Static and grounding advice needed please :)

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Hey guys,

I'm building my new system tomorrow when the final parts arrive, but just wanted to ask about static. I usually ground myself on the bare part of a radiator before starting, but is this enough, and how often should I do it? I know static isn't usually a problem, but I've spent a lot of money on all my components and don't really wanna wreck anything with something as stupid as static.

Thanks!
 
Camelpaw said:
I usually ground myself on the bare part of a radiator before starting, but is this enough, and how often should I do it?
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I do this, and repeat as i feel necessary - usually if i've had to walk around - and i build the entire rig on a wooden table. This combined with handling components carefully, ideally by the edges, and not wearing items that will generate excessive static 'should' eliminate any real risk to your components (but obviously not all – there’s always sods law.).

However, some ppl will say that you should always wear an anti-static wrist band, for the extra security, and for a couple of pounds it may be worth it for your peace of mind, if you're that worried, but i find them too restrictive/annoying - especially now that i have young kids.

When i'm upgrading i tend to leave the PSU plugged into the wall (switched off) and then earth myself against the case.

Good luck with the build - hope it goes smoothly.
 
Plec said:
I do this, and repeat as i feel necessary - usually if i've had to walk around - and i build the entire rig on a wooden table. This combined with handling components carefully, ideally by the edges, and not wearing items that will generate excessive static 'should' eliminate any real risk to your components (but obviously not all – there’s always sods law.).

However, some ppl will say that you should always wear an anti-static wrist band, for the extra security, and for a couple of pounds it may be worth it for your peace of mind, if you're that worried, but i find them too restrictive/annoying - especially now that i have young kids.

When i'm upgrading i tend to leave the PSU plugged into the wall (switched off) and then earth myself against the case.

Good luck with the build - hope it goes smoothly.
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+1

That about covers everything.

I dont use the wrist strap either and never had any problem, case grounding is the way I do it as most of the time you hold the case still or move the case to get better access.
 
i gotta free antistatic wristband from work so its all good. but ye i usually before doing any work at home on my PC i normally used to keep touching the case rim but nowhere near any components motherboard etc.
 
Hands up all those who have got up to walk away with their wrist strap still connected to an immovable object :)
 
Chrismk said:
Hands up all those who have got up to walk away with their wrist strap still connected to an immovable object :)
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Me :p

People saying "Ataching your wrist band to the case will ground you".
Not necceseraly, the only way to that is have the power cord connected to the psu with the psu turned off.
 
*raises hand* oh man I've done that time after time, Whenever a pc case is open I generally think of nothing other than the hardware, kind of like the effect women should have on me, oh well. A geek I am
 
Fledge said:
I'm sorry can you explain exactly what this means? :)
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A PSU is in contact with the metal of a PC case, which is in turn connected to the earth in the PSU which, when plugged into the mains, is connected to the earth for your house.

If your PSU is plugged into the wall - but not switched on at the wall! - you can earth yourself by touching the metal parts of your case.

The problem with touching taps or radiators, you can't always guarantee you are earthed - unless you know ALL the pipes leading from said radiator/tap are conductive and go into the ground. In newer houses you tend to get a lot of PVC pipes used so you can't just assume.

You could use an anti-static stap around your foot maybe... not as annoying as attached to your hand, but far more hilarious should you leg it after a small child and forget it is attached to you! :)
 
Whenever I'm doing anything with my PC I just touch the bottom pipe of a nearby radiator and see myself as good to go :p As long as I'm not wearing something that will create extra static, you should be fine :)
 
Gotta remember with static is that its unpredictable. You might live in a house with nylon carpets and zap stuff just by looking at it!. Your own body could be a factor, dry V oily skin, how salty , varying levels of conductanct etc.

There are people who build computers without using antistatic protection who will poo poo the use of wristbands, but if your the unlucky one and you dump a massive static discharge into hundreds of pounds of new computer gear, your gonna be pretty annoyed.

Me personally, I build my PC's with a mains cord plugged into the PSU, and just keep touching the case (which is earthed via the PSU to the ring main), but for the sake of a couple of pounds, you can get a wriststrap with a long enough cable to clip onto an earthed radiator.

PS if you use the radiator trick, its a good thing to know if you are truely earthed... a lot of heating pipework in the floors and ceilings are PVC these days with just copper tails where they visibly connect to the radiators. These are not always earth bonded anyway, some may be bonded, but its not part of building regs in every situation.
 
Chrismk said:
Hands up all those who have got up to walk away with their wrist strap still connected to an immovable object :)
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Me, except the item was a little less immovable afterwards - oops.

As for wrist straps, I've never worn one at home and never had any problems just grabbing the earthed case just before starting.
At work, I use a proper strap connecting to specific points in the datacentre floor - and I'll kick the butt of anyone I see not using one.
 
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Never used an earth strap in my life and have yet to kill anything.
I find just touching the case every now and then during a build is enougth to discharge your self of anything potentialy component killing.
Having said that, your individual mileage may vary and I take no responsability if you fry you new i7 975 by following this advice :p
 
SiriusB said:
The problem with touching taps or radiators, you can't always guarantee you are earthed - unless you know ALL the pipes leading from said radiator/tap are conductive and go into the ground. In newer houses you tend to get a lot of PVC pipes used so you can't just assume.
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Corasik said:
PS if you use the radiator trick, its a good thing to know if you are truely earthed... a lot of heating pipework in the floors and ceilings are PVC these days with just copper tails where they visibly connect to the radiators. These are not always earth bonded anyway, some may be bonded, but its not part of building regs in every situation.
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Good points, and one i forgot to mention in my original post (which is odd considering my plumber's penchant for disconnecting my earths whenever he does work on my heating :/.) - and as the majority of us use this interim method before our PSU's are locked into place it's a point worth highlighting.

Additional: Useful article Huddy. BTW, did you make a decision on the i7 build?
 
Fledge said:
When grounded doing to Socket>PSU>Case thing do you just keep your footon the case or what? :)
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If you had bare feet you could - i've done something similar to this but i just rested the side of my leg/foot periodically onto the case (i will stress i was dressed - it was summer and i shorts on. I don't have some wierd fetish for building rigs in my underwear. ;))

Or you can keep it on the surface your working on and periodically touch it - as it's far more convenient than getting up and touching a radiator and guaranteed to be earthed.
 
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