ESD question

[alexguy96]

Do you guys think it'll be alright if I build my computer on a wooden floor? Or would a wooden table on carpet be better (without socks of course).

 

[ahnilated]

What is the humidity where you are doing this? You have to worry about it being so dry that you create static electric shocks that can cause issues. Usually if you have the power supply in the case and plugged into the wall you can touch the metal of the case and it will ground you out so you don't have to worry about destroying your computer equipment.

 

[alexguy96]

Um right now it's about 80% humid. Do I need to plug in the PSU to ground myself? I thought all I had to do was touch the metal parts of the case.

 

[o1die]

I would still get the esd strap just to be safe. They can be bought for as little as $1 in surplus stores or possibly goodwill stores that sell computer parts. Do a breadboard test on a non conductive surface before mounting the board or power supply. With the cpu/heatsink, one stick of ram, video vga or dvi cable plugged in, and keyboard connected, you simply touch the case connection cluster of pins with a plain screwdriver and move it around the pins until the system powers on. Also be sure the power supply toggle switch is in the (-) position.

 

[ahnilated]

Um right now it's about 80% humid. Do I need to plug in the PSU to ground myself? I thought all I had to do was touch the metal parts of the case.

most of the time with the humidity at 80% you won't create static build up or sparks. If you touch the case you are balancing your electric amount with what is on the case not really grounding yourself. Now if the motherboard is already mounted in the case then it would equalize you to it. I have done this many times building cases and had no issues in 30 yrs of building PC's.

The most safe way is to have the case plugged into the wall and use a grounding strap to the metal on the case because then you are grounded through the electrical system in your house (take this with a grain of salt). Most houses (in the US) now have 3 pronged electrical outlets and are grounded to a grounding system.

 

[alexguy96]

Alright so I should ground myself by having the PSU plugged into the case in the "-" position and touching the case. If I'm planning on doing a test boot should I just place the motherboard in the case and try it?

 

[ahnilated]

Alright so I should ground myself by having the PSU plugged into the case in the "-" position and touching the case. If I'm planning on doing a test boot should I just place the motherboard in the case and try it?

You can but this takes a bit of time. Just don't set the motherboard on something metal and start it up. This can fry your motherboard and make you very sad.

 

[alexguy96]

So should I work on the wooden floor or table with carpet? I wanted to know this lol 😛

 

[ahnilated]

If I was you I would work on an anti static bag or with it mounted in the case.

 

[alexguy96]

Alright so just to make sure one last time (I'm sort of paranoid lol) if I work on my wood floor with the case connected to the power supply (off) and the motherboard mounted, and I work like this on my computer occassionally touching the case, I should be fine?

 

[ahnilated]

yep!

 

[the great randini]

i would feel safer on wood then carpet, drag your feet on the carpet and zapppppp =(

 

[ahnilated]

i would feel safer on wood then carpet, drag your feet on the carpet and zapppppp =(

That's dependent on humidity levels.