anti static wriststrap replacement?

[haxereth]

I am wondering if I can use an static shielding bag my HDD came in as a replacement for anti static wriststraps. Would that work?

 

[erocker]

Sure. Or just wear a watch, touch the side of the case. Antistatic wrist wraps are just gimmicks.

 

[Kreij]

What are you trying to do, work in your case?
If so all you need to do is leave it plugged in (but turned off) and keep one hand on the frame.
That will ground you.

Anti-static wrist straps are only necessary if there is no other way to ground yourself.

 

[HossHuge]

In my science class the other day I lit a 13 watt light bulb with static from a comb.

 

[Kreij]

If you rub your feet fast enough on shag carpetting, you don't need a power supply for your rig.

 

[ShiBDiB]

Sure. Or just wear a watch, touch the side of the case. Antistatic wrist wraps are just gimmicks.

this


if i saw some1 using one while building a pc id laugh at them

 

[haxereth]

well I think the inside of my case is painted (Sniper Storm) as the inside is black... And wait so I DON'T unplug the power supply from the wall? I've always unplugged it in the past.. And would any watch do?

 

[erocker]

Just touch anything metal. Unless you're rubbing your feet/socks on the carpet and trying to build up static, there's nothing to be concerned with. I build computers on my carpet all the time. I personally would never leave my computer plugged in. Heck, I usually put the PSU in last anyways.

 

[Beertintedgoggles]

sure i've built and worked on many pc's without ever wearing a wrist strap but don't say they are just gimmicks. I've worked on the motors that are going on the next Mars rover and the motor controllers could be blown with just 40V (seemed pretty low but that's what the JPL guys were saying). In the summer months it's not so important but in the winter with dryer weather you might save yourself a headache (very rarely will you kill something though). Just by touching some ground point is really all you need; however, anti-static straps will usually have a 1 Mega Ohm resistor in the cord so that if the card you pick up already has a higher potential charge to it, it will slowly dissipate the charge through you/the strap/the cord. If you didn't have the resistor then you could still potentially have a large drain current through yourself (holding onto the card) to ground. Most of the time this won't happen since your skin has a few thousand ohms of resistance which can still vary from a few hundred ohms to a few mega ohms.

resistance_of_human_skin

Edit: unless your watch has a wire connecting itself to ground it won't do a damn thing for static

 

[Kreij]

Leaving the case plugged in gives it a connection to earth ground.
You need to be touching something that is bare metal (a screw will do) so that you too are connected to that ground.
I would not use a watch. Jewelry and electronics do not mix well.

 

[Black Panther]

I never used an antistatic strap. Whenever I work on a pc I make sure I've got one hand on the case and either my bare feet or knee on the tiled floor just in case. I've done work on carpeted floors as well in which case I touch the stone wall.

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

I build outside on the grass to get maximum ground connectivity. I have never killed a component to static. I have seen static discharge only once, when I was fiddling with an older computer in the dark. Although the static did not kill the card immediately, I have a feeling that the static reduced the life. A capacitor blew out a month later. Coincidence? I think not!

 

[pantherx12]

If you really want the peace of mind grab yourself some copper wire tie a bit round yourself and another bit to a ground.

Works the same.

 

[Widjaja]

I just rub the top of my case before doing anything......most of the time......

We have loads of anti static wrist straps at work....no one uses them as the are annoying.

Only one who really needs to use it is the boss as he is the only one who has made PCs die by touching the components.

 

[ShiBDiB]

You could also jus build ur computer in a vacuum bubble...

 

[hellrazor]

Yeah, I always seem to have a static charge on me (probably why I have so many computer problems ) so I ground myself all I can.

On a slightly related note, back in the day my dad went around the house making each of us hold both wires from a multimeter (one in each hand) and my volts were backwards (at least from everybody else).

 

[TheLaughingMan]

This is obviously your first or second build. After you get a few under your belt you will realize the possibility of static shock damaging anything is very, very, very small. And not risking it is always a smart thing, it is not a big deal.

 

[Delta6326]

plan out you don't need one, i don't use them i don't even think about shocking anything i just build the computer, i highly doubt it would fry a chip, i on purpose stand on carpet, and i have rubbed my feet on ground no shock and all computers still working. for real

 

[scaminatrix]

I've never even given static a second thought, and I've never broken anything.
Although, when I worked at the Jobcentre, I worked with someone who used to kill PC's on a regular basis just by typing. The tech guy put it down to her being extra staticy, so she's now got a plastic cover on her keyboard and everything's been fine for years.
Strange.

 

[CDdude55]

Antistatic wrist wraps are just gimmicks.

Not when you've spent hundreds of dollars on computer parts. It's best to take as much precautions as possible imo.

 

[grunt_408]

I used one a long time ago. Now I just remember to ground myself first.

 

[overclocking101]

i always touch the case before anything. but other then that I have never had static problems ever. not saying it cant hppen but the likely hood is extremely low

 

[gerrynicol]

Guys, LOL, you may think you may not be doin any harm, unless your grounded there is always a chance,

10 points to who knows how much static needed to get a spark??

 

[_JP_]

I use a wrist strap when working on highly sensitive hardware, but mainly it's just for peace of mind and "just in case" situations. On my pc, sometimes I use it, when the clothing is nylon or static generating, but most of the times it's just hand on ground and the other on the case for a few seconds and off I go!

 

[haxereth]

This is obviously your first or second build. After you get a few under your belt you will realize the possibility of static shock damaging anything is very, very, very small. And not risking it is always a smart thing, it is not a big deal.

well it's actually my 4th or 5th but my 2nd build that is actually my own lol.. It's just because I need this computer really bad and I can't really risk anything, I'd buy a strap just to use it but the less expensive ones aren't at any store nearby... Well I'm about to finish building it (new processor came in a bit ago) so wish me luck. And thanks for all your answers.