ESD & Grounding

[SwervinPersian]

So I know my fair share of physics, but when it comes to dealing with 500$ gpu and 300$ cpu I would love to have this verified.

I want to purchase the ESD mat and a wristband. From what I was able to puzzle together I need to place the mat on the table, then have the PSU installed in the case, on top of the mat. Having the PSU connected to the plug, but turned off obviously. Then with some sort of extension screw thing have the crocodile clips of the wristband connect to that. So then i'm grounded.

and I connect the crocodile clips of the esd mat to my wooden table? 

[W-L]

18 minutes ago, SwervinPersian said:

So I know my fair share of physics, but when it comes to dealing with 500$ gpu and 300$ cpu I would love to have this verified.

I want to purchase the ESD mat and a wristband. From what I was able to puzzle together I need to place the mat on the table, then have the PSU installed in the case, on top of the mat. Having the PSU connected to the plug, but turned off obviously. Then with some sort of extension screw thing have the crocodile clips of the wristband connect to that. So then i'm grounded.

and I connect the crocodile clips of the esd mat to my wooden table? 

Many ESD mats will have a connection also you connect both the ESD and wristband to the metal casing of the PSU that is turned off but plugged in to ensure they are grounded. 

[SwervinPersian]

1 minute ago, W-L said:

Many ESD mats will have a connection also you connect both the ESD and wristband to the metal casing of the PSU that is turned off but plugged in to ensure they are grounded. 

Thank you!

[FAQBytes]

In order for you to be grounded you have to be connected to ground in one way or another. Wood is highly resistant, and doesn't provide a good path to ground, so anything attached to the wood is essentially connected to nothing. They make jacks that are connected to the screw of an electrical outlet, which is grounded, which you can then clip the mat to if it is something that you use often, so you don't have to have the PSU always plugged in. If you keep yourself and your mat to the PSU when plugged in (and off, as you said), you should be fine. 

 

Both of these methods ground you, they just do so through different paths.

You>Wristband>ESD Mat>PC>PSU>Ground

Vs

You>Wristband>Jack>Ground

PC>ESD Mat> Jack> Ground

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bench-Mount-Wired-Metal-Black-L-Shaped-Wrist-Strap-Ground-/321261726237?hash=item4accb0ea1d:g:CH4AAOSwLVZVlTnq

If your mat has a banana jack, you can plug that in, or you can just alligator clip it to the bar behind it.

The wire then gets placed under the screw on your electrical outlet plate.

 

This is (essentially) what I use for working with soldering student rocket electronics for competitions (CanSat), and it works well enough. 

[SwervinPersian]

2 hours ago, FAQBytes said:

In order for you to be grounded you have to be connected to ground in one way or another. Wood is highly resistant, and doesn't provide a good path to ground, so anything attached to the wood is essentially connected to nothing. They make jacks that are connected to the screw of an electrical outlet, which is grounded, which you can then clip the mat to if it is something that you use often, so you don't have to have the PSU always plugged in. If you keep yourself and your mat to the PSU when plugged in (and off, as you said), you should be fine. 

 

Both of these methods ground you, they just do so through different paths.

You>Wristband>ESD Mat>PC>PSU>Ground

Vs

You>Wristband>Jack>Ground

PC>ESD Mat> Jack> Ground

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bench-Mount-Wired-Metal-Black-L-Shaped-Wrist-Strap-Ground-/321261726237?hash=item4accb0ea1d:g:CH4AAOSwLVZVlTnq

If your mat has a banana jack, you can plug that in, or you can just alligator clip it to the bar behind it.

The wire then gets placed under the screw on your electrical outlet plate.

 

This is (essentially) what I use for working with soldering student rocket electronics for competitions (CanSat), and it works well enough. 

Thank you for your time