How to Avoid ESD Damage?

[Zamiazm]

Hi
I have read so many articals and watched so many videos, and each one of them does different things to avoid ESD damage. So I didn't really understand how to do it!
Do I just touch unpainted parts of the case and that's it?
Do I put the PSU without plugging it to the wall and turn it off and put it in the case?

Please help!!

 

[bicycle_repair_man]

The best way to avoid ESD when building a PC is to use an anti-static mat or wrist band. Failing that, simply touch the case before and during the build.

 

[Zamiazm]

The best way to avoid ESD when building a PC is to use an anti-static mat or wrist band. Failing that, simply touch the case before and during the build.

What about the PSU? I see that people put it in the case, is it necessary?

 

[Dugimodo]

Touching the case only really works reliably if it is connected to earth. Essentially you need to earth yourself from time to time so that any electrical charge building up on your clothes or body is discharged safely to earth (Just recalled in some countries it's referred to more commonly as ground / grounding - same thing).

You can do this by touching anything that is grounded or wearing a wrist strap as mentioned provided it is connected to Ground (they do nothing if worn like jewellery). In NZ our mains power outlets have a ground connection that is not switched so plugging a PSU in and leaving it turned off provides a convenient ground connection. I don't know if other countries have the same system though.

Other ways that help -
avoid synthetic clothing prone to static build-up
Try not to touch any circuitry directly, instead handle parts by edges, plastic covers, metal parts, etc - anything that is not connected directly to the circuitry
Static is worse in dry climates so a humidifier can help some

 

[Zamiazm]

Touching the case only really works reliably if it is connected to earth.

I am going to put my case on a wooden table is that ok?

 

[slingsrat]

Just touch something metal to discharge any static electricity. You don't need to touch something that is "electrically grounded". If you touch your car you can sometimes get a static discharge and the car is electrically insulated from the ground. I have never destroyed any computer parts and I've built a lot of computers.

 

[Dugimodo]

Sorry Slingsrat but just because you do it and get away with it doesn't make it good advice to pass on. If you want to be safe from ESD ground yourself. That's the whole story. Visit a decent electronics repair centre and look at a proper workstation. You'll see an antistatic surface connected to ground to work on and a wrist strap connected to ground to discharge the technician.

They certainly don't work on the "just touch something metal" scientific principle. Of course most modern electronics is not that sensitive so you can usually get away with it. Why take any chance with your expensive new equipment though, grounding yourself is no hardship and eliminates the risk completely.

In order for the static charge that builds up on yourself to be discharged you need a potential difference between yourself and the thing you touch. When you touch the car it's the difference in charge between you and it that causes the spark http://www.physics.org/article-questions.asp?id=44
It's because the car is isolated from ground that a charge can build up otherwise static would safely drain away and you wouldn't get a shock.