where to buy static wrist band?

[SeVeRaNCE]

can someone lead me in the direction of one. im making my first computer i wanna be extra carefull, thanks. also when im handeling the mb. should i set it on something static free or just my desk? 0_o

 

[Heretik]

You can pick one up at your local Radio Shack or electronics parts store.....

 

[Impact55]

I heard there is a higher chance of static charge unless you use a QUALITY wrist band, and those are really only needed for everyday system builders.

 

[Ulysses]

The Radio Shack commercial catalog, and their website, have a number of different anti-static devices, most better than what you will find in their retail stores. When working inside the computer case, be sure to unplug the power supply so there is no current flowing through the motherboard.

 

[Lvis]

You really don't need a wrist strap... but it's not a bad idea. You will be fine as long as you work with the case plugged in, with the power switch off, and remember to touch the case before you start work. This will discharge any static. (through the ground outlet) Don't stick your finger in the power supply

 

[Lalakai]

if you're in a pinch and can't find the static strap, make certain you ground yourself, then once you've touched your case, make certain you maintain physical contact with it. A bit awkward, but for the quick easy stuff, this is safe.

for the wrist straps, make certain that you have the metal lead that's in the strap in direct contact with your skin; that's what provides the grounding route.

edit = as for setting the mb on a static mat, shouldn't be needed,.......unless you have alot of static problems to start with.

 

[beat mania]

Can you just ground yourself with some wires like you do with cars?

 

[Lalakai]

ground yourself by touching some portion of a metal appliance that has grounding through a 3-prong plug (ex: metal housing on stereo equipment). For certain situations we've made up metal plates (no ceramic/lacquer/plastic/rubber coatings) and ran a wire from there to the grounding plug on a wall socket. Normally you don't even feel anything when you touch the metal pad, but some people just seem to attract static, and they would get a small jolt. Once you've grounded yourself, immediately get into contact with your case/mb before you can pick up any other stray static.

but this is secondary to working with a good grounding strap. Like Heretik said, Radio Shack carries them, plus give a call to any of the small local 'puter shops; they usually carry 'em too (generally run $2.99 - $4.99).

edit = the grounding plug on the wall socket is the screw that is inside the wall socket; you'll have to take off the face plate and find the little screw that's mounted directly to the housing on the box. Usually this screw is green colored. Ummmmm, just be very careful when doing this cuz you're dealing with live wires and if you're the "connector" in a circuit, it's a bit of an electrifying experience,..........trust me on this. lol

 

[Noriaki]

Actually you don't want to unplug your computer's powersupply, if you do you don't have a ground. You should definately turn off the power supply (with the switch physically located on the PSU, not the soft power button up front) becuase as Ulysses said you don't want current running through your mobo, but don't unplug it or you lose your ground.

Even better plug it into a Surge Protect Power Bar and turn it off, but make sure all the plugs are in (again you want your ground).

I honestly have never used one of those stupid wrist bands, they are also extremely uncomfortable (ok I'm a big guy and have thick heavy arms but still) I just make sure I keep an elbow on the edge of my case.

I keep all my PCI (and AGP) cards on one of my case side panels metal side up when they aren't in my machine. I dunno if I'm right or not but my reasoning is that metal conducts electricity and thus can't build up an electro static charge...it's been a long time since physics though so I don't know if that's right But I have yet to damage a component with static (actually the only time I damaged a component was when my ESS AudioDrive 1868 ISA (cheap SB16 imitation) f*cked up on me for the 4 millionth time it got thrown off a 3rd floor balcony onto a concrete driveway, that's the only PC component I have ever damaged).

 

[Noriaki]

damn dbl post

 

[AL77]

Well, you should set your motherboard on an anti-static mat such as the one that came with your mb. There's really no reason not to. Also, your computer should not be plugged in as current flows to the mb on all new boards even when the system is off as already mentioned.

Perhaps an engineer or someone versed in electricity can answer this: will static electricity completely dissipate from the body when touching a metal object, but when that metal object is not grounded (i.e. system unplugged). I've heard from some corners that it is sufficient. Anyway...for an anti-static strap, one thing you can try is to email 3M (who manufactures various electrical and other products including wrist straps) for a local reseller/distributor of their products. This is how I purchased my anti-static strap.

