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How to avoid static when building pc?

I

IgsTer

n00b
Joined
Nov 18, 2006
Messages
32
hey guys..

ive been looking around internet the past few days for tips on how to avoid static when putting your pc together..ive heard alot of different storys and not sure which one would be the best to go with..

for example some people say to plug the powersupply in but turn off at wall and the switch on psu..and then just touch the psu case every so often?

some other people say you just gotta touch the inside of pc case every so often..but not sure how this works as the case isnt touching any grounded source its just a steel case on a tabletop..?

ill be putting my first build together next weekend and just want to make sure i dont shock anything and break it..

ill be working on a tile/wooden table top and ill prob jus were cotton and work in my barefeet (not sure if it makes a difference but would i be grounded to the ground in my bare feet?)

so is there any perfect safe way of avoiding static when building ..will touching the pc case every so often actually work even if there isnt a psu inside? and would that not spread the shock through out the case and into the motherboard?

thanks
 
Plug the powersupply in but turn off at wall and the switch on psu..and then just touch the psu case every so often.
 
turn off at the wall? just turn off the PSU switch, but keep the power cable plugged in (to both the wall and psu)... then touch the psu every so often. I recommend testing everything outside of the case before installing it all in there. Here's a guide:

http://www.mechbgon.com/build/index.html
 
The best thing you can do is get an anti-static wrist strap if your so concerned.
 
javisaman said:
The best thing you can do is get an anti-static wrist strap if your so concerned.
Click to expand...

QFT.

While grounding yourself on the computer case is a viable method, it's not foolproof like a static strap is.
If you don't want to get one though, there are steps you can take, like not working on carpet, and keeping items in their static bags until you're ready to install them
 
I would leave the PSU plugged in at the wall but turned off and touch the PC case every so often to remove static.
The PSU should be mounted in the PC case.

You can use the switch on the PSU to turn it off or turn it off at the wall socket, either will suffice as they both leave the earth connection intact.
 
Don't assume that touching a case will ground you. You have to touch bare metal or a surface that is coated with a conductive material. Some aluminum cases (e.g. Lian-Li) are covered with an insulating clear coat on the outside. Some paints used on cases or power supplies are insulating.

If you have a VOM, test the conductivity before you rely on it.

A wrist strap is a good idea - at $5-$10, you can't go too wrong. I made up a simple ground line - a length of lamp cord attached to the ground pin of a three prong plug at one end with a lug at the other end. Plug the thing into the wall socket and attach the wrist strap/anti-static mat/etc to the lug at the other. This avoids any issues about whether or not to plug in the power supply just to provide a ground.
 
Michael Daly said:
I made up a simple ground line - a length of lamp cord attached to the ground pin of a three prong plug at one end with a lug at the other end. Plug the thing into the wall socket
Click to expand...

Jee, I would end up killing myself somehow. :eek:

But anyway killing components with static is less than it is made out to be.
 
My habit is to just touch the screw on the faceplate of a electrical outlet to discharge any static electricity I may have built up.
 
The problem with static is that the damage it does cannot be seen until the device malfunctions or stops working.
If you ever have a spark go to a sensitive component, you can be sure that some part of it will have a shorter lifespan or will be dead!
It is a very real problem that should be taken seriously.
You are relying on luck if you dont take good anti static precautions.


Some more ways to help prevent static:

Take your shoes off or wear leather soled shoes.
Removing your socks will help ground you better too.
Dont work on a carpet, especially long pile ones.
Wear cotton clothes, no nylons etc.

You shouldnt need to do any of the above if every time you move you touch an earthed piece of metal. If you cannot guarantee that you will do that, it wont hurt to employ a few extra precautions, they dont cost anything.
 
cheers guys...

yeah i do plan on working in my bare feet and cotton clothes..the table is tile and wood and the floor is tiled so im guessign there wont be many static creators there then?

i might get one of them wrist strap things..but not sure what to connect it to..ive heard a radiator? but all mine are painted will that still work?

if not can i clip it onto the inside of case somehwere while the psu is installed but not turned on at switch and then the case will be grounded because the psu is, with the plug in it..will touching the psu shell still work even if it is painted over like most psu's are..perspecifically the corsair 620 as its the psu im getting :) ive just heard it has to be bare metal?

sorry if im asking alot of questions..but ive being saving up for a while to get this pc and dont want to accidently damage the components :(

thanks
 
Use the computer case as a leg rest. :D

I don't really worry about static anymore. I've actually pulled my video card a few times while on a carpet, with socks on, and worked on it. I do still touch the case every now and then... but where I live, it is very humid, so static likely will not build up on me.

