Static Electricity - a question

[PyroTheWise]

I have watched numerous build guide videos from LTT and I have really learned a lot - thanks!

 

Now I have a question because in one video, it is stated to be careful touching certain parts of the back of a motherboard but that is not repeated in other videos.

 

Also, the dreaded static electricity discharge.   So it got me thinking, is there a way to handle both at the same time?   What about using something like the following:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CO9RKGQ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01CO9RKGQ&pd_rd_w=wwRSM&pf_rd_p=45a72588-80f7-4414-9851-786f6c16d42b&pd_rd_wg=EnF2M&pf_rd_r=4RPA8GZ0R1RJH82H0FN2&pd_rd_r=de7b212b-4d4e-4e01-a99a-81ba5e9b0f12&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzVkxDVE8wTEI1OVNDJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDE0NTQzM01CVDA2MzQxMTY3OSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDQwOTU1NDlSMTlCNkwyNlEyJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

 

Basic nitrile gloves that will keep oils from your hands off your computer components.  They fit tight so you don't lose finger dexterity.   Now comes the question of static electricity.  i don't know if these would be thick enough to prevent a spark between the person and computer components.

 

Thoughts?   I know this is probably stupid but I figure it was best to ask first the "try" it and see with my first computer build.

 

 

[SansVarnic]

If in doubt always ground yourself.

 

[PyroTheWise]

what about the hand oils getting on the motherboard?  is that something to worry about?

 

[Garett1]

Oils getting on the motherboard are okay if they are just from your hand. In my numerous PC refreshes I have done at work (swapping out HDD for SSD and adding 8gb of RAM) I have actually never grounded myself and I haven't had anything bad happen.

[TempestCatto]

7 minutes ago, PyroTheWise said:

what about the hand oils getting on the motherboard?  is that something to worry about?

 

Not unless youre me and your body over produces. They make anti static gloves, dont use nitrile. 

[PyroTheWise]

interesting didn't know

2 minutes ago, TempestCatto said:

Not unless youre me and your body over produces. They make anti static gloves, dont use nitrile. 

Interesting, I didn't realize there was anti-static gloves.  I don't normally product static shocks (it is rare when it happens)

[Bombastinator]

19 minutes ago, PyroTheWise said:

I have watched numerous build guide videos from LTT and I have really learned a lot - thanks!

 

Now I have a question because in one video, it is stated to be careful touching certain parts of the back of a motherboard but that is not repeated in other videos.

 

Also, the dreaded static electricity discharge.   So it got me thinking, is there a way to handle both at the same time?   What about using something like the following:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CO9RKGQ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01CO9RKGQ&pd_rd_w=wwRSM&pf_rd_p=45a72588-80f7-4414-9851-786f6c16d42b&pd_rd_wg=EnF2M&pf_rd_r=4RPA8GZ0R1RJH82H0FN2&pd_rd_r=de7b212b-4d4e-4e01-a99a-81ba5e9b0f12&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzVkxDVE8wTEI1OVNDJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDE0NTQzM01CVDA2MzQxMTY3OSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDQwOTU1NDlSMTlCNkwyNlEyJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

 

Basic nitrile gloves that will keep oils from your hands off your computer components.  They fit tight so you don't lose finger dexterity.   Now comes the question of static electricity.  i don't know if these would be thick enough to prevent a spark between the person and computer components.

 

Thoughts?   I know this is probably stupid but I figure it was best to ask first the "try" it and see with my first computer build.

 

 

Nitrile can be staticky. 

[PyroTheWise]

1 minute ago, Bombastinator said:

Nitrile can be staticky. 

Did not know this - thanks!

 

[akio123008]

Look, if those gloves are on your hands, they are electrically part of you. If you're charged, the gloves are charged. Them being insulators and blocking sparks from your hands is a misconception; a PVC pipe is an excellent insulator but it can shock you pretty badly when charged.

 

Anti-static devices, like those bracelets, work by grounding the body they're on, in order to discharge them, rather than by attempting to "block arcs".

 

I should point out that static build-up on a person isn't very fast or effective (at least it never happens to me, unless it's extremely dry or I've been walking a lot on carpet) so usually you can get away with the good old "touch something grounded every once in a while when building" technique.

