Strap on, or no strap on?

Adam Tench

Adam Tench

Adam Tench

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Joined
1 Feb 2021
Posts
155
Location
Plymouth
I'm curious to know, should an anti static wrist strap be used when assembling a pc?

Those of you who do, what straps do you recommend?

Those who don't, why? What measures do you take to ensure static doesn't ruin your components?
 
linus tech tips did a good cover on this with electroboom to show it's not needed as much as people think. static from ourselves will at most short the pc and a reboot will fix it.
 
if you are worried use a strap.

If you are not worried don't.

I just touch the radiator before I start, never had an issue yet.
 
Dude, that thread title, seriously :o:D

I leave the PSU plugged in (off at switch) and touch that or the case, before messing around, minimising movement across the floor.
 
Jason1973 said:
if you are worried use a strap.

If you are not worried don't.

I just touch the radiator before I start, never had an issue yet.
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Touching a radiator isn't always going to do anything. They're often painted, and especially in newer houses, plastic pipework.
 
Tetras said:
Dude, that thread title, seriously :o:D

I leave the PSU plugged in (off at switch) and touch that or the case, before messing around, minimising movement across the floor.
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This. This is the type of reaction I expected to get haha. The topic though is serious. I'm interested to know as the last thing anyone wants is to ruin new PC parts
 
The risk of damage is pretty small, but you are messing with potentially thousands of pounds worth of gear, so it's silly not to wear a strap. Most modern hardware is protected against static but only so much. Hit it too hard and you can destroy it or even worse you can damage it and reduce it's lifetime without even knowing you've done it.
I wear a cheap bracelet, curly lead and plug myself in to the nearest socket.

iu
 
Mr Mcgoo said:
linus tech tips did a good cover on this with electroboom to show it's not needed as much as people think. static from ourselves will at most short the pc and a reboot will fix it.
Click to expand...
here's the issue - you would have to be very unlucky for esd to kill something immediately but you could be shortening the life span of any compenents exposed to it. LLT's video won't have been able to show this and i hope that he had the good sense to caveat that within his video?

there's always the risk that ssd that died early or that ram that packed up out of the blue could have been the result of the users 'staticky' mits pawing all over them.
 
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