Grounding While Building

FinalSquall

FinalSquall

FinalSquall

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25 Jul 2011
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278
So, I am about to build a PC for myself, one of the things I am really nervous about, and don't fully understand is all the posts I am seeing about being grounded as you build, for example the topic titled
Swapped pc from one case to another, now doesn't work :(
(http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18301344)

A few questions
Firstly - Say you are building an £800 rig, and you do this, and you have a bunch of components so cant tell which one is damaged, are you effectively down £800?

Secondly - What is the best way to avoid this happening, and does it happen very often? I have seen on the "System Build Guide" post, something about having the power plugged in but not switched on, what does that mean, the power socket for the PSU plugged into the Mains, but with the mains Switch off? (Let me know if u don't get what I am on about)

Thanks
George
 
1 - You can find out what it is by a process of elimination, remove all components to a bare minimum and go from there.

2 - The best solution is a wrist strap to earth yourself like so:

wrist_strap.jpg


In the years I've been building and messing with computers I've enver had a problem, although it can cause damage if you're unlucky, and with £800 worth of components I would take a few precautions to prevent it :)
 
It is very rare that static damage can happen and if you are spending £800 on a rig, it is most likely high end components that are very robust against static damage.

1) You troubleshoot by using only the bare minimum (Motherboard, CPU, PSU, 1 stick of RAM) and narrow down your problem.

2) As I said above, static damage is rare. By having the PSU plugged into a mains socket with the power switched off, all static electricity will run threw the PSU and into the ground. Therefore, by touching the PSU, or installing it in the case and touching the case, you will discharge any static electricity.
 
Right, and the bit where u say plugged into the mains with power switched off, Means the little switch on the Mains that turns the plug on and off? or you mean with the PCs power switched off but the mains switch on?
 
Static damage is very rare but it's mentioned so often during trouble shooting as it's best to rule out that possibility when testing systems. It's usually other components that have gone for other reasons, i usually just avoid carpets and socks when building/handling pc parts and never encountered a problem. All above advice is sound too.
 
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FinalSquall said:
Right, and the bit where u say plugged into the mains with power switched off, Means the little switch on the Mains that turns the plug on and off? or you mean with the PCs power switched off but the mains switch on?
Click to expand...

The switch on the mains off and the switch on the back of the PSU to off, otherwise you could give yourself a nasty shock!
 
Heh u mean you dont wear Socks when doing it? And I would probably do all work on it on the Kitchen Table.

Also back to identifying Faulty components, you say remove all components but GPU/1RAM/PSU/MOBO,
A How do I identify what is faulty if I have narrowed it down to CPU/GPU or MOBO?
B do u mean remove everything including Fans, cos I thought stuff stopped booting up with no Fans e.g. if the CPU has no fan attached I thought the PC didnt boot

Thanks
George
 
Well I avoid carpets really :p usually wooden floors and if I am fixing a friend/family pc and i have to be on a carpet then the socks will come off but this is a rarity.

This sticked thread is good for guiding through problems, and once you have it down to CPU/GPU or mobo then you might have to get 2nd hand/cheap parts to test with or take it to a professional.

EDIT* GPU can be ruled out by testing it in another system (like RAM and PSU) or using onboard graphics if the motherboard has it.
 
Ok, cheers mate, so pretty much you just make sure that the PSU is done and plugged in with the switches off before you touch anywhere inside the case or any of the equipment bought?
 
You make sure all that is done and then you touch the psu housing/pc case to ground yourself and do this periodically throughout the build to discharge anything that has built up. I usually remember to do it at the start and then get to involved in the build and forget, but still haven't had any issues with it.
 
Hehe ok ty mate, Im assuming the strap in the pic does the same and the crocodile clip hooks onto the PSU casing then?

Also I have had to sort things out in my current PC, such as empty fan dust out, and im pretty sure I have touched the MOBO etc accidently numerous times without taking any precautions and nothing has happened
 
As stated above, it's very rare and when you touch the case when it's plugged it then you ground yourself so most people ground themselves when they open the case unless they disconnect the cable from the psu to the wall. And yes for the wristband thing, that's how it works but I open pc's a couple of times a week at work and never use one and no problems.

EDIT* Just noticed I never answered your bit about the heatsink fans from earlier post, they should always be attached stlll and with the PWM fan connected to the motherboard header.
 
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