I'd only worry about static on dry cold winter days.
 
IgsTer said:
cheers guys...

yeah i do plan on working in my bare feet and cotton clothes..the table is tile and wood and the floor is tiled so im guessign there wont be many static creators there then?

i might get one of them wrist strap things..but not sure what to connect it to..ive heard a radiator? but all mine are painted will that still work?

if not can i clip it onto the inside of case somehwere while the psu is installed but not turned on at switch and then the case will be grounded because the psu is, with the plug in it..will touching the psu shell still work even if it is painted over like most psu's are..perspecifically the corsair 620 as its the psu im getting :) ive just heard it has to be bare metal?

sorry if im asking alot of questions..but ive being saving up for a while to get this pc and dont want to accidently damage the components :(

thanks
Click to expand...

Always make contact with bare metal to be sure of dispersing static fully.
You can clip to either the PSU, a screw attached to the psu or the PC case if the PSU is screwed to it (and plugged in).
 
alri i see...so either attach the aligator clip to a screw on psu, the psu itself or the inside of case once the psu is in it and plugged in but switched off on the back?

from the looks of the psu here: http://www.legitreviews.com/images/reviews/371/corsair_620HX.jpg

i cant really see anywere to clip onto or even a screw..will i have to install this in the case first,plug it in and switch off at back to be sure i discharge static? does it matter that the psu is not bare metal?

how about the fan grill?

http://www.pcstats.com/articleimages/200611/corsairHX620W_pspc.jpg
 
IgsTer said:
i cant really see anywere to clip onto or even a screw..
Click to expand...

The power supply screws into the case. Just take a case screw and thread it into the PSU - then attach to that screw. You don't have to put the PSU in the case to do that.
 
lamboman said:
Bare metal part of the case, PSU, faceplates, anti static wrist strap, and gloves like these: http://kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_7314.html are all good ones. The last two are safer, but static is really quite overrated.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Unless you've invented a Dr. Seussian device to rub inflated balloons in your hair and on every bit of clothing you're wearing as you build your system, it's unlikely that you're going to build up and discharge enough to do anything.
 
I just work barefoot and use a wrist strap. I never had issues without the strap before (but I did have some components die mysteriously...) but got it for a brand new build for my fiancee. Her rig is working flawlessly (except for AOL...she insists on AOL for chatting). My Earthlink DSL/WRT54G Router combo on the other hand...
 
lol i see...thanks lads..

im planning on getting a wrist strap and then connecting that to a screw that goes into psu...and will probably touch fan grill,screw and case every so often just in case..

if i dont manage to get a strap ill just keep one hand on screw/case etc and maybe quickly install motherboard in case which is a two hand job so not to build up to much static..

would it be good idea to use anti static bags the components come in as sort of gloves when installing the motherboard ram etc lol just the idea came to me there..like id think that no static could come from my hands then through the bag to the component?
 
With just a wrist strap you will be fine, no need for other precautions.
It is still best not to wear nylons though in case charged cloth touches a component.
 
yeah i know but what if the wrist strap isnt grounded properly :(

im planning on working on tile...barefoot adn cotton tshirt and trousers so hopefully that might bring the chances down of shocking something :)
 
I will be putting my HTPC together next week. I am planning on getting a wrist strap. My main concern is my best light is at a wooden table where it sits on carpet. It is the berber type carpet.

Should I get a temporary light and move off of the carpeting?
 
If its easy to build somwhere safer then you might as well do it.
With a wrist strap permanently attached and clothes that dont charge with static you will be fine though.

I've worked in a few electronics labs where the criteria was to wear a cotton overall and a wrist strap.
If you can accomplish at least that you will be ok.

When you dont have a wrist strap, you need to take extra care.
 
Heh, a recent lab I visited made you wear an anklet type thing, that had a wire going into your sock, and the other end went under your shoe's heel -- talk about being grounded... :rolleyes:
 
I saw something like that for sale at an electronic parts shop the other day. Not much more expensive than a wrist strap.

That is a useful option if you find a wrist strap (or rather the wire connected to it) annoying when building. Just don't forget and walk away while attached.

I guess standing barefoot on an ESD pad should work in a similar manner.
 
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