Grounding myself/ESD

robduckyworth · Apr 29, 2011

So having recieved all my parts, I am about to start the build.

However i have heard conflicting advice about grounding.

Some people are saying

- Just attach your wristband to your case, and you will be fine

or

- Attach it to the PSU while plugged in.

How do I stay grounded most effectively? the case I have has rubber feet, will that be of an adverse effect?

i am performing the upgrade in a carpeted room, but on top of a wooden desk.

hope to hear some of your advice soon

BrianLachoreVPI · Apr 29, 2011

Wearing an ESD strap is a good idea but just attaching it to the case won't guarantee a discharge unless the case is grounded. Technically - you want the strap connected to a ground point with a clear path to earth ground. Practically - you just want to ensure that you and the objects you're handling are at the same potential. In reality - most of what you're handling as part of building a PC probably isn't the worst case ESD sensitivity you can encounter - so discharging yourself before you handle them is probably just fine.

robduckyworth · Apr 29, 2011

cheers brian, so how would i ground the case then?

cwa107 · Apr 29, 2011

robduckyworth said:
cheers brian, so how would i ground the case then?

If the case has a preinstalled power supply, simply plug it into the mains. It doesn't have to be switched on or even connected. It should be grounded directly to your home's own ground (assuming your house is properly grounded, of course!).

To be quite honest, however, in the spring/summer time when ambient humidity is relatively high, this is mostly a non-issue. But if you want to be extra, super cautious, that's the way to do it.

robduckyworth · Apr 29, 2011

cwa107 said:
If the case has a preinstalled power supply, simply plug it into the mains. It doesn't have to be switched on or even connected. It should be grounded directly to your home's own ground (assuming your house is properly grounded, of course!).

To be quite honest, however, in the spring/summer time when ambient humidity is relatively high, this is mostly a non-issue. But if you want to be extra, super cautious, that's the way to do it.

haha, well i think ill just connect it to my case then. I would have to install the PSU, and i would rather do that after the motherboard is installed.

hopefully everything works out. (want to get started but Amazon are taking ages to deliver my RAM, due to the RW) :Angry:

BrianLachoreVPI · Apr 29, 2011

I have nothing of value to add - CWA gave the same answer I would have - which was simply plug your power supply into the wall - assuming it's already connected to your chassis. Just take some common sense precautions and you'll be fine. Don't shuffle your feet over the carpet - or have one hand on a van de graaff just before rubbing your hands all over the processor.

Besides, as much as it rains over there I'm pretty sure noone has ever suffered a static shock.

Stretch · Apr 29, 2011

The carpet may be your biggest enemy right now. If possible, I'd recommend not doing in on carpet, or putting something like a sheet of wood over the carpet where you will be working.

cwa107 · Apr 29, 2011

robduckyworth said:
haha, well i think ill just connect it to my case then. I would have to install the PSU, and i would rather do that after the motherboard is installed.

Is the case that tight? Usually I put the PSU in first - mostly because I'm extremely neurotic about cable routing, and the PSU cables tend to be all over the place. So, I tuck them in and wire tie them even before the motherboard goes in. I usually use a mid-tower, so there's usually plenty of room to work regardless of whether the PSU is there or not.

Click to expand...

robduckyworth · Apr 30, 2011

cwa107 said:
robduckyworth said:

haha, well i think ill just connect it to my case then. I would have to install the PSU, and i would rather do that after the motherboard is installed.

Is the case that tight? Usually I put the PSU in first - mostly because I'm extremely neurotic about cable routing, and the PSU cables tend to be all over the place. So, I tuck them in and wire tie them even before the motherboard goes in. I usually use a mid-tower, so there's usually plenty of room to work regardless of whether the PSU is there or not.

Click to expand...

well it is a mid tower case, its just that the PSU is in the top, not the bottom. i thought that might be a bit more of a pain, getting in the way of installing the motherboard. However it is non modular, you might be right, could be a PITA to manage the cables afterwards.

So the general consensus is to not do it in a carpeted room? I could probably move the build downstairs to the conservatory, which is a plastic tiled room. sound good? The only issue with the conservatory is that there is no power connections in there.

Click to expand...

TattooedMac · Apr 30, 2011

Rob just dont drag your feet and do the High Knee Lift Walk and you should be fine. Either that ground the wrist band by putting a piece of Elec Wire from it straight down to the ground. 2m long with the end void of the plastic and you cant go wrong. . . . . Just do the high knee walk and you will be cheering

Cheers

robduckyworth · May 1, 2011

TattooedMac said:
Rob just dont drag your feet and do the High Knee Lift Walk and you should be fine. Either that ground the wrist band by putting a piece of Elec Wire from it straight down to the ground. 2m long with the end void of the plastic and you cant go wrong. . . . . Just do the high knee walk and you will be cheering

Cheers

haha sounds a little bit like the hokey cokey

thanks for the advice mate. gonna start the build tonight, i will post back tommorrow with the results

harryb2448 · May 1, 2011

You is showing your youth Rob - that is the hokey pokey my lad! Unless you got some of that ground up white powdery stuff?

Have always out of practicality connected wrist strap to the frame of the computer, and the advice on carpets is good - particularly if you have nylon carpet. My office has dressed and lacquered timber flooring for this, and ease of sliding around in office chair!

robduckyworth · May 1, 2011

ended up doing it in the conservatory, after all the carpet advice. also did it in just my pants, cause it was too hot, and i was so paranoid about static.

all the components are installed now, just doing some cable management then I will let you see the beast

BrianLachoreVPI · May 1, 2011

Looking forward to seeing some benchmarks along with those pics

robduckyworth · May 1, 2011

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/other-hardware-peripherals/237094-well-here.html#post1227934