How to properly ground using an antistatic mat + wrist strap

[Naoko]

So, I know this has been asked at least dozens of times before, but searching through the threads I sometimes come across conflicting or contradictory information.

I'm about to build a PC for the first time - I just got an antistatic mat + wrist strap, and I'm wondering how to correctly ground myself with them so that I don't accidentally zap my precious components Some people say you just need to connect the mat (it came with a cord) to a grounded metal object like an unpainted computer case, while others recommend hooking it (and/or the wrist strap) up to a powered off (but plugged in) PSU.

Is there a simple way to ground everything and avoid accumulating static electricity without necessarily going to all the trouble of setting up something like a PSU first?

I know most people don't even use this stuff and their components are almost always fine, but I just want to be extra careful. 🙂

 

[popatim]

The antistatic mat is likely to have a prong on the end of wire which you plug into the wall outlets earth ground port or to the screw of the outlets cover plate. An illustration can be found on page 4 of a desco anti-static mat's guide here: http://documents.desco.com/pdf/tb-2000.pdf

The wrist strap normally connect to the antistatic mat right where the wall ground wire attaches.

 

[Naoko]

The antistatic mat is likely to have a prong on the end of wire which you plug into the wall outlets earth ground port or to the screw of the outlets cover plate. An illustration can be found on page 4 of a desco anti-static mat's guide here: http://documents.desco.com/pdf/tb-2000.pdf

The wrist strap normally connect to the antistatic mat right where the wall ground wire attaches.

Thank you (whoooa, that pdf document is a bit complex!)

I will keep researching a bit more to get the basics down. It's times like these I wish I had a background in electrical engineering, hehe.