Static electricity...
- Thread starter zer
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No to latex, like rich says, just make sure you ground yourself before handling the components; touching a radiator or the pc case if the PSU is plugged in for example. And don't tap dance whilst wearing socks on your carpet whilst doing it and you'll be fine.
I was about to say that one - I've got a jacket and a pair of trackie bottoms that static me up like nobody's business. Wear jeans and a t-shirt, touch the case regularly and, if possible, make it in a room with a stone/wood/lino floor.
Personally I use a wristband when messing with the CPU/motherboard/memory. I know it might not be necessary, but when there's even the slightest risk of me buggering up £300 worth of electricals I go with "better safe than sorry".
Personally I use a wristband when messing with the CPU/motherboard/memory. I know it might not be necessary, but when there's even the slightest risk of me buggering up £300 worth of electricals I go with "better safe than sorry".
Generally static isn't an issue if you take basic precautions, touching the radiator, don't wear clothes that generate static like fleeces or man made fibres, and most definitely no tap dancing on the carpet in socks!
As for using a wristband, you don't have to do it provided your sensible but they are not expensive and how much is peace of mind worth to you?
As for using a wristband, you don't have to do it provided your sensible but they are not expensive and how much is peace of mind worth to you?
Associate
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static is bad 
but yea, i think there a waste of cash. just touch the frame of them pc
but yea, i think there a waste of cash. just touch the frame of them pc
Some people have a slightly different body chemistry / electrical resistance, and can build up higher levels of static than average, and the clothes you wear (especially the soles of your shoes/boots) can make a massive difference. Thing is with static, you can cause microscopic damage which has no obvious effect, but can reduce the lifespan of the equipment, or reduce its potential for overclock.
Wristbands are cheap, and reduce the chance of a low level static shock causing small amounts of damage.
BTW, Touching a radiator is a very bad choice, many radiators these days have plastic piping under the floors, and is only copper piped where the runs are visible. If the rad is plastic piped, and doesnt have an earth strap it wont help at all!. Also the paint on most white radiators is a good enough insulator that you wont lose the static charge, so if your gonna take the radiator method and you know your house pipes are copper, and earthed, then touch the copper pipes, not the radiator. (and be carefull in winter, those pipes can be very hot.. that should cover me against injury claims!
).
The best way to be sure of a clean earth is from the earth pin on the mains, so having the PSU installed, and plugged into the mains (with the main switch on the wall OFF) you have a good earth, and that earth will be available anywhere on the metal frame of the PC, and its safe enough. (To be honest your safe with the mains on too, unless you are actually opening up the PSU.
Wristbands are cheap, and reduce the chance of a low level static shock causing small amounts of damage.
BTW, Touching a radiator is a very bad choice, many radiators these days have plastic piping under the floors, and is only copper piped where the runs are visible. If the rad is plastic piped, and doesnt have an earth strap it wont help at all!. Also the paint on most white radiators is a good enough insulator that you wont lose the static charge, so if your gonna take the radiator method and you know your house pipes are copper, and earthed, then touch the copper pipes, not the radiator. (and be carefull in winter, those pipes can be very hot.. that should cover me against injury claims!
).The best way to be sure of a clean earth is from the earth pin on the mains, so having the PSU installed, and plugged into the mains (with the main switch on the wall OFF) you have a good earth, and that earth will be available anywhere on the metal frame of the PC, and its safe enough. (To be honest your safe with the mains on too, unless you are actually opening up the PSU.
Soldato
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make sure you're not wearing a fleece of some sort either, cause those give you static like nobody's business
Oddly just started to notice major static form my North Face Fleece, only in the last couple of days....weird!
Soldato
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Have the PC plugged in but turned off at the wall. And just earth yourself by touching the inside of the case.
Man of Honour
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Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
Static electricity is a build up of electrical charges on a person which is caused by an imbalance of electrons on the surface of a material. For example, if you walk over a wooden floor with rubber soled trainers, you will pick up a voltage gradient each time you handle some charged object. You may pickup several hundred volts each time this occurs until the static is discharged, giving a shock to the individual or damaging a static sensitive device. This is known as Electrostatic Discharge.
