Making my own computer for the first time, what's an anti-static bracelet? Grounded wrist strap?

[jojellybean]

Before I do anything, my first step was to install the I/O Panel on Motherboard and then the motherboard, etc.

What does electrostatic discharge and grounding mean?

I'm really new to this stuff and realize there is physics involved.

Thank you, God bless. - Jo

 

[BumbleBee]

ever touch a knob and shock yourself?

touch some bare metal to ground yourself before handling the components. you don't need a bracelet.

 

[eidairaman1]

Static electricity is ESD. This means you can zap computer parts if you're not careful. A ground strap maintains an equal electrical optential between you and the parts you're working on. Since you're a beginner I'd go get one of those straps.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_discharge

 

[RCoon]

Poke a radiator before you handle components. All central heating radiators are grounded as standard. Plus in 2014 causing static charge and actually damaging any component is so unlikely, I've literally never heard of it happen since the 90's.

 

[Asylum]

Yea, if you just touch your case before you touch your parts you should be fine.

 

[buildzoid]

I just touch the ground of the power outlet before I touch anything

 

[Jetster]

Only necessary in very dry climates. If there is any participation at all there is no static. But in very cool below freezing and with heat on in the house it can be dry also. But touch a faucet or pipe

If your new there are a lot of things people do that are wrong that are very common. Read a lot and watch youtube for examples. One would be bending the CPU pins on an Intel socket. Another is completely assembling a PC and then hitting the power button and nothing happens. Test boot before you get to far into a build. I like to bench test parts to see a POST before I assemble it. Outside the case with MB CPU Heatsink, one stick ram and video

 

[micropage7]

dont forget to check and recheck, since you may miss something and give it more time

 

[EarthDog]

Just touch your case to normalize the potential before you start (after getting up and sitting back down)...or if the PSU is plugged in and mounted to the case, it grounds you.

 

[GhostRyder]

You do not need one in general as touching a PSU, case (Steel), or even like a door knob is enough to discharge any built up in your body. Best way to avoid any potential build up is to do this on a table on a hard floor and just touch the PSU before touching anything.

I don't wear one touching anything of mine.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Never wear socks on carpet when dealing with electronics. Either wear shoes or barefoot. Also, make sure the environment you are working in isn't so dry that static is constantly accumulating.

I have an Ideal Stat-Gard but rarely use it. They seem to not be available anywhere anymore. If you can find something similar, they are the best way to ground yourself because they tell you if the outlet you're about to touch is wired correctly. That's the best device I've ever used for finding bad wiring in a house too.

 

[EarthDog]

Never? I always do...LOL! No wrist band... just normalize/ground yourself before after you shuffled your charged self over there. Would it be better to not? Surely. Never is so... never.

Its just called using your head. You don't need a wrist band, you dont need a wrist band that plugs into a wall (more $?)

 

[Easy Rhino]

Remember to wait an hour after fapping for the static to discharge before touching any components.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

IMO focus and common sense is far better that tying yourself to a wrist bracelet. What happens if you forget to use it?

As has been mentioned, just get in the habit of touching your case first. Also, save those anti-static bags to lay things on when assembling MB parts, HDD rails, etc, before putting them in the case.

Also, avoid doing it on carpet if possible. There's more chance for static and dust. I have carpet in my living room, but always do my assembly in my kitchen under a bright florescent light while standing on linoleum.

One option I highly recommend which I've found to be useful is taking your fans out first when they're brand new and giving the inside of their housing and the fan blades a light coat of ArmorAll. Just a small amount rubbed into the plastic thoroughly, then wiped dry, keeps them very slick and more resistant to dust clinging. The dust will blow or wipe off a LOT easier.

MAKE SURE you spray a small amount on a rag, NOT on the fans. One little spot on the corner of a rag, then rubbed into it so it won't drip. This takes a little while but is not hard when parts are new and clean, and can save a lot of tough cleaning on down the road.

 

[EarthDog]

Also, save those anti-static bags to lay things on when assembling MB parts, HDD rails, etc, before putting them in the case.

I thought they were cheap faraday cages...meaning on the inside, all good, outside, not. Things need to be INSIDE the bag for it to work.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

I thought they were cheap faraday cages...meaning on the inside, all good, outside, not. Things need to be INSIDE the bag for it to work.

Possibly, don't know how they're all made, but most seem to have the grid on the plastic, so that may be the primary way they work. I'm 57 though so I also recall the days when everybody played music on vinyl, which was very static prone, and lots of people were selling, buying and using anti static felt pads you'd lay under the records, which were infused with something to combat it. And they certainly didn't surround the record. And that was a LONG time ago. I would think by now there'd be even better anti static substances , and even more materials you could infuse with it.

 

[EarthDog]

It needs to be inside the bag... be it a conductive or dissipative bag.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

It needs to be inside the bag... be it a conductive or dissipative bag.

May be true, I don't know, but I do know as I said they could be made the way I described, and I'm not positive some aren't. If they can make anti-static dryer sheets so cheap, I would think putting some anti-static substance into the plastic such bags are made of would be too.

All I can say is I've never seen those bags cling to anything. They don't seem to attract static. So there may be more to them than just shielding it s an enclosure.

 

[EarthDog]

I agree with your line of thinking, however the internets are confirming what I remember hearing/seeing.

From my home site..: http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php/558358-DO-NOT-place-Items-on-Anti-Static-Bags!!
Google results: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&es_th=1&ie=UTF-8#q=how does an anti static bag work

EDIT: After further reading, there are some out there that can be anti-static on the outside. the problem is how to identify such bags... and with that, I go back to 'put it inside the bag' to be sure.
http://electronics.stackexchange.co...ags-have-conductive-interior-exterior-or-both

 

[chuck216]

What it is is totally unnecessary and a waste of money, I've worked on literally hundreds of systems and never had a problem with static damaging components. As long as the PSU is unplugged and off and you touch the case occasionally you'll never have a problem.

 

[EarthDog]

As long as the PSU is unplugged and off and you touch the case occasionally you'll never have a problem.

PSU can be plugged in... that would make the entire case a ground instead of simply normalizing potential.

 

[chuck216]

PSU can be plugged in... that would make the entire case a ground instead of simply normalizing potential.

NEVER work on a system... meaning installing components with the PSU plugged in. Too much of a risk of shock to yourself, which is a far different thing than damage to the system from static.

 

[EarthDog]

Sorry, let me clarify... PSU can be plugged in but needs to be OFF. To avoid a dumb mistake by leaving it on, though I have done that dozens of times on builds/breakdowns, unplug it.

 

[chuck216]

Sorry, let me clarify... PSU can be plugged in but needs to be OFF. To avoid a dumb mistake by leaving it on, though I have done that dozens of times on builds/breakdowns, unplug it.

There's still current going through it when it's off, better to be unplugged. Just my humble opinion , better safe than sorry.

 

[EarthDog]

The risk of electrocution is negligible versus the chance of killing your equipment by slotting it while the power is on... I guess we will agree to disagree.