Anti-static electricity wrist bands

[BananaTuga]

Hey guys, I really need your help with something.
So I'm planning to build my first PC next week, and I have heard a lot of people saying I should wear anti static wrist bands so I don't fry any of the components. However, it's very difficult to find these where I live. A friend of mine told me that if I plug in the power supply and keep touching it while working with the components, I should be fine (The PSU isn't turned on, just plugged in). Another one said I just need to touch something metallic occasionally and that should dissipate any static electricity. Are they right? If not could you please suggest any other more suitable alternatives to using anti static wrist bands?
Thank you very much in advance for your help.

 

[digicat]

Wear shoes when you work. Don't move about too much. Touch the power supply or metal case structure occasionally. I'd unplug the power supply but that's just me. It's really not that big of a deal. I've been doing this for over 15 years without anti-static wrist bands.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

To be as safe as possible, you install the PSU into the computer, have it in the "off" position, and connect the wrist band to the computer. That way you are actually connected to ground through the ground prong in the outlet.

 

[faalin]

what i do when i build a computer.

get everything you need, all parts, screwdrivers, and zip ties and place them at a big table. I try and stay seated the hole time as to no have to get up and walk around on carpet. If im on carpet i will stay in rubber soled shoes or go bare foot, wood or tile floor are insulators so you shouldnt build up and charge on them. linoleum flooring i would stay far away from. Dont lay your parts down on any plastic or static bags, a lot of Motherboards now come in a cardboard tray with a plastic top over them. If you have to put a part down put it on the box preferably without alot of shiny logos on it. I always try to touch the case whenever i can and in between handling parts.


Ive never put in a PSU and plugged it in for a ground or used a grounding strap.

 

[Subressor]

Yes pretty much. It's actually quite tricky to get enough static charge on you to cause discharge of any reasonable amount! But since you're handing parts that can cost ~£300, better safe than sorry!

Touching the plugged in PSU's case every so often will pretty much make you 100% safe. Other items in a properly wired house include radiators, metal construction beams, yada yada

All a static wrist band does is connect you to earth. So It's as if you are touching a PSU which is plugged in (not on) with one hand, and installing a CPU in another!

If you are realllly reallly concerned and NEED a static wrist band... make one! Just get some thick wire, wrap it around your wrist/ankle and wrap the other end on an earthed metal thing (radiator, earth socket). That's all they are. You can get fancy ones with Ohm resistors but the theory should work.

Happy building!

 

[turkey3_scratch]

I have a second PSU I use to ground myself so I'm not connected to what I am working on, which is handy because the power cord can't always stretch over to my table (bed).

 

[giantbucket]

build in summer, when the air is more humid and "kills" static naturally before it really develops. or run a humidifier in room.

winter? yeah, air is dry, static builds up, we wear socks and sweaters... bad idea.

if you can, toss your cat in the shower first, though...