Homemade Anti-static Devices

[Mandible]

I am building my new PC this winter, and i am trying to minimize my chances of static shock. My current precautions are, i am working on a table which is insulated from the carpet using polystyrene blocks, and is also grounded, by being coated in tin foil, then attached via copper wire to a radiator pipe. I am also grounding myself, by tying copper wire round my wrist, and then to a radiator pipe, so that both me and the table are equal in charge. I want to know, will this work? Does a copper wire round the wrist work as well as a static braclet, and is it a bad idea to insulate my table as well as ground it? Lil' help?

 

[ionicle]

i've never insulated myself, and never broken anything due to static

but it sounds like a wise precaution

and in theory, it all sounds ...well....sound....lol

good luck

 

[prosser13]

I started off by touching a radiator to ground myself, now I just hit it or the case.

Still not broken anything - it's documented a lot but it really doesn't seem to be that common

 

[mrapoc]

I just touch a radiator/psu before work and every now and again. Once uve grounded u wont build up static unless ur in a nylon shell suit lol. As for table i just use the anti static bags they come in/kitchen side or something

 

[llwyd]

Insulate the table and ground yourself

Dont wear socks is usually a safe bet and stay clear of man made fibres

Components are nowhere near as susceptable to shocks as they were in the past, theyre made to near fool proof standards now. However if youre building for someone else its better to be safe than sorry

 

[Mandible]

thanks llwyd, that was ace advice.

 

[Ham]

Lol Overkill?

I just use my static band croc-cliped to the case (when working away from my super-desk ). They're less than £5, cant you just buy one?

 

[Mandible]

yeah, but the thing is, it's too late now, and i mainly want to know if a copper wire is safe, as it doesn't have a resistor like straps do. But anyways, just need a few meters of copper wire now

 

[jiffz]

I've not taken any of these precautions myself but it's better to be safe than sorry!

Once uve grounded u wont build up static unless ur in a nylon shell suit lol.

Lol that puts a funny image in my head for some reason - Some chav fully kitted up a matching adidas trouser + jacket combo, putting a PC together!

 

[outrunner]

Here is some info on ESD http://www.docs.hp.com/en/A5191-96021/ch01s02.html

 

[nathan]

nothing wrong with going over the top. but i usually just touch the side of the case.

 

[Mandible]

Thanks, but i really want to know, will copper wire ground me??? if i tie it round my wrist, then to an earth-grounder, will i be grounded. I expect i will, but i am not sure.

 

[llwyd]

yea that will be perfectly fine. the thicker and better the copper the better though

 

[Mandible]

okey doke, im afraid it won't be very thick, but it will do im sure. will th fact that it will touch the carpet on its way to the radiator be bad? i can just imagine all the charge from the carpet going into the tinfoil.

 

[llwyd]

okey doke, im afraid it won't be very thick, but it will do im sure. will th fact that it will touch the carpet on its way to the radiator be bad? i can just imagine all the charge from the carpet going into the tinfoil.

Still not sure what all the foil is for lol. Just take a long bit of insulated wire-core cable and strip like 6" off one end, split it into two bunches and wrap em round your wrist. Then strip the other end and tie it to a radiator or if youre confident in your electrical knowledge, the correct port on a plug socket If you wanna get fancy you can add a diode (which is what i expect what you thought was a resistor) do stop yourself getting fried in a lightening strike haha

Then work on anti static bags, you need the contact between the components and everything other than you to be insulated. Grounding the table is only of use if it has an insulated surface and somewhere for you to attach yourself to the table as your ground.

 

[Mandible]

well you see, i am attaching my self to the table

My setup will be [lines are wire]

ME

|

TABLE-----------RADIATOR

|

FRIEND

underneath the table, i will tie my/friends wristband to the table's ground wire, so that my charge runs to ground on the same route as the table. Then both me and the table have the same charge. So no shocks.

 

[nathan]

i think your looking into this far too much.

 

[Mandible]

no, i am being careful. I am all sorted, the only thing i worry about now, is that my ground wire will trail along the carpet on its way to the radiator, which may cause probs.

 

[llwyd]

Yea me too......

I've never used anything or taken any precautions on any of my own builds other than tapping a metal light stand before i start.

All you could possibly need is a single wire to ground...... youre just waisting foil and wire this way lol

 

[Mandible]

okey doke, i think im good, but i would ask, when you have a wire to ground, is that wire trailing on the carpet?