How to use an anti-static wrist strap?

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Tonsauce

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I'm making this thread because I see a lot of conflicting answers.

Some say that as long as you attach your alligator clip to any piece of metal like your pc case, you'll be grounded. Others will say that isn't how it works and that you have to plug in your power supply with the power supply off into an power surge protector that's off, and some say that the extension protector needs to be on.

I'm very confused on which direction I should be following.
 
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turkey3_scratch
The way it is ideally done is if the power supply is installed in the case, in the off position, and then clipping it to the case. I am unsure if it can be done with just any random piece of metal, but I do know this is the best way. In the past, I have attached it to a case that was unplugged, but don'e take my word for it.

Edit: There is a difference in grounded metal and metal. A random piece of metal is not grounded. http://www.wikihow.com/Ground-Yourself-to-Avoid-Destroying-a-Computer-with-Electrostatic-Discharge
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turkey3_scratch

turkey3_scratch

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The way it is ideally done is if the power supply is installed in the case, in the off position, and then clipping it to the case. I am unsure if it can be done with just any random piece of metal, but I do know this is the best way. In the past, I have attached it to a case that was unplugged, but don'e take my word for it.

Edit: There is a difference in grounded metal and metal. A random piece of metal is not grounded. http://www.wikihow.com/Ground-Yourself-to-Avoid-Destroying-a-Computer-with-Electrostatic-Discharge
 
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Tonsauce

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Does the power supply need to be plugged into a power surge protector that's turned on or off?
 
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Tonsauce

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Sorry for being paranoid but honestly, I've been told that to and that the wall socket should be turned off or something like that. Is there any consequences for using an anti-static strap wrong?
 
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turkey3_scratch

turkey3_scratch

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As long as it is plugged into the wall, you're good. I wouldn't worry about it. Read this for exact details http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2121341/ground-building-computer.html

The surge protector is only necessary if the PSU does not have an on/off switch, and 99% of them do.
 
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westom

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Many will make recommendations. Only a minority know - as demonstrated - by also saying why.

Static electricity is generated by charges between your body and other charges in the floor beneath your feet. Connect those charges to dissipate energy. Then no static electricity can exist.

Best use of a static strap is a connection from that strap to a conductive plastic sheet beneath your feet. Then no charges exist. But lesser solutions are sufficient as long as that connection exists.

For example, connecting to a conductive table that connects to those charges. Use of AC power ground completely misses the point. Earth ground (electrodes outside in earth) and safety ground (a bus bar inside the breaker box) are irrelevant. Your only concern is connecting to a ground underneath shoes.

Surge protector and other AC safety grounded items are irrelevant. Your body must be connected to charges on a floor beneath your feet. That says how / where to connect that wrist strap.

Damage means an electric current from your hand, into electronics, out via the table, down to the floor, and then to charges beneath shoes. Static electric protection means that current gets shorted out by a wrist strap.

That wrist strap must include a 1 Megohm resistor. So that AC electricity does not flow through your body - blocked by that resistor. And so that static electric discharges flow unimpeded through that resistor.

Of course, a solution begins by not creating static charges. That means room relative humidity must be at least 40%.
 
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