Bond or Ground - anti-static wrist strap usage

[Dracoro]

Going to be installing replacement RAM into MacMini soon.

What do I attach the wrist strap to? Next to my desk, I have 9v power lead to my guitar pedals, could I just unplug from guitar pedal and connect to the metal part of power cable? I understand plug to the power lead needs to be in but turned off.

[ARHarh]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anti-Static-Grounding-Plu...

[Dracoro]

My strap doesn't have the connector though, just a alligator clip....

[camel_landy]

The logic behind all of this is to make sure everything is roughly at the same level and you're not going to suddenly 'discharge' a build up of static electricity, through the sensitive device.

Personally, I usually touch something which I know is connected to ground/earth. An example is maybe a radiator (assuming you don't have plastic pipe work) or the metal case of the PC/Mac. Once I've earthed myself, I can then touch the components.

For you, I'd look at connecting the strap to the metal case of something (monitor?) or your plumbing... Or get one of those plugs & swap your strap for one with the button studs, although your croc clip should be OK.

HTH

M

[Dracoro]

Will be doing this in my garden office so no plumbing to connect to.

Will connecting to end of power supply (which I have for by guitar power supply) cable - exposed silver connector, for example:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BERLS-Supply-Charger-Effe...

If that would work, then I don't need to but the plug mentioned etc.

Or I could turn off other PC (and turn off plug supply) and attach to the chassis of that, as that is metal?

[frisbee]

Metal chassis of the PC.

The guitar power supply won't do anything.

[tr7v8]

Dracoro said:

Will be doing this in my garden office so no plumbing to connect to.

Will connecting to end of power supply (which I have for by guitar power supply) cable - exposed silver connector, for example:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BERLS-Supply-Charger-Effe...

If that would work, then I don't need to but the plug mentioned etc.

Or I could turn off other PC (and turn off plug supply) and attach to the chassis of that, as that is metal?

Nope or very unlikely. Normally a DC supply isolates both pos & neg from the mains. You want to be connected to the earth pin on its socket

[Dracoro]

Not sure I understand? You mean the power cable doesn't have an earth?

If I get the plug mentioned above, the alligator clip would connect to that OK?

[Dracoro]

frisbee said:

Metal chassis of the PC.

The guitar power supply won't do anything.

Note that this would be a different PC, not the one I am working on (and I can't leave power cable connected to it as taking it apart).

[Magnum 475]

frisbee said:

Metal chassis of the PC.

What he said. This will ensure that no charge can pass between you and the components, as you're all at the same potential. Same principal as used when fuelling aircraft - the airframe and the fuel rig are connected together with a cable before the fuel nozzle is connected to ensure no sparks.

[Dracoro]

So, as I understand it, bonding rather than grounding?

[tr7v8]

Dracoro said:

Not sure I understand? You mean the power cable doesn't have an earth?

If I get the plug mentioned above, the alligator clip would connect to that OK?

The wall wart type PSUs are double insulated so nothing is earthed. Hence why the earth pin is plastic.
Your static lead needs connecting to earth, either something earthed as it is plugged in PC, Microwave, cooker etc. Or connect the earth lead to an earth pin on a plug. Or get one of these which in my engineering days I had one in my tool box. With a CPU board worth north of £20K there was no option.

[The_Jackal]

You are way overthinking this.
Unless you are a superhero who generates unfeasibly large amounts of static all the time, you dont need to worry.
I've built 1000s of PCs and never harmed a pc with static.
Just touch anything your radiators before you start.
You dont need to be grounded all the time you are working.

[Dracoro]

The_Jackal said:

You are way overthinking this.

You're probably right there, just don't want to ruin over £100 worth of RAM via a silly mistake.

Thanks all.

[dickymint]

Dracoro said:

The_Jackal said:

You are way overthinking this.

You're probably right there, just don't want to ruin over £100 worth of RAM via a silly mistake.

Thanks all.

You wont (or should i say it's extremely rare) if you did just send it back and say "it doesn't work".

Edited to say: Was once told I had to wear an earth wrist strap (LG Electronics) I politely told him to either shut down the entire production line or FO! Guess which option he took

Edited by dickymint on Friday 27th November 18:08

[camel_landy]

The_Jackal said:

You are way overthinking this.
Unless you are a superhero who generates unfeasibly large amounts of static all the time, you dont need to worry.
I've built 1000s of PCs and never harmed a pc with static.
Just touch anything your radiators before you start.
You dont need to be grounded all the time you are working.

^^^ This...

M

[boxedin]

The_Jackal said:

You are way overthinking this.
Unless you are a superhero who generates unfeasibly large amounts of static all the time, you dont need to worry.
I've built 1000s of PCs and never harmed a pc with static.
Just touch anything your radiators before you start.
You dont need to be grounded all the time you are working.

This, unless the OP has a Austin Powers styled deep shag-pile carpet and is dancing away in his socks. Use a radiator.

[Dracoro]

Thanks all.

MacMini now upgraded to 32GB so all snappy!

[Who me ?]

The_Jackal said:

You are way overthinking this.
Unless you are a superhero who generates unfeasibly large amounts of static all the time, you dont need to worry.
I've built 1000s of PCs and never harmed a pc with static.
Just touch anything your radiators before you start.
You dont need to be grounded all the time you are working.

Likewise .I've spent many years on the bench working on static sensitive stuff. In the old days at home, I'd wear a watch with a metal strap and clip a lead on to it and to a tap/radiator etc. But, that can be dangerous as you need a current limiting resistor in the lead. Working on static stuff like CMos chips, I simply discharge myself every so often on an earth ( radiator etc) . IMHO, having worked on and with static sensitive stuff for a lot of years, be sensible and discharge often. If you are so worried, buy a wrist strap and a lead and work close to a radiator.

[thebraketester]