Do I really need to Wear ESD Stuff ?

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TheRealArchi

TheRealArchi

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Oct 23, 2016
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Basically I heard that you need an ESD mat, wristband and a screwdriver when you are UPGRADING your build. But when it comes to my situation, I am building my PC from 0, and I won't power any of my components or test them until my build is completely done. So basically do I really need to use it if I'm not upgrading but simply building my PC ?

So do I use the ESD stuff or I do not need it in my case ?
I've seen a lot of youtuber PC builders that do not use it even when upgrading their PC, so isn't it actually damaging components ?
 
Solution
greens
The only way to ground yourself is to be connected to a copper rod pounded deep into the earth. This is called earth or ground wire. Your home has one of these somewhere, and your ground lines are all connected to it.

Clipping yourself to a computer case does nothing – a PC case does not have enough mass to ground itself like a car or truck. Anti static discharge matts, gloves, etc, do absolutely nothing to actually prevent static, they simply make it so you can’t discharge. But as soon as you don’t use the mat or glove, SNAP – shock.
Static is not ever present and must build up. Walking around on carpet and touching a door knob is the perfect example, you build up static on the carpet, and touch the knob which is ungrounded, and...
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I'm certified to and daily work on Dell/HP/IBM/Lenovo systems, server, workstation and desktop. If I'm seen not using ESD stuff, I could be reprimanded or even lose my job. If it weren't a big deal, they wouldn't care so much. It's not that you'll destroy or damage something every time you touch it, but there's a chance of static discharge. Ever touched a doorknob and been shocked? That could easily damage hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment.

That said, I don't use ESD protection when working on my computers at home, I just use common sense. If I'm standing on carpet (or in general, really), I'll touch a metal part of the case before reaching inside.
 
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The only way to ground yourself is to be connected to a copper rod pounded deep into the earth. This is called earth or ground wire. Your home has one of these somewhere, and your ground lines are all connected to it.

Clipping yourself to a computer case does nothing – a PC case does not have enough mass to ground itself like a car or truck. Anti static discharge matts, gloves, etc, do absolutely nothing to actually prevent static, they simply make it so you can’t discharge. But as soon as you don’t use the mat or glove, SNAP – shock.
Static is not ever present and must build up. Walking around on carpet and touching a door knob is the perfect example, you build up static on the carpet, and touch the knob which is ungrounded, and the variation causes the spark. This would certainly fry a PC component. This is what we need to prevent.
If you build up a bunch of static and then touch something metal, plugged into a grounded outlet, you will not get a shock! This is because the metal device is grounded. This is what we want your PC to do – never allow static shock.
The truest, safest way to build a PC is to take a Power Supply, plug it into the wall – off or on, doesn’t matter. Then touch it. You are now grounded and can build your PC worry free. This is because the Power supply is connected via wire to the wall outlet, which is grounded via that earth ground discussed earlier.
If you get up for a spot of tea or cup of joe, touch the PSU again to reground yourself before you continue to work.
 
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Solution


If you have static build up and touch a case that is NOT plugged into the wall, you will discharge into the case, potentially frying the components. Only touch a case to ground yourself if the case is attached to PSU and the PSU is plugged into the wall.
 
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So what you're saying is that I need to use the ESD if I didn't plug the PSU ? But I just do not see what you are trying to say. I have all my components separated and my PSU is not integrated in the case. The only thing I can do with it is just plug it to the wall and put it in the case but before connecting it to my other components I need to put it all together.
 
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Okay so basically I just have to plug the power supply in the first place and stay in contact with the metal of the case, if I understood it right ?
So this ESD stuff is not needed if I do what you just said right ?
 
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While you're not truly grounded by touching the case, the charge in you and in the case equalize when you have a point of contact. You're right in that without providing a ground you can still possibly damage components, but in-practice it's generally good enough for me for my own components to not bother getting out my ESD gear for work or plugging it into the wall. Yes, discharging into a single trace on the motherboard can be disastrous, but discharging into the case is unlikely to hurt anything.
 
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That's correct.
 
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