The right way to use an anti-static wrist band?

[TailsNZ]

Previously I've been using an anti-static wrist band, attaching it to some metal on the case, and unplugging the case. Does that sound right?

Thanks!!

 

[Matthias99]

It's relatively worthless once you've unplugged the system in that case (er, no pun intended). It should be attached to something that is grounded.

 

[TailsNZ]

Ah ok, thanks! I've been so lucky I haven't damanged my PC... it would have been funny (well not at all really, but you know) considering how I researched the parts forever, and then made such a simple mistake.

 

[imported_Tick]

BAD IDEA! Unplug a case before working on it. ATX mobos use soft power. There is power going to the computer when it's plugged in, even if it's off.

 

[michal1980]

Originally posted by: Tick
BAD IDEA! Unplug a case before working on it. ATX mobos use soft power. There is power going to the computer when it's plugged in, even if it's off.

only partialy true. all these softpower atx psu's, have a power switch on the back, turn that off and ur safe.

as for a good ground. its hard to say. a long time ago, with old psu's, that different have an off switch. and had no standby power, u'd be good plugged in because u'd be grounded.

today most compents are very resitant to static voltages burnning them out.

but if ur using a wrist band... if u have a good grounded oulet, hook it up to that. if its a good ground but not 3 prong, take out the face plate screw and screw it into the middle, the outlet itself is ussually grounded.

 

[TailsNZ]

Thanks for the replies!

Sorry I'm not sure what you mean "if u have a good grounded outlet, hook it up to that". I do have a grounded 3 prong outlet yes, but I'm not sure where you mean to clip the wrist band on. Thanks again!

 

[twitchee2]

you could take a standard wire, for an extention, to plug into the middle ground part of teh outlet and then conected to the anti-staic strape but honestly dont worry about it

 

[TailsNZ]

Ah ok, yep I'll put a wire in there. Good to know most things are pretty static resitant these days, but still can't hurt to use the anti static band (well unless I put it into the wrong plug hole, lol)

 

[Navid]

The whole idea of protection against ESD is to keep the charge in your body from damaging a device. That is done by keeping your body at the same potential as the device (not necessarily ground).

You do that by wearing a wrist strap and connecting it to the ground of the PC (the power supply case is connected to the motherboard ground if the power supply is connected to the motherboard).

In fact, if you ground yourself but the PC is not grounded, you may still damage the device. But, if you connect the wrist strap to the ground of your PC, your body and the motherboard will be at the same potential. There will be no charge dumped into the motherboard. There will be no damage. You could be at 2000V! As long as the motherboard is also at 2000V, there will be no damage. This last sentence was to get a point across. I am not suggesting that it is safe to be at 2000V! The point is that voltage is a relative thing.

So, as long as you connect the strap to the motherboard ground, you can have the PC unplugged and there will be no damage.