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theoretical ESD ?'s

Post Date: 2010-03-04
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AndydViking View Drop Down
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Posts: 733 		  Quote AndydViking Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: theoretical ESD ?'s
    Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 5:11pm

Hey guys I was curious to know what people like Justin and DST4ME and others who work on PC's a lot here do for ESD prevention.  Have you guys ever had a known problem?  I have a friend who works for Lockhead Martin and we were dicussing electro-static discharge the other day (he is ESD certified). 

If one is just switching/checking conectors are you OK if you just keep contact with the case while it is plugged in?  When working with the motherboard I keep myself plugged into earth ground but when opening the case to make sure things are connected right I just make sure I am in contact with a grounded case.  Sound right?
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justin.kerr View Drop Down
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Posts: 5084 		  Quote justin.kerr Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 5:17pm
I have never had a problem, try it on a cheap PC for fun, rub your feet on the carpet an shock the PC in different spots, I have tried it, and never could produce a failure, but I am careful on builds and repairs, just in case. lol
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DST4ME View Drop Down
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 5:27pm
I always drain the power just incase, but like justin whenever I played with a cheap one, I was never able to mess up anything either, lol I have a dimension 2400, , and I have put that thing thru hell, including static from carpet and etc, and it just keeps going best one is when you rub the cat first



Edited by DST4ME - 04 Mar 2010 at 5:28pm

Nvidia Drivers----AMD Drivers
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AndydViking View Drop Down
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Posts: 733 		  Quote AndydViking Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 5:40pm
Yeah I tend to overthink some issues.  I try to be careful as well and just wondered to what extent you guys go.
 
For me I use the wrist strap connected to earth ground when working with the mobo outside the case.  When all is installed and I just want to check connections I'll use the wrist strap clipped to the plugged in case or just keep body contact (hand, wrist or arm) with the case as I work on it.  I also try to never touch any metel connections or exposed circuitry.
 
The techs where I work have also said the same as you Justin, that they never have had a known problem.  Some people on the net will claim that problems can happen down the road because of ESD but tech at work said prolly not happening.
 
YThanks Justin for your reply.  Anyone else have anything they do?
 
Edit:  Didn't see your reply there at first DST.  Thanks.  So do you wear the wrist strap or anything?


Edited by AndydViking - 04 Mar 2010 at 5:44pm
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Sarah View Drop Down
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Posts: 879 		  Quote Sarah Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 5:50pm
If the body frame of your case is metal, rest your wrists on the case. Although in all honesty, I have never had an issue with ESD in all my years of working on a computer.
Sarah
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DST4ME View Drop Down
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 5:58pm
lol no I don't wear anything, but at the same time I do touch the case before touching anthing, for the hell of it, better safe then sorry.

Edited by DST4ME - 04 Mar 2010 at 5:58pm

Nvidia Drivers----AMD Drivers
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AndydViking View Drop Down
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Posts: 733 		  Quote AndydViking Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 6:36pm

Thanks guys.  Between the 3 of you and the tech I talked to sounds like a lot of experience there! Thanks Sarah...how is your new build going?



Edited by AndydViking - 04 Mar 2010 at 6:37pm
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ablahblah View Drop Down
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Posts: 2312 		  Quote ablahblah Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 7:46pm
Where exactly do you get a wrist strap that plugs into earth ground? By earth ground you do mean like as in plugged in to the grounded hole of a triple-prong outlet right? I can only seem to find a clip version, where my APC 1500VA LCD's extra peripheral grounding screw makes the strap too short.
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Sarah View Drop Down
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Posts: 879 		  Quote Sarah Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 8:06pm
My new build is done, for the most part. I don't like how messy the wires look in the back side of the case, but quite frankly I got impatient and was ready to fire it up, lol.

Originally posted by AndydViking

Thanks guys.  Between the 3 of you and the tech I talked to sounds like a lot of experience there! Thanks Sarah...how is your new build going?
Sarah
If you have sales questions, please contact [email protected]

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AndydViking View Drop Down
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Posts: 733 		  Quote AndydViking Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 8:15pm
ablahblah I ghetto rig a regular cord.  They do sell the straps that have a ground plug and I'll dig around the internet and repost when I find them.  I'm gonna buy one when I find them on the web (I know they're out there) and I'll repost here with a link to the site. 
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AndydViking View Drop Down
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Posts: 733 		  Quote AndydViking Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 8:26pm
http://esd-grounding.com/index,9,Adjustable-metal-wrist-straps.html
 
I have never ordered from these sites but I prolly will over the weekend.  I'll contact them and make sure those are the right thing.
 
EDIT:  looks like they are not the right thing from further reading.  I wrote an e-mail to the 2nd company for what i was looking for and why so hopefully they get back to me.


Edited by AndydViking - 04 Mar 2010 at 8:38pm
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<8) slunK parade View Drop Down
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Posts: 798 		  Quote <8) slunK parade Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 8:52pm
these types of things are very rare, but you dont want to be one of those rare cases lol

ive seen tests were they would pour water onto a motherboard, while the PC was on, on most of the tests they had to virtually submerge it in water, one test they poured barely any water on it and it fried, so its all chance i guess.
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Grandpa View Drop Down
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Posts: 68 		  Quote Grandpa Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 10:28pm
From what I have read, you can ESD a computer part with no obvious damage, but when your part fails in two years instead of 6 will you remember what really caused the failure?

I bought an ESD wrist strap with a pincher end (Radio Shack).  Then I took a three prong elect plug and broke off the hot ends so that only the ground part is left.  Hook the plug up with a wire and pinch the strap to it and you're ready.  Just plug it into any grounded home outlet and you're ready to go.  Simply, inexpensive, effective.
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AndydViking View Drop Down
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Posts: 733 		  Quote AndydViking Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 10:48pm
Granpa I did the same thing.  I didn't mention it because I didn't want some super noob to shock themselves doing it lol.  So disclaimer: I don't recomend this lol.
Wiki Article giving some ESD steps...http://www.wikihow.com/Ground-Yourself-to-Avoid-Destroying-a-Computer-with-Electrostatic-Discharge


Edited by AndydViking - 05 Mar 2010 at 1:20am
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AndydViking View Drop Down
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Posts: 733 		  Quote AndydViking Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 05 Mar 2010 at 11:36pm
ablahblah apparently the best you can do is get the connector to go to that center screw on a wall outlet which is grounded called a "common point cord".  This actually seems like a good idea and I think I'll eventually go this route before installing my next motherboard.  After your mobo is installed I think the best method from research is to alligator clip your wrist strap to the metal chassis or simply touch the case as much as possible because this keeps you at the same potential as all your pc parts.
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