One thing to bear in mind is that if a device receives an ESD charge, it might not fail immediately. This is the fact that the effects of ESD are not felt right away but over time get worse. This is known as hidden ESD.
There are some simple ESD precautions that you take to help discharge the static before handling any equipment and there are a number of gadgets and devices that can help eliminate the effects of ESD whilst maintaining your PC:
ESD wrist straps
Anti-static wrist straps are designed to filter out static and discharge static safely. A 1 mega-ohm cable is connected from you to the an earth ground, usually the earth pin on a normal wall socket. Make sure that only the earth plug is connected. The other two pins should be plastic.
Anti-Static Mat
Mats work the same way as the wrist straps. Components are placed on the mat and static safely discharged. The mat is also attached to earth ground as above.
Anti-Static Spray
Supposedly removes static effectively from clothing but not as affective as above.
Anti-Static bags
Used for long term storage for anti-static precautions. When working with components, leave in bag for as long as possible until needed.
Other Precautions
Dust and debris inside the case can also cause the hidden ESD effect. The dust holds a small electric charge which eventually begin to degrade the performance of internal components. Make sure the inside of your case is cleaned periodically using a vacuum (use plastic attachments only) and a compressed air can to remove the dust.
You may think that taking Anti Static Precautions sound like being a little paranoid and over precautious but have you ever had a shock when touching something metal when static is discharged? Now imagine what that will do to your nice new CPU. Are you really going to take it to chance?
Static electricity is a build up of electrical charges on a person which is caused by an imbalance of electrons on the surface of a material. For example, if you walk over a wooden floor with rubber soled trainers, you will pick up a voltage gradient each time you handle some charged object. You may pickup several hundred volts each time this occurs until the static is discharged, giving a shock to the individual or damaging a static sensitive device. This is known as Electrostatic Discharge.
One thing to bear in mind is that if a device receives an ESD charge, it might not fail immediately. This is the fact that the effects of ESD are not felt right away but over time get worse. This is known as hidden ESD.
There are some simple ESD precautions that you take to help discharge the static before handling any equipment and there are a number of gadgets and devices that can help eliminate the effects of ESD whilst maintaining your PC:
ESD wrist straps
Anti-static wrist straps are designed to filter out static and discharge static safely. A 1 mega-ohm cable is connected from you to the an earth ground, usually the earth pin on a normal wall socket. Make sure that only the earth plug is connected. The other two pins should be plastic.
Anti-Static Mat
Mats work the same way as the wrist straps. Components are placed on the mat and static safely discharged. The mat is also attached to earth ground as above.
Anti-Static Spray
Supposedly removes static effectively from clothing but not as affective as above.
Anti-Static bags
Used for long term storage for anti-static precautions. When working with components, leave in bag for as long as possible until needed.
Other Precautions
Dust and debris inside the case can also cause the hidden ESD effect. The dust holds a small electric charge which eventually begin to degrade the performance of internal components. Make sure the inside of your case is cleaned periodically using a vacuum (use plastic attachments only) and a compressed air can to remove the dust.
You may think that taking Anti Static Precautions sound like being a little paranoid and over precautious but have you ever had a shock when touching something metal when static is discharged? Now imagine what that will do to your nice new CPU. Are you really going to take it to chance?
Associate
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still dont think its truely needed, unless your in a rush, just take your time and make sure to ground yourself regularly
Permabanned
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+1 for what Huddy posted
I have worked in the Electronics industry for over 17 years , and yes ESD does kill stuff
Our company spends over 50,000 per year on ESD stuff Alone , companies do
not spend that type of money just for a giggle.
And remember Kids it can take a while for the damage to actually manifest itself
I have worked in the Electronics industry for over 17 years , and yes ESD does kill stuff
Our company spends over 50,000 per year on ESD stuff Alone , companies do
not spend that type of money just for a giggle.
And remember Kids it can take a while for the damage to actually manifest itself