Quick question about grounding oneself.

[Digital Brit]

People say that you can ground yourself by touching/attaching anti-static strap to a power supply which is plugged into the wall but not turned on.

I'm in the UK and most of our wall sockets have switches on themselves, my question is: Does the plug socket need to be switched on for me to be able to ground myself by touching the power supply?

[WinNut]

It shouldn't have to be since AFAIK the ground wire is attached to a metal stake driven into the ground.

[Analog]

I just usually touch any large metal object in the house. Even just touching the computer case itself is enough, in case it is made of steel. Aluminum is not that conductive and is not recommended as a grounding method. Touching the radiator in your room if you have one is also a good method to discharge static electricity accumulated in one's body. 

[Kyuubixchidori]

Touching the radiator in your room if you have one 

sorry to sound ignorant, but that's still a thing? 

 

I dont believe a plug is still grounded if its switched off with a wall switch. those break a connection completely. 

[xox]

You can touch the screws on your plug socket, they're grounded as is a power supply that's plugged in (regardless of it being on).

And no, you don't have to have it switched on; the fact that a plug is off does not affect the earth as the earth is a safety thing so must always be activated. Have you never wired a plug/socket before?

 

Besides, it's not really necessary, you could build on carpet wearing a football shirt and it would probably be fine, there's only a finite chance of a static problem.

 

However, my tips are:

• Build on a table
• Don't wear Nylon (football Shirts), Neoprene (wetsuits), or wool (jumpers)
• Preferably not on carpet

[xox]

sorry to sound ignorant, but that's still a thing?

Yes, there will be some point in your house where your pipes are connected to an earth wire. It's been a legal requirement for a good many decades.

[Wcgli]

sorry to sound ignorant, but that's still a thing? 

 

I dont believe a plug is still grounded if its switched off with a wall switch. those break a connection completely. 

The ground wire in a light switch is not attached to the terminals that the switch controls.  The ground wire is connect directly with the incoming electric ground wire for your house.  At least it should be.  There are always some houses that are wired wrong.

[Kyuubixchidori]

Yes, there will be some point in your house where your pipes are connected to an earth wire. It's been a legal requirement for a good many decades.

oh that was at having a radiator in your room. 

 

for the ground wire, I helped my dad install them like 3 years ago in our basement kitchen, when we redid it. so havent done electrical in a while. guess i was wrong off the top of my head. whoops