Grounding yourself before handling components?

t.chrisuk

t.chrisuk

t.chrisuk

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Joined
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How does this work then? Say if I'm working on a new build, nothing plugged in.. what do I touch exactly to 'ground' myself? It's confusing, oddly enough. Do I just touch an unpainted part of the case with my fingers? My palm? Whole hand? :(
 
radiator pipes, or just plug the power supply in the wall, switch turned off and occasionaly touch the metal of this, or if its attached to the case (if its metal) then touch the case
 
Yeah if the PSU is connected and plugged in, just touch any unpainted area with any body part for as short/long as you want, it will ground you instantly.
 
tbh, i've never taken any steps like this, and in 12 years, never had a problem

as long as you're not moonwalking in your socks on a teflon pad beforehand, there's little risk imo :)
 
I have a wrist band but its by no means essential, just touch a radiator, bobs your mothers brother.
 
Most of the time electrostatic damage does not cause instantaneous results, its effect is usually similar to overclocking a cpu, it weakens the components giving them a shorter life span/or cannot achieve the performance they first did.

So when people say "I didn't bother to discharge, and there was no problem" We actually have no idea either way. When your cpu/gpu/motherboard dies unexpectedly 14 months later, the original mistreatment could be responsible.

But it's safe to say, for the sake of the ease of grounding, you may as well do it. It could save a lot of hassle in the long run.

If you goto a pro lab/manufacturing place antistatic devices will be used. At HP we had ankle straps than went under your shoes to keep you earthed at all times.
 
I just touch a nearby radiator before and occassionally during the process.

No problems.
 
darwinws said:
Yeah if the PSU is connected and plugged in, just touch any unpainted area with any body part for as short/long as you want, it will ground you instantly.
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As soon as I get my PSU out of the box, plug it into the wall without any power and just touch it?

SamSmith said:
Just do it naked + without any body hair? :S
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How would I conceal my joy? :D
 
bledd. said:
as long as you're not moonwalking in your socks on a teflon pad beforehand, there's little risk imo :)
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:D


I've never made any special effort to ground myself, not had any issues so far...

*touches wood*


Oh wait...

*touches metal*
 
t.chris - attach your PSU to the case, then plug it in.

That should be the first step anyway. Then just occasionally (right before touching each components, and at intervals) touch the case to discharge yourself (erm...).

I personally got myself a wristband on account of it being £1.25 for piece of mind, on top of a £450 PC and I'll be building several PCs. If you're just tinkering with one, there's probably not much point.

The way I figure it, why risk blowing up £450 for the sake of a bottle of coke and a freddo?
 
I was paranoid when I first started building, bought an anti static mat and connected myself to a radiator. Complete waste of money, I haven't used it since, and I looked a right twonk.

(Still touch the case though)
 
Audigex said:
t.chris - attach your PSU to the case, then plug it in.

That should be the first step anyway. Then just occasionally (right before touching each components, and at intervals) touch the case to discharge yourself (erm...).

I personally got myself a wristband on account of it being £1.25 for piece of mind, on top of a £450 PC and I'll be building several PCs. If you're just tinkering with one, there's probably not much point.

The way I figure it, why risk blowing up £450 for the sake of a bottle of coke and a freddo?
Click to expand...

In my case, triple that and make it £1,200. I think I'll be safe with the whole PSU grounding method.
 
PSU grounding has always worked for me (so far). Couple of times I've felt the little static shock too which has always made me glad I've done it. It's a little ritual now everytime I handle components.
 
Please, please don't pass the £200 Graphics Card to the missus whilst you clear an area only to see that she is pulling clothes out of a tumble dryer with the other hand. :rolleyes:
 
I think the risk of actually giving something a dangerous static discharge is overrated, but it's not something I ignore.

I have built computers on carpets and beds before [all my own I might add - i'm more conscientous with other peoples money!] while wearing crappy cotton-synthetic dressing gowns and suchlike. did my athlon box that way. Rebuilt it several times that way. The CPU still goes from XP2400 to XP3200 speeds [2.4ghz IIRC? been a while] stable.

As I say though, it's not something I underestimate, as I can be damned sure the day I forget to tap a radiator/earthed chassis will be the day I handle my most expensive or precious component [fnaarrr!], and feel that *zing* of leccy jumping from me to it.

The thing is, if I **** up a piece of my own kit, that I have paid for, through what was clearly a static discharge, then I'm mature enough to admit to it. it's just never happened in fifteen years of handling computer hardware so far.

*touches metal as opposed to wood, turns out to be exposed heavycore mains trunking, dies of electrocution-induced heart failure, voids bowels as a result*
 
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