First build- how to properly ground yourself...

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chickendance

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Feb 21, 2014
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Some people say to connect the PSU to the case and plug it into the wall with the switch off while others say it is fine to touch the metal in the case every so often.

My power outlet looks like this:
186951_1.jpg


Does that mean that this switch is left on but the PSU switch off or are both off? I don't know how reliable our wiring is because our house is pretty old.

Sorry for the noobish question, just scared I'll end up electrocuting myself lol.
 
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GorfTheFrog

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Aug 12, 2009
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There's probably a "best" way and a practical way. From a "best" perspective, your case would be gounded, your PSU would be grounded, and you would be wearing a grounding wrist strap.

When I'm building, from a practical perspective, I make sure to ground myself to the body of the case before plugging cards in. What you're trying to do is to avoid an electical potential between the parts that you are inserting and the body of the MOBO or the case. Grounding yourself to the case neutralizes any potential charge that has built up.

Also it helps if you assemble the parts on a wooden table top, or open up the cardboard from the box the monitor came in and use that as your work area.

I'm more than open to someone else telling me that any of this is a bad practice, but it's what I do and I've never fried a component with a stray electrical charge yet. :)

If you're not certain about the electrical wiring in your house, you may want to get a tester or even just look for a surge suppressor that has a grounding light indicator on it. That way you'd know for sure.

Hope this helps.
 
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Eximo

Eximo

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Good general advice Gorf.

There are a lot of factors to consider when dealing with ESD. Humidity, clothing, proper grounding, etc.

Computer components are designed to be handled and truly sensitive parts are usually conformal coated to avoid accidental contact. As long as you avoid rubbing things with a balloon while wearing a wool sweater, you'll probably be okay.

Without purchasing an wrist strap or having the system itself grounded: The safest methods are to touch the anti-static bag or foam (though these are becoming less common), neutralizing potential differences between you and the component, pick up the component. Stop touching the anti-static bag, then while still holding the component, touch the case or a ground plane on the motherboard. Then you may place the component in the chassis. The trick is to avoid potential differences, as long as the two pieces have been neutralized through your body it is fine.
 
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awesomedude911

awesomedude911

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get a static wrist wrap and clamp it to a part of your case that does not have any pain on it. Its not the electricity you build up, its when you release the electric. Killing computers from static happens more often if your wearing socks on the carpet. It happens more if you live up north/high elevation where you will touch something and get shocked because how dry the air is.
 
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