Ground Yourself to Avoid Destroying a Computer with Electrostatic Discharge

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a fancy term for common static electricity. Getting a shock from the doorknob may not hurt you much, but the same kind of shock can put your computer in intensive care. Whenever you open the case to work on your PC (Personal Computer) innards, you should be aware of ESD and how to avoid it -- with a wristband, discharger, altering your cord, or even wearing different clothes.

Steps

Preparing Your Station

  1. Work on a hard surface. Assemble or take apart computers on a clean, hard surface to minimize static buildup. A table, countertop, or a plank of wood will work fine.
  2. Stand on a hard floor in bare feet. Carpets and socks can give you a charge. Stand in bare feet on wood, tile, or other hard floors instead.[1]
    • You can wear rubber slippers to completely block your connection to the floor, but this is excessive for home projects.
  3. Take off all static-friendly clothing. Wool and some synthetic fabrics are especially good at gathering static. Cotton clothing is a safe bet.
  4. Humidify in dry weather. Static electricity is a much bigger risk in dry environments. Run a humidifier if you happen to have one, but don't bother buying one if not. The other precautions should be more than enough on their own.[2]
    • You can also humidify by hanging wet cloth in front of a radiator or fan.
  5. Keep all components in antistatic bags. All new computer components should stay in the antistatic bags they were sold in, until ready for installation.

Grounding Yourself

  1. Touch grounded metal objects occasionally. This must be unpainted metal with a clear ground path, such as a metal radiator. This is the quick and easy option, and many people build computers without taking any other precautions. That said, there's a small but definite risk that this will not be enough. Rely on this only if your project is quick and the components are not valuable.
  2. Ground yourself with an anti-static wristband. These cheap devices are sold at electronics stores. Wear the wristband tight against your skin, and clip the dangling end onto a grounded metal object. Many builders attach the wristband to the bare metal of the computer case instead. This should prevent problems if all your components are electrically connected, but all manufacturers recommend fully grounding your wristband.
    • Do not use a wireless wristband; these do not work.[3]
    • If you get a wristband with a loop (rather than a clip), it's easy to slip it over the center screw on a wall outlet plate. This is supposed to be grounded (at least in US code), but you may want to double-check with a multimeter.[2]
    • Double-check that the band is clipped to a conductive surface. Paint will slow or block conduction.
  3. Ground the computer case. This is not necessary if you are already grounded, but it's a good idea if you're relying on touching the computer case. The trick is to ground the computer without turning on the power. Choose a setup below that gives you 100% certainty that you will not accidentally restore power.[4]
    • Plug a surge protector into the wall and switch it off. Plug the power supply unit (PSU) into the surge protector with a grounded (three prong) plug.
    • Clip a bare metal area of the case to a grounded object with a grounding cable.
    • If there is a toggle switch on the back of the PSU, turn it off and plug the PSU into the wall.
    • (United Kingdom only) Unscrew the compartment of a grounded plug near the prongs. Remove the fuse so no power will flow, then plug in the PSU.
  4. Work on an ESD mat. This is above and beyond for most home projects, unless you value your peace of mind highly. Simply place the computer parts on the ESD mat, and touch it as you work. Some models will have a place to clip your wristband onto.
    • Go with a vinyl ESD mat for computer repair; rubber is more expensive and not necessary for this purpose. It should be rated "conductive" or "dissipative," not "insulative."[5]

Tips

  • When handling the CPU, hold it by the edge only. Do not touch any exposed pins, circuitry, or the metal top unless absolutely necessary.[1]

Warnings

  • Even if you don't notice electrostatic discharge during assembly, small transfers of current could damage your components, lowering their lifespan.[6] In the (rare) worst case scenario, a strong shock can permanently destroy your motherboard.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/pc-components/how-ground-yourself-before-touching-cpu-3579668/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/920-electrostatic-discharge-prevent-esd
  3. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=z3IP2eqLGXoC
  4. ↑ http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2121341/ground-building-computer.html
  5. ↑ http://www.transforming-technologies.com/blog/index.php/how-to-choose-an-esd-mat/
  6. ↑ http://pc.buildyourown.org.uk/anti-static/
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