Do You Use An Anti-Static Mat and Wriststrap When Assembling Your Rig?

[ctal]

I'm curious as to how many of us use grounded anti-static mats and wriststraps when assembling our rigs.

I've done that on all four of the pc's I've built, each of which has contained a lot of stuff, and I've never had to rma anything. The only parts I've ever had fail were some optical drives and hard drives after years of use.

For those of you who have had problems with defective components during new builds, it would be interesting if you would comment on whether static might have been a factor.

Regards,
-- Al

[ctal]

Mods -- the first time I submitted this poll, it appeared in the listings but for some reason gave an invalid link indication when viewed. So I resubmitted it; please delete the other thread.

Thanks,
-- Al

[zsaz1029]

I know that I should, but I don't. I've never had any dead components though, so maybe I'm lucky.

[k0NG0]

I've always used a strap but never a mat, though I might get a mat for the new build.

One thing for the electricians (or technicians that work with this stuff) - do we ground strap and mat to the ground point of a grounded outlet? I've heard that it's not recommended because there may be a non-zero potential in the ground lead, but that sounds like BS to me. (As far as I know, all the Uni labs that had ground points connected those to the common ground used by outlets as well. And the ground points on the outlets here in Sweden are fully exposed, lick-proof and everything.)

I've connected the strap to the case or to outlet ground and never had an issue.

[Rick_EE]

Your outlet ground should be zero unless there is a problem with your wiring. It should be good enough for your purposes.

I do not own a strap or mat. I handle the components carefully and try to keep one hand on the case whenever handling a component.

Using a mat or strap assumes that the potential of the component you are picking up is zero.

[ctal]

Originally Posted by k0NG0

do we ground strap and mat to the ground point of a grounded outlet? I've heard that it's not recommended because there may be a non-zero potential in the ground lead, but that sounds like BS to me.

Intuitively it strikes me as bs also, although I can't say that with certainty for all conceivable wiring arrangements. In my own case I've grounded the mat and wriststrap to an outlet box, with the mat on a table in a basement where the floor is concrete and pretty much a true earth ground. If there were some small potential difference between the box and the earth (as opposed to a blatant error in the wiring), I'd imagine that the path between the floor and the box through the wriststrap and my body would take care of that.

Thanks for deleting the other (non-working) version of this thread!

Regards,
-- Al

[ctal]

Originally Posted by Rick_EE

Using a mat or strap assumes that the potential of the component you are picking up is zero.

I would think it would be if the anti-static bag containing the component were placed on the mat, or otherwise brought into contact with something at ground potential, before being opened.

Regards,
-- Al

[PeterT]

No mat, no strap, but, I'm careful. So far, I've been lucky.

[Sir Skully]

Nude as a Thanksgivingturkey! I'm one of those fortunate souls. My laboratory has just the right climate conditions. No electric-static at all. As long as the lab dragon doesn't get teed-off at the whistle pig, and tries to fry him......

[Deer Slayer]

I use a strap sometimes. If I'm just popping in a couple sticks of ram or something, I just make sure I discharge myself. If I'm doing a complete build, I mist the floor with a mix of fabric softener and water to keep the carpet from building up static, ground the case, and use a wrist strap. ESPECIALLY in the winter, not so worried in the summer. In the winter time I've had 1" long BRIGHT BLUE sparks come from my finger to the lightswitch if I wear my slippers. It's fun to shuffle around and touch somebody on the back of the neck! ZAP!!!

[JBNimble]

I use only common sense. All that matters is the potential difference between things that touch each other.

First ground yourself (touch briefly)
to the computer case
or to the
anti-static bag containing the component
or to the
frame of the component.

I have taken NASA electrostatic courses, but don't follow them at home. I've never had a problem, by simply following the touching routine.

[Briton]

I just ground myself by touching the case or the antistatic bag before dealing with a component, but have also discharged static electricity into video cards and other components that are still running today without hiccups for over 5 years.

I think the vulnerability point to static these days is close to none compared to 25 years ago.

[ctal]

Originally Posted by Briton

I think the vulnerability point to static these days is close to none compared to 25 years ago.

I'm not especially knowledgeable with respect to that, but I would think the opposite would be true. Smaller, finer structures in today's integrated circuits, as well as lower operating voltages and faster response times, would all seem to me to make them more vulnerable than those of 25 years ago, not less.

Regards,
-- Al

[Baud]

In twenty years assembling computers, I never used any protecting thing, and never got any problem.

[Briton]

Originally Posted by ctal

I'm not especially knowledgeable with respect to that, but I would think the opposite would be true. Smaller, finer structures in today's integrated circuits, as well as lower operating voltages and faster response times, would all seem to me to make them more vulnerable than those of 25 years ago, not less.

Regards,
-- Al

I have no scientific facts backing my suggestion, just merely the fact that I've shocked plenty of components and had absolutely no ramifications. I've even done it on purpose a couple times with a rug and some socks to old components. As far as I know (I've read a few articles dismissing the whole static electricity thing) the only thing that static can even affect is the BIOS of a card. Otherwise the output of electricity is negligible (electricity, after all, is what powers these cards in the first place).