Where can I get an anti static strap?

Plenty of real shops sell them but we can't recommend any beyond saying try your local computer store or electronic parts retailer. Common sense should tell you where to find them really. :)

That said I have never bothered with one and my PCs all appear to be fine so far (probably about 8 years worth of building PCs). Touch a radiator or something earthed beforehand and you shouldn't find static electricity a problem.
 
So before I start building my computer I should just touch a radiator for a few seconds? Shall I wear my slippers or only socks or be bare footed? The floor is carpeted
 
just touch the metal on your case or a radiator or something and its not needed. not sure about the other stuff but ive just always touched metal before working on my pc and its fine.
 
i build my computer on a table in my dinning room (on stone floor) no electric applicances in area so fairly static free and also have the psu plugged in but turned off. never had a problem
 
As above; connect psu into the wall but have it switched off. Touching it will ground you.
 
Duke said:
As above; connect psu into the wall but have it switched off. Touching it will ground you.
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Unlike the Americans who most likely started off using them for building home pc's, we have a handy solution already connected to our plugs, so I'd say you need to bother with one and just touch a radiator pipe or the case before hand.
 
Static scares me when building a pc. I've not had any problems but I try to eliminate all possibilities by doing it in my kitchen (stone floor).

How does an anti-static strap work?
 
Ecl said:
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How does an anti-static strap work?
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It works buy connecting you to a permanent earth.
ie. from your wrist to an anti-static pole, or radiator (assuming that your central heating is correctly earthed and uses copper pipes - not the new plastic ones !!!
Or you can connect the power supply (as already mentioned), making sure it is plugged in but switched off. Then just connect the other end of the wrist strap to your case...
 
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Yes, basically you rubbing your slippers on the the carpet creates static.

So it is advised to earth your self before touching components.
 
Don't worry about it mate. Don't get wearing scooting along with your nylon slippers on and you'll be fine.
 
We use them in our work shop, this is to abide by health and safety, rules of etc.

But we paid over £100 for them, we do have the smaller ones which are 50x60 which i think we got from ******s lol but they are nothing compared to the big boys :)
 
A static strap clipped to the inner of your case while the PSU is plugged into the mains (and off at the mains). (As already mentioned, touching something like a radiator before you start is always advisable).

Barefoot is best, better able to ground yourself and those socks can pick up a pile of static. Walking around a house can pick up tens of thousands of volts quite quickly.

DON'T WALK AROUND holding the components, but that's the only real risk you'll face.
 
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