of extra safety never hurt. I used a antistat strap building my new pc, could i have gotten away with not using one... probably. Then again id rather spend the $5 on one for just that extra bit of protection for my $1,600 build.

 

[Dman877]

I've probably built thirty computers over the last eight years and almost all of my work is done in or on the computer case, sitting on top of the carpet floor, with no ground strap. All I do is make sure to touch the case before grabbing a circuit board and installing it. Like the others said, as long as you aren't rubbing yourself on the carpet or rubbing a balloon on your head, you really don't need to worry about static electricity.

Also, I worked for five years testing circuit boards so I could have had all the free ground straps I wanted, I just knew it wasn't a big deal so I skipped it.

 

[jaqie]

I learned long ago that those straps are much more trouble then they are worth, as long as you are careful to change your habits - not everyone can. Personally, I got myself into the habit when working on computers to rest my forearms on the bare metal parts of the case the cover came off of, and before I mess with any card, or the case, I touch bare metal (such as the case, the metal retention bracket of the card I am installing, et cetra). Grounding yourself to the same potential as ground in the case or ground plane in the electronics is your aim here, not absolute ground. Think of high voltage electricianc that actually work while tied to one of the main transmission lines - they are grounded to the potential of that wire, and are completely safe as long as they dont come into contact with another, this is a similar if seperate situation here. Being grounded to absolute ground with say a grounding strap would be an incredibly bad idea if somehow the case was totally disconnected from absolute ground and got a charge (via whatever means, such as sitting on a plastic table or something).

 

[IlllI]

i personally like to disassemble my parts naked. no chance of building up static if you arent wearing clothes

 

[Roguestar]

I knew someone would post that in this thread

 

[cragfin]

Originally posted by: Skraeling
and please unplug the psu, little bit of extra safety never hurt. I used a antistat strap building my new pc, could i have gotten away with not using one... probably. Then again id rather spend the $5 on one for just that extra bit of protection for my $1,600 build.

So unplug the system from the wall?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Unplugging the system from the wall is the safest, especially if using a ground strap.

 

[cragfin]

Originally posted by: ch33zw1z
Unplugging the system from the wall is the safest, especially if using a ground strap.

Just to check, but wouldn't unplugging the system from the wall means that the system itself is no longer grounded?

And if that is the case then jaqie's idea of trying to ground myself to the same plane would be made impossible as the system wouldn't be grounded, would it or wouldn't it?

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: cragfin

Originally posted by: ch33zw1z
Unplugging the system from the wall is the safest, especially if using a ground strap.

Just to check, but wouldn't unplugging the system from the wall means that the system itself is no longer grounded?

And if that is the case then jaqie's idea of trying to ground myself to the same plan would be made impossible as the system wouldn't be grounded, would it or wouldn't it?

All that matters is that the materials you're working with are at the same potential. As long as you touch the case from time to time - to equalize any accumulated charge, you're fine.

 

[cragfin]

Originally posted by: PottedMeat

Originally posted by: cragfin

Originally posted by: ch33zw1z
Unplugging the system from the wall is the safest, especially if using a ground strap.

Just to check, but wouldn't unplugging the system from the wall means that the system itself is no longer grounded?

And if that is the case then jaqie's idea of trying to ground myself to the same plan would be made impossible as the system wouldn't be grounded, would it or wouldn't it?

All that matters is that the materials you're working with are at the same potential. As long as you touch the case from time to time - to equalize any accumulated charge, you're fine.

Final check (at least I think so), unplug system from wall, attach anti-static wrist strap to case to keep me & the case equalized?

Also should I unplug the cables in the case too?

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: cragfin

Originally posted by: PottedMeat

All that matters is that the materials you're working with are at the same potential. As long as you touch the case from time to time - to equalize any accumulated charge, you're fine.

Final check (at least I think so), unplug system from wall, attach anti-static wrist strap to case to keep me & the case equalized?

Also should I unplug the cables in the case too?

In the case? Nah.

 

[Modelworks]

Take off your shoes and walk while dragging your feet on the carpet, then grab the case, to make sure its properly grounded

 

[cragfin]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Take off your shoes and walk while dragging your feet on the carpet, then grab the case, to make sure its properly grounded

Dragging my feet on the carpet wouldn't that create a static charge?

In the case? Nah.

Since I already own the strap & even if it is not really needed for the extra safety I would like to use it, so if not to the case then to what?


Sorry if I keep asking the same question but it seems that there are conflicting advice for example:

switch the psu off, then try to power it up. It will fail.

After that, just sit down and touch the case before removing parts. As far as I know anti-static straps are a joke in normal situations.

Ryan's advice while not saying it completely kinds of imply to keep the case plugged into the wall but switched off?

and please unplug the psu, little bit of extra safety never hurt. I used a antistat strap building my new pc, could i have gotten away with not using one... probably. Then again id rather spend the $5 on one for just that extra bit of protection for my $1,600 build.

Skraeling advice tells me to unplug the system?

Grounding yourself to the same potential as ground in the case or ground plane in the electronics is your aim here, not absolute ground. Think of high voltage electricianc that actually work while tied to one of the main transmission lines - they are grounded to the potential of that wire, and are completely safe as long as they dont come into contact with another, this is a similar if seperate situation here. Being grounded to absolute ground with say a grounding strap would be an incredibly bad idea if somehow the case was totally disconnected from absolute ground and got a charge (via whatever means, such as sitting on a plastic table or something).

Jaqie's advice implies to unplug the system from the wall but to keep myself to the same pontential as the case, which would imply to connect the anti-static to case?



Also I don't know if this changes anything but my friend also dropped off an anti-static mat.

 

[cragfin]

Also the anti-static strap I have has a banna plug to connect it to the grounding port of an outlet, it also an crock clip adapter

 

[jaqie]

Originally posted by: cragfin
Jaqie's advice implies to unplug the system from the wall but to keep myself to the same pontential as the case, which would imply to connect the anti-static to case?
Also I don't know if this changes anything but my friend also dropped off an anti-static mat.

Yes, that is correct. I bypass the strap with my habits, but using the alligator clip on bare metal of the case would work quite well, and is recommended.
The mat is... can be a good idea if you want to make sure everything is at absolute ground, which is a good idea if you work on many a day, but for just one or a few computers it is quite overkill, and it requires its own kind of special habits (the cards you put in have to be grounded with touching their mounting plane (that big metal lug on the back of all cards) to the case or antistatic mat. Best bet is just ground yourself to the case with the strap or with habit as I do.