Cordless wrist strap

[gamerguy2]

Hello.

My job is primarily hardware break-fix. My corded anti-static wrist strap broke. I bought 2 cordless anti-static wrist straps (not wireless) to replace it.

I read today that they are not an effective replacement for grounded (corded straps). My questions are after reading up on them;

1)are they effective enough for a single repair . ie motherboard switch out or a simple memory replacement.
2) Should I completely abandon their use. ie. are there some circumstances that they are acceptable and if so which ones.

Between the cord in my way for a repair in an office with limited space and that they are fairly delicate the cordless is a minor boon for repairing an endusers pc at the desk or on the floor. What I read they are too good to be true. But in my circumstance could I pass with one or both on my wrists? (single repairs). The ones I bought are regular pale blue green straps for about $2 each.

 

[Insomniator]

I had no idea people actually used them. I've worked on PC's at home forever and did help desk break fix for 3 years without using anything... never had a problem.

 

[ElFenix]

how would a cordless wrist strap even work?

 

[Gunbuster]

You cant put static charge into a magic box on your wrist. Look at the Amazon reviews http://www.amazon.com/HDE-Cordless-A.../dp/B002IXYR1U you bought a joke of an item.

Just be sure to touch a ground frequently when you are working. Or buy a replacement dorky wired strap...

 

[mfenn]

how would a cordless wrist strap even work?

This. The wrist strap provides a low-resistance path to earth via a wire. Remove the wire and you are left with a fashion accessory.

 

[gamerguy2]

Thank you for the answers. It is what I was afraid of. I did read they offered limited protection. I am not rereading it so I'll assume they meant negligible.

My job asks that you use them. If you can answer this question.

Is the strap used to prevent static discharge? Or is it used to even out your electrical "field" and the pc components electrical field. ie. Your higher level of natural electricity is 1000 times higher than a chip. So when you touch the chip, your electricity causes problems? Or is it a protection from your body releasing a shock (a similar release of shock you feel after moving across the carpet and touching metal) into a pc component breaking it after the shock has been discharged?

 

[Ayah]

corded strap actually discharges any static you've built up towards earth. also includes a 1M resistor in line so if you happen to touch something live, you don't get majorly zapped. cordless bands basically use your faith in god(s)/luck/whateverelse to not screw you over with static - you can guess how well that usually works out.

either way, not particularly useful for PC repair if you take minimal precautions. just ground yourself out before touching hardware. (as per Gunblaster said, but you shouldn't need to ground yourself often unless you live in a ridiculously dry and static-prone environment)

and 2 bands are worse than one (for you) as the resistance will drop to 500k. though, probably not much danger, but two bands will probably annoy the hell out of you while working.

if you want to go all nuts, you could work entirely on an antistatic mat as well.

 

[mfenn]

Is the strap used to prevent static discharge? Or is it used to even out your electrical "field" and the pc components electrical field.

These two are the same thing. The reason static discharge happens is because of a potential difference between two objects. The strap ties you together with the computer so your potential difference is zero.

 

[bryanl]

I don't see how it could possibly work unless it generated an opposite charge using a piezoelectric device (required constant pumping) or a source of alpha radiation, like polonium. Such devices were sold for removing static from records.