[SOLVED] Grounding myself - Confused on how to safely do it

[Hamez23]

Hi all
Just to be doubly safe I am getting a anti-static wrist band but I was looking for advice on:

How do I use the wrist band? Do I attach it to a metal part of the PSU with the PSU plugged in but set to OFF?? I've read differing accounts and was looking for clarification.

If the wrist band doesn't arrive in time, am I ok tapping the PSU casing with it plugged in but not turned on??

Thanks all I just wanted to make sure

 

[LinuxDevice]

Do make sure your PSU is actually unplugged since it provides some partial power for PCIe network cards to perform wake-on-lan, but basically you must be sure you are at the same electric potential as the ground of the computer. The metal parts without paint on the chassis should be sufficient for that purpose. If the chassis is for some reason floating at 100,000 volts above the outside earth ground, but you are at that same potential, then the potential difference between you and the computer is 0, and you would be safe (at least until you touch earth ground...I imagine 100,000 volts would cause a reaction as you touch it and equalize). High voltage is not so far off as you might think since something like carpet could generate many thousands of volts...just at very very low current. Not fatal to you, but possibly fatal to small electric parts with sizes in the nanometer scale. Just make sure you are at the same potential as the computer's ground...if the computer is itself grounded to earth, no problem...if the computer is not grounded to earth, but you are at the same potential as the computer's electric ground, no problem.

 

[hotaru.hino]

Ultimately what you're trying to do to ground yourself is make electrical contact with the earth/ground pin on your mains socket. Obviously doing it like how described probably isn't the best way to go about it.

So what you're supposed to do is plug in the PSU but turn off the hard switch. This makes the chassis the ground, as ground wires are usually connected to the chassis, but does not allow any electricity to go through.

 

[LinuxDevice]

Ultimately what you're trying to do to ground yourself is make electrical contact with the earth/ground pin on your mains socket. Obviously doing it like how described probably isn't the best way to go about it.

So what you're supposed to do is plug in the PSU but turn off the hard switch. This makes the chassis the ground, as ground wires are usually connected to the chassis, but does not allow any electricity to go through.

What if your chassis is not plugged in to the wall, and thus not at earth ground, and then reach for something which is not the PC ground? You will have destroyed your component. The only time earth ground helps is if the PC itself is also earth grounded. Often not the case when the PC is on a table being serviced.

When a PSU is "off" from the front panel button or normal system shutdown there is still some power provided by the PSU, including to WOL capable ethernet. Unplugging the PSU or turning the back side power button off can get rid of that extra power. If your PSU is 100% properly designed and in good shape, then this will be enough, but if there is any kind of capacitance between input and output (such as aged electrolytic capacitors), then plugging in to the wall socket (even with the rear switch off) can destroy components.

It is hard to overemphasize potential difference, and not just "grounded".

 

[hotaru.hino]

I was thinking about posting some arguments about this but eh, I'll just leave this video here and let OP figure it out