How to ground myself

[howtoupgraderam]

Hello. This week I will be upgrading my Ram and this will be the first time I'll be working inside a computer case. I've been reading a lot about ESDs lately and I've been looking for ways of preventing it. I've learned that the safest way to build PCs is to work on a grounding mat while having an antistatic wristband attached to your wrist. However, since I don't have access to those things I can't do that. I've also read that touching your plugged in, but switched off PSU is a good way to prevent ESDs. Sadly, I can't do that either because my PSU doesn't have an ON/OFF switch.

So I wanted to ask if there's some other way of preventing ESDs. Do you have any ideas?

 

[Blitz_]

Hi,

Well first off I suppose I have to ask which country you're from. Mainly because this can easily be done in the UK given our plugs all have a grounding Pin.

Now many a person will tell you that it's dangerous not to ground yourself, however I rarely ground myself properly and have never encountered an issue from static etc.

If you are serious about grounding and making sure you are not causing hardware issues AND are in the UK.
Plug your PC into the wall, turn the wall switch off - any static or stray voltage passed from you to the machine, will then run straight through the Power Supply Unit and straight into the wall.

Failing that, Cheap grounding kit from Amazon

 

[The Paladin]

many easy ways

foot strap
https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-936/Grounders-Static-Control-Equipment/Cup-Style-Heel-Grounder-Standard?pricode=WB0066&gadtype=pla&id=H-936Q&gclid=Cj0KEQjwp83KBRC2kev0tZzExLkBEiQAYxYXOpjiPEFj8SkbEaPCeyBhk97KJaVnbg02FcWtvwPrhq4aAr7K8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

wrist strap
http://www.specialtyoptical.com/product/lab-supplies/ws-1020-elastic-adjustable-esd-wrist-strap-standard/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwp83KBRC2kev0tZzExLkBEiQAYxYXOgka2XoMhb-1aBdqPtiJQvL3OAQ229npO4W0N1LraGkaAg0e8P8HAQ

 

[howtoupgraderam]

Thank you for answering. I'm from Poland and honestly I have no idea if there's a way to turn the wall off. I'll check local shops for the devices that you recommended but it's likely that I won't find them. Also I'd like to avoid purchasing anything online.

Also, do I really need to be grounded? As far as I know ESDs happen when there is an unequal potential between you and the component. Isn't it enough that I just discharge myself somehow (by touching something metal)?

Btw. how do I know I'm grounded? Is there a way to check that with a multimeter or something like that?

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Honestly, don't obsess over it.

Just touch some bare metal on the PC chassis before handling or installing the RAM modules and you'll be fine.

I've built several entire systems just doing that several times during the build and nothing bad ever happened to any of the components.

I certainly didn't buy anything like a mat or an ESD bracelet or any of that rubbish - - common sense is cheaper.

 

[Sylvvester]

Grounding straps are not necessary. All you need to do is make sure that you work in proper conditions and ground yourself once in a while. You know that your condtions are not right when you can feel little pain from electrostatic discharge when you touch metal door handle etc. Basically don't work on a carpet and wear clothes that don't cause accumulation of electrostatic charge.

 

[The Paladin]

wrap a speaker wire around your ankle and tie it to a grounding rod (water pipe) in your house... your grounded... (amusingly joking around, yet true fact)

I think the point many are making , discharge static by touching the metal object near you... computer case or other, don't build your pc standing on shag carpeting. and wearing sneakers on a vinyl floor will only help promote static... so discharge