[PyroTheWise]

1 minute ago, akio123008 said:

Look, if those gloves are on your hands, they are electrically part of you. If you're charged, the gloves are charged. Them being insulators and blocking sparks from your hands is a misconception; a PVC pipe is an excellent insulator but it can shock you pretty badly when charged.

 

Anti-static devices, like those bracelets, work by grounding the body they're on, in order to discharge them, rather than by attempting to "block arcs".

 

I should point out that static build-up on a person isn't very fast or effective (at least it never happens to me, unless it's extremely dry or I've been walking a lot on carpet) so usually you can get away with the good old "touch something grounded every once in a while when building" technique.

Okay.  Thanks for the information.  Very informative.   I will be building at my work desk and not on carpet so the likely hood of static build-up is minimal, but will probably get a wrist strap just in case.

[Bombastinator]

5 minutes ago, PyroTheWise said:

Okay.  Thanks for the information.  Very informative.   I will be building at my work desk and not on carpet so the likely hood of static build-up is minimal, but will probably get a wrist strap just in case.

As long as there’s a grounded piece of metal around you can touch it occasionally and be find.  That’s all a strap is.  It’s grounding a piece of metal and attaching it to you.  I’ve been known to use old hot water radiators.

[Mira Yurizaki]

1 hour ago, PyroTheWise said:

what about the hand oils getting on the motherboard?  is that something to worry about?

They can tarnish traces or any other exposed metal, but that's about it.

 

48 minutes ago, PyroTheWise said:

Okay.  Thanks for the information.  Very informative.   I will be building at my work desk and not on carpet so the likely hood of static build-up is minimal, but will probably get a wrist strap just in case.

You can also plug the PSU in and touch the metal housing once in a while.

[Xiee]

1 hour ago, PyroTheWise said:

what about the hand oils getting on the motherboard?  is that something to worry about?

 

I always put some rubbing alcohol (70% solution) on my hands before I work on any PC parts. It helps get rid of the oils. I'm a bit OC so I do this.

[NineEyeRon]

The truth about static electricity will shock you

[TempestCatto]

5 hours ago, PyroTheWise said:

I don't normally product static shocks (it is rare when it happens)

Even if you don't feel anything, you can still be statically charged and discharge it onto a component when you touch it. You don't always feel it. Better to just always use a grounding strap and protect your investment(s). 

[bob345]

when it comes to consumer electronics like parts used in a normal pc, damage from static discharge is incredibly rare. I would not worry too much about it. Just touch something that is grounded every now and then. As someone that works with electronics and bare ic's on a daily basis, iv only seen a few cases, and those all where during electrical safety testing.

[Bombastinator]

14 minutes ago, bob345 said:

when it comes to consumer electronics like parts used in a normal pc, damage from static discharge is incredibly rare. I would not worry too much about it. Just touch something that is grounded every now and then. As someone that works with electronics and bare ic's on a daily basis, iv only seen a few cases, and those all where during electrical safety testing.

There was another thread about that recently that sort of brought that into some question.  The issue was that static electricity damage is also incredibly difficult to detect. 

[Purgent]

Been building computers for 20 years and have discharged static on to a variety of components with no effect.  

[Ja Krispie]

1 hour ago, Purgent said:

Been building computers for 20 years and have discharged static on to a variety of components with no effect.  

Doesn't mean it can't happen. When I'm working on a 6 figure or more server I'm going to ground myself every time. Your body can produce shocks that will fry components and if you can alleviate the risk why not??

[Bombastinator]

This is feeling a lot like the last static electricity thread.   It’s a problem people haven’t seen.  The last time there were only one or two people  who could conclusively claim it ever even happened, and both of them were long ago and involved memory without heatsinks on it.  Meanwhile the math says static problems exist and get even worse as traces get smaller, and mitigation remains easy.

 

It could be an urban Myth, or something that used to be a thing but has been mitigated with modern systems.  It’s very very hard to tell.

Edited January 30, 2020 by Bombastinator
Typo and conclusion

[PyroTheWise]

I will be grounding myself when I do the build.  I would rather not hurt this investment when proctecting from it is easy enough.

 

Thanks to all for the information.