aimless
Member
+166|6444|Texas
What's the best way to avoid frying my new computer hardware? I don't have one of those anti-static wrist bands things, nor do I have an anti-static mat.
liquidat0r
wtf.
+2,223|6946|UK
Then get an anti-static mat with wristband.
~{TPP}~richoxon
I Want a New Duck
+43|6886|Up a tree
buy an anti-static wrist bands thing or a anti-static mat.
(T)eflon(S)hadow
R.I.P. Neda
+456|7148|Grapevine, TX

liquidat0r wrote:

Then get an anti-static mat with wristband.
Please dont try this at home, unless you have one!!
Kurazoo
Pheasant Plucker
+440|7003|West Yorkshire, U.K
I built my PC without any static protection and it booted first time no problem, just make sure your stood on the ground I think they make the static thing worse than it actually is
aimless
Member
+166|6444|Texas
God dammit. This isn't what I was hoping for lol. I am completely drained of funds for the moment
~{TPP}~richoxon
I Want a New Duck
+43|6886|Up a tree
https://www.buildyourown.org.uk/images/photos/esd.jpg
aimless
Member
+166|6444|Texas
What if...I wrapped myself in anti-static bags!

Nah seriously. It's fine as long as I ground myself first, right?
~{TPP}~richoxon
I Want a New Duck
+43|6886|Up a tree
I dont know tbh, i know they recommend using anti-static protection, but i never have. I strip my pc every 3 months to change water pipes and never had a problem, but i might have just been lucky up to now..
Volatile
Member
+252|7023|Sextupling in Empire

Make sure your PSU is plugged in but not turned on, so the case is grounded. Constantly make contact with the bare metal of the interior of the case.

edit: Oh, and use common sense, like not assembling your pc on your carpet.

Last edited by Volatile (2008-01-09 14:54:57)

I_WISH_I_WAS_HENRY
Member
+6|6444|Pennsylvania, USA

Volatile wrote:

Make sure your PSU is plugged in but not turned on, so the case is grounded. Constantly make contact with the bare metal of the interior of the case.

edit: Oh, and use common sense, like not assembling your pc on your carpet.
KEN-JENNINGS
I am all that is MOD!
+2,986|6951|949

I used to handle electronic components every day at my work with no antistatic mat or wristband (We had one, just never used it.  Don't tell ISO).  Just make sure you are grounded and you will be fine.
Yellowman03
Once Again, We Meet at Last
+108|6554|Texas
i seriously would not...however...if it is absolutely necessary, touch alot of stuff (preferably metal) and wear gloves.
ozzie_johnson
Member
+98|6977|Penrith, N.S.W, Australia
When im doing shit to my comp just touch something metal , e.g a bed frame always works for me.
ReDevilJR
Member
+106|6670
I built my PC on a non-carpet surface with rubber shoes on. PSU was NEVER plugged in, not during initial build, nor during upgrade. NEVER Had problems.
KEN-JENNINGS
I am all that is MOD!
+2,986|6951|949

Yellowman03 wrote:

i seriously would not...however...if it is absolutely necessary, touch alot of stuff (preferably metal) and wear gloves.
Don't wear latex gloves.  Those are notorious for holding static electricity.
GuliblGuy
Zulu son, what!?!
+79|7104|Anaheim, CA

If you're doing stuff at home, stay off the carpet . . . assemble in the kitchen or somewhere with linoleum/tile.  Touch something metal before you touch the components to make sure you are discharged.  Don't do it on a very dry day.  You should be fine!
Lucien
Fantasma Parastasie
+1,451|6972
avoid things that are obviously static, touch some unpainted metal, and you're done.
https://i.imgur.com/HTmoH.jpg
AussieReaper
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
+5,761|6472|what

You can ground yourself just by touching a bathroom faucet or any other piece of metal that is grounded, however if you then walk over carpet to your pc your stuffed. :p
https://i.imgur.com/maVpUMN.png
CrazeD
Member
+368|6992|Maine
It's very rare that you actually discharge static electricity. My whole house is carpets and I honestly can't remember the last time I shocked myself on a doorknob etc.

Just touch the case before you touch any components, you'll be fine.
Cheez
Herman is a warmaphrodite
+1,027|6758|King Of The Islands

Attention:
Llamas without heads forbidden.

Don't stand on carpet and discharge yourself on the case, even so far as to rest your arms on it.

I had a mate that built his computer entirely on his bed and its fine, so this ESD thing must be overrated
My state was founded by Batman. Your opinion is invalid.
[CANADA]_Zenmaster
Pope Picard II
+473|7064

I_WISH_I_WAS_HENRY wrote:

Volatile wrote:

Make sure your PSU is plugged in but not turned on, so the case is grounded. Constantly make contact with the bare metal of the interior of the case.

edit: Oh, and use common sense, like not assembling your pc on your carpet.
You can also keep your feet bare (prevents you from building up charge unlike socks).

Wear rubber kitchen gloves (clean obviously) when handling cpu or whatnot if you're a careless freak.

But this is overkill, like he said, plug in the psu, and just shield yourself. Every time you move your feet, reground yourself when you are done.

Every time you put a component down, put it down on a static bag, on is okay, it doesn't need to be put in.

Work on your motherboard on top of the provided static bag on a hard surface. I put a piece of cardboard with static bag on top and worked on my mobo on a table.

Stay away from the dman carpet!

If you live in the west or east coast you'll rarely see any static as the air is so wet static charge can't build up. If you live in the interior you may run into trouble, for example in Calgary you can't help but shock the piss out of everything, so in a climate like that I'd suggest a strap.
ThaReaper
Banned
+410|6959
I assemble my pc on my carpet without a wrist band. As a matter of fact I don't even touch anything before putting in the components, and guess what! I haven't ever fried anything.
aimless
Member
+166|6444|Texas
Ok, constantly ground myself.

I can't help but stand on carpet though. The entire apartment is covered with it.
mikkel
Member
+383|6920
Seriously, carpeting is a really bad idea. If there's any way to avoid it, you should.

I usually stand on wooden or hard concrete floors when I work on computer stuff, and I've never had a problem with ESD on those surfaces. Touch a radiator or a heat/water pipe and you should be fine to work on your machine.

Wristbands aren't really necessary if you're just fiddling around with your own machine. The only time I ever use them is when working on Cisco line cards. You won't know fear until you've replaced the daugherboard on a $20,000 USD Catalyst 4500 series Supervisor V engine.

Last edited by mikkel (2008-01-09 16:10:18)

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