Anti-Static Wristband really necessary?

Nitrojan

Nitrojan

Nitrojan

Associate
Joined
12 Jan 2008
Posts
2,116
Lol I probably wont use one but are they really necessary when building?

If not, are there any workarounds? Also, how many of you actually use them?

^_^
 
I do when handling components on a table say.

If I’m building a rig I always keep one hand on the case and the psu power lead plugged into the wall, mains switched off at the wall of course. This will ground the case and yourself and you dont need to use an anti-static wristband :)
 
I've never used one and I've never had any damaged components.

I can say the same for many many other people I know who've never touched one.
 
As with Hesky82, I too use an Anti-Static wristband when building, they dont cost a lot and its IMHO worth using.

I know people that will say they have never had a problem as Zefan has already mentioned, but in my book it only takes one time to mess up and it could be a costly mistake, also I would imagine that these companies that make the chips etc dont spend a fortune on making the production lines etc static free for no reason?

Peace :)
 
The problem with using anti-static wristbands is that they work on the principle that all your components have zero static charge on them, if they don't then picking one up while grounded will only serve to help cause a big discharge which is just as likely to damage a component as anything else.
 
There are many discrete components on a motherboard or GFX card for example that can easily be fired by ESD, the fact 90% of us aren’t retards and don’t handle these items like a 3 yr old child pretty much saves them from static damage, and almost negates the need to use a ESD wrist strap.

I use one because I’ve killed a few very sensitive logic chips when reworking or building pcb circuits, so frustrating when it happens you make an oath to never stop wearing it.

Damn sometimes I go to bed or go out to the pub with the wristband still on lol just forget
 
Zefan said:
I've never used one and I've never had any damaged components.

I can say the same for many many other people I know who've never touched one.
Click to expand...

That is why companies like Computacentre spend millions of pounds on creating vast static free rooms for their engineers working on computer equipment prior to despatch/delivery.

Delicate computer components have a degree of redundancy built in. Careless handling is masked by the clever design so you REALLY have to zap something to break it. You will damage it however, and by doing so reduce its life because you've already used up some of the built in failsafe.

Also please note the idea is NOT to earth or ground yourself. The idea is to ensure you hands are at the same potential as the component you are working on. You need to safely touch or be wired up whatever you are working on. There is no point being earthed yourself and working on an unearthed piece of equipment - the first time you touch it (hopefully not a memory chip) there will be a flow of charge and the potentials will equalize. (Static discharge in worse case.

Luckily we live in a miserable warmish damp climate so static problems are nowhere near as bad as they could be. High charges tend to leak away naturally.

At home I work with a large anti static mat on the table and all components are on the mat. There is a strap which plugs into the corner of the mat and runs to a wristband. Optionally I can crocodile clip from the same lead to a large piece of equipment like the compter chassis. Notice nothing is grounded or earthed. Everything is "floating". The point is it is all floating at the SAME potential.


Also don't touch a painted radiator and expect ro be grounded :)

The OP asked are straps etc REALLY necessary. I suppose the strict answer is NO if you are careful and know what you are doing. Same as car seat-belts, contraception, covers over circular blade blades in the woodwork shop, and so on. But seriously - why take the chance. If you are building a PC and have problems further down the line, it's nice to know you are confident you haven't accidentally introduced hardware problems by careless management of static electricity.
 
Last edited:
Rofl haha.. I bet he didnt have to pay for anything when he was wearing it.. as he shouldn't have been charged lol

Lame joke I know ;P
 
"Everything is "floating". The point is it is all floating at the SAME potential."

I think the idea is to ground yourself (through the built in resistor) & the mat & the chassis of what you are working on. Otherwise how do you know you are at the same potential as anything else ? A shuffle across a carpet can cause thousands of volts. The only way to be sure is for everything you are working on to be grounded. Your floating set up will float up in potential as you discharge to it, and crash down with a discharge when it is plugged back into the mains.
 
Last edited:
I touch something grounded first in case I have a static build-up like the copper pipe going into the base of the radiator.
 
I tend to pick up a large persian cat and make a good long fuss of it prior to doing anything with delicate electrical parts, especially opto electrics.

More seriously, I tend to lay everything out on an antistatic mat, then hook myself up to it.



Ernst B.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom