How to Prevent ESD without Wristband

[Guest]

Hello, I am looking at building a computer soon (for the first time) and I'm looking at alternative ways to prevent ESD.

I've heard you can ground yourself with the psu plugged into the wall with it (with the wall socket on). I've also heard of grounding yourself by touching a metal object. Is there any common household items which I could use? 

[X1XNobleX1X]

Hello, I am looking at building a computer soon (for the first time) and I'm looking at alternative ways to prevent ESD.

I've heard you can ground yourself with the psu plugged into the wall with it (with the wall socket on). I've also heard of grounding yourself by touching a metal object. Is there any common household items which I could use? 

Just touch your case before you're about to touch any components, easiest way.

[Bittenfleax]

@CaptainGunny Touch the power supply whilst you have it plugged into the wall. And static will be discharged, make sure to do it every so often as well as do it after you just walked across carpet.

[FluffiestPond]

Like @Bittenfleax said, touch the power supply periodically whilst it's plugged in, that's what I did when I built my PC. 

[Quincy15]

Dont build on carpet  rather on wood or tile and do so in the nude

 

or spend 99p on a wrist strap

[Pesmerga]

[Wombo]

Hello, I am looking at building a computer soon (for the first time) and I'm looking at alternative ways to prevent ESD.

I've heard you can ground yourself with the psu plugged into the wall with it (with the wall socket on). I've also heard of grounding yourself by touching a metal object. Is there any common household items which I could use? 

Touch anything metal that is grounded. IT MUST BE GROUNDED.

[soup]

 IT MUST BE GROUNDED.

 

NOPE! NOPE! NOPE!

 

Tecnically it should NOT be grounded (you want to equalise the charge not ground yourself).  In reality it doesn't really matter

[rhyseyness]

@CaptainGunny

The radiators in your house are normally a good thing to touch every so often in order to ground yourself.

Hope this helps!

[ybriK]

I built many PCs on carpet with socks on. All I did was touch the metal parts of the case every 20-30 minutes, never had any issues whatsoever.

[VioDuskar]

I built my rig on carpet, wearing flease pajamas and one of those fuzzy blankets over my shoulders.
-IDGAF static, come me bro.

[CaptainPebbleDash]

You seriously have to try to break component through electrical discharge. As long as you don't decide to do some disco fever on the carpet with a full cotton outfit whilst holding all your components I can't see how its even possible. 

[KayTees]

@CaptainGunny Touch the power supply whilst you have it plugged into the wall. And static will be discharged, make sure to do it every so often as well as do it after you just walked across carpet.

Idk why but when I built my PC and went to look for tips, this was one of the optimal answers, somehow seems misleading to beginners. My mindset was, "PSU PLUGGED IN? I TOUCH = SHOCK = DIE D:". Now I know

[Kappa-mikE]

Dont build on carpet  rather on wood or tile and do so in the nude

 

or spend 99p on a wrist strap

 

This guy wins

[soup]

Idk why but when I built my PC and went to look for tips, this was one of the optimal answers, somehow seems misleading to beginners. My mindset was, "PSU PLUGGED IN? I TOUCH = SHOCK = DIE D:". Now I know

 

Generally they are talking about the PSU plugged in (so it has an earth) but switched off at the socket on the wall. One in a gazzilion chance that the wall switch is FUBAR and the PSU is actualy powered (worth the one in a gazzilion risk?). 

 

    Touching the case periodically whilst it is NOT connected to the mains is all that is needed, once you are actually working in the case you would have to work hard to avoid more or less constant contact with the case.

[Bittenfleax]

Idk why but when I built my PC and went to look for tips, this was one of the optimal answers, somehow seems misleading to beginners. My mindset was, "PSU PLUGGED IN? I TOUCH = SHOCK = DIE D:". Now I know

Hahaha  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[Quincy15]

David Cameron grounds himself via a dead Pigs head

[slightlyjaded]

Okay, ESD is all about the potential difference between the components you're installing, where you're installing it to, and you. As long as none of those hit a potential difference of 40V then you're fine (yes static electricity does have a defined voltage) Regularly touching components with at least basic precautions will be fine....

 

Don't work on carpet

Don't wear wool.

Don't pour a bucket of water over the graphics card.

 

The precautions you should take will happen regularly as part of your build. They won't happen as part of a repair, which is where I would recommend an ESD strap as you're probably going to be reaching into an ungrounded system with whatever residual charge you might be carrying.

 

Just my opinion.

[MatazaNZ]

I build in my garage in bare feet. My garage floor is bare concrete, so that's automatic grounding right there

[cragger89]

PSU plugged in to a switched off wall outlet will provide a solid ground.

 

Best way.

[Guest]

Install PSU into case.

Plug PSU into wall, do not turn on the switch

Touch PSU before you touch any sensitive component.

[KayTees]

David Cameron grounds himself via a dead Pigs head

British grounding rob OP!

[soulreaper]

occasionally ground yourself I have built many pc's in a very dry desert climate on the carpet without any esd straps without issue.

[GoldSrc]

Take off all your clothes, that will help.

 

 

I built my rig on carpet, wearing flease pajamas and one of those fuzzy blankets over my shoulders.
-IDGAF static, come me bro.

 

You may not have killed anything, but who knows what damage you have caused to the insulator in the mosfets, which is what gets damaged by electrostatic discharges.

[babbaj]

just use a wireless wristband

 

:^)