 

[Noriaki]

<< as current flows to the mb on all new boards even when the system is off as already mentioned >>

If you just turn it off with the soft power button on the front of the case yes it still has power to the board, but ignore the button on the front of the case. Look on the power supply itself right where the main 3 prong cord (usually black) plugs in, there should but a black switch next to it, that has a 1 and a 0 on it. If you flip that to 0 your case's power button does nothing and there is no power going to the board. But you do get the benefit of a proper ground if you keep the power supply plugged in.

 

[Lalakai]

to safely ground out static electricity it must be conducted to an adequate ground; the ciruit has to be completed somewhere/somehow. Easiest way it to use the grounding system in a house/business (as long there's a good ground - unlike my old house where the electic wiring is haphazard and not well grounded, all my 'puter stuff is on a newly established dedicated line so I'm safe there).

 

[AL77]

<< Look on the power supply itself right where the main 3 prong cord (usually black) plugs in, there should but a black switch next to it >>


True, but many power supply brands don't have this switch, so you would still have to unplug the system to prevent the flow of current. In fact, the manuals for some peripherals (e.g. PCI cards) state that the system should be unplugged. I do believe that touching a metal part of the case (even when unplugged) and minimizing movement is sufficient, but I still prefer to use an anti-static wrist strap.

 

[Ulysses]

I think Noriaki has it right. I don't work inside my case often, but when I last did I just turned off the surge protector, contrary to what I told you to do!

 

[jamarno]

Radio Shack and Fry's sell anti-static wrist bands that are perfectly fine.

It's stupid to leave the computer plugged in, especially if you plan to tie yourself directly to ground with a wire. The reason is that you could come in contact with an ungrounded defective device that has high voltage on its chassis and be electrocuted. This often happens in kitchens where the oven is grounded but the defective toaster isn't. Anti-static wrist bands eliminate such danger because they tie to ground through a million-ohm resistor to limit current to safe values.

Another reason to not leave the computer plugged in: What matters isn't the voltage between you and earth ground but the voltage between you and the equipment. So if everything is 30,000 volts above earth ground (a common occurrance inside airplanes), that's perfectly OK.

Work on an anti-static surface,but don't use metal unless you know what you're doing because some devices, like motherboards, contain batteries that can short out against metal and explode (lithium batteries may explode with enough force to dent steel). Pink anti-static bubble wrap or anti-static foam is a good surface, but don't use regular foam or bubble wrap. Newspaper is probably the next best thing, but don't use any shiney paper.

 

[MADCAP]

I don't think grounding is needed for building one computer. But here is what we used to do in a pinch, and it works too. Use a guitar string and tie it around your wrist and then tie the other end to a metal piece(ie computer case). Problem solved, and cheaply too.

I always had lots of these lying around. And you can buy one from a music store for so many cents.

 

[Midnight Rambler]

I have a great anti-static mat that I always use. Not so much for the fear of static (although with current winter conditions here, static is quite higher than normal ...), but it is just a very nice surface to work on and won't damage anything. I mainly use it when I am initially prepping up a mobo (ie., RAM, CPU, HS, vid card, jumpers if any) before installing it into the case. MicroCenter carries an identical, $12 generic copy of another unit they sell for over $50. Both have grounds also, BTW.

No worse than spending $15 on a hi-po mousepad ...

 

[Xe0n]

When i feel like it, i attach a aligator clip to my ring and then to the case, but thats only every once in a while

 

[shiznut123]

they sell em at compusa. i dont use a static-band

 

[robg1701]

Ive always heard that you should leave the machine plugged in, with the power off at the socket.

In fact, i fitted some more ram to my computer a few days ago and the instructions (no, i didnt need them, and i read them afterwards ) said to do this, then touch the case to ground yourself. If your wondering, it was another 128MB for 256MB total, and it was Crucial.

 

[Ulysses]

BTW, don't try any of this stuff in the bathtub.

 

[celery550]

what's a static wrist band for, I seen'em in back in school but they were very uncomfortable so I never wore one again