best place to work with pc components?

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May 25, 2011
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What surfaces are the best for working with computer components. I know like material like felt or carpet are the worst.

How about cardboard box?
 
Solution
cardboard is ok as long as it is not treated with anything. A wooden table without any finish on it is also good. Best practice would be a grounded ESD mat with wrist-strap & at least 1 mega-ohm of resistance between the mat surface and the wrist strap, measured with an ohm meter. Remove your PC from this mat if you plan on applying AC power to the supply. Running energized gear on your grounded ESD mat while wearing your wrist-strap is asking for a lot of trouble.
Cardboard box is alright, vinyl (floor) is good. Anything that causes static = bad.

I normally work on computers on a wooden desk, or if needed a vinyl floor.

Also your body produces static when you move, so don't move around too much while working on a computer - and if you have to ground yourself every so often.
 
cardboard is ok as long as it is not treated with anything. A wooden table without any finish on it is also good. Best practice would be a grounded ESD mat with wrist-strap & at least 1 mega-ohm of resistance between the mat surface and the wrist strap, measured with an ohm meter. Remove your PC from this mat if you plan on applying AC power to the supply. Running energized gear on your grounded ESD mat while wearing your wrist-strap is asking for a lot of trouble.
 
Solution