Nope never used one. I do tough the grounded case though.

And I don't touch components. I always cringe when I see reviews and they touch their components all over the place. Just grab it on the edges instead.

I never wear them.
However, I do strip a little clothing to reduce the risk...

In the earlier days i used a wrist strap.. But now days iam only touch a grounding point from the electric outlet.. And put some good shoes on.

If you have the kind of flooring or clothes that tend to build up static charge, or have dry air (low relative humidity), then taking care to ground yourself becomes more important in avoiding a costly ZZAAPP!

leileilol wrote:

I never wear them.
However, I do strip a little clothing to reduce the risk...

Yes, I've read before that the best way to work on your PC is in the nude. That's why when you send your PC to a "professional" shop, they can never start work on it immediately. In fact, that's why they never seem to be doing any work at all. Cause the work starts later...

sgt76 wrote:

leileilol wrote:

I never wear them.
However, I do strip a little clothing to reduce the risk...

Yes, I've read before that the best way to work on your PC is in the nude. That's why when you send your PC to a "professional" shop, they can never start work on it immediately. In fact, that's why they never seem to be doing any work at all. Cause the work starts later...

That settles it. I'm opening a computer shop and getting college girls to do all the repairs. (Under my personal supervision, of course). 😁

So these wrists straps are just a "code" the techies use to communicate that something is about to go down 😁

Gemini000 wrote:

After pulling out my video card earlier today I had a curious thought and decided to ask all you VOGONSers about it.

Virtually everyone I know who knows anything about working inside a computer doesn't use an anti-static wrist strap. I however, do. Not that I've ever static-zapped anything, even before I started using one. I mostly use it just as an extra measure of safety for my components. (Plus the fact that I'm almost always working on carpet.) The cord on it is long and coiled and I almost forget I'm wearing it once I get going.

So I'm just curious if anyone else here wears one while working inside their computers?

One of these might help if you're worried about ESD.

http://www.apogeekits.com/anti_static_mat.htm

Since I live in Australia on the coast the air is usually quite humid year round so I don't really worry about static so much. I generally just touch a metal part of the case every time I sit down.

I've been building computers for 20 years. I have never once damaged any component due to static discharge.

I did once fry a Compaq 486 Laptop because I tried to work on it with the battery still installed. 😦 Ahh, the smell of ozone!

I wouldn't have one if it wasn't for the fact that they're dirt cheap on dealextreme.com .

Unfortunately, there's no convenient way to hook it up in my work area. I end up putting a clamp on the outside of a second, grounded PC case, clipping the strap to the clamp, and then putting the strap around my ankle.

Yeah, connecting the wrist strap with an older computer tends to be a bit tricky since the PSUs on older systems lack a physical on/off switch, meaning they will always be sending small amounts of power through the motherboard and other components, so you can't simply turn them off and leave them plugged in for the grounding. In those cases, I always end up having to work near something that is grounded that I can clamp to.

With newer systems though, just flick the PSU switch and even though no power will be sent to the motherboard or components, the case will still be grounded. Win! :D

Heck, that may be part of the reason why PSUs have on/off switches now. ;)

I hardly use wrist straps anymore these days. I do use them if I'm cleaning components in the living room though, but if it matters much, I dunno.

I always grab components by the edges and touch something big metal before after I've walked around.

I don't always use a grounded piece of metal since there isn't always one around

Reminds me, there was a place I worked once where I could charge myself up taking three or four steps across the room, then zaaapppp! when I touched my xt keyboard. And another where you could get regular shocks fro the metal bannisters. Guess technicians in such buildings need to take anti-static precautions.

I'll use a wrist strap whenever I have one lying around, but I usually don't so I just discharge myself on the computer's case or a large metal object before I get to work.

Bwahahahaha hell no. you ground out by touching the case, be sides most stuff now adays are actually made to take a certain amount of abuse, and older tech are built like tanks.

sliderider wrote:

sgt76 wrote:

leileilol wrote:

I never wear them.
However, I do strip a little clothing to reduce the risk...

Yes, I've read before that the best way to work on your PC is in the nude. That's why when you send your PC to a "professional" shop, they can never start work on it immediately. In fact, that's why they never seem to be doing any work at all. Cause the work starts later...

That settles it. I'm opening a computer shop and getting college girls to do all the repairs. (Under my personal supervision, of course). 😁

🤣 🤣 🤣

I never wear one too. I just touch the metal casing or the metal screw driver, before touching the inner parts.

Never used one and I don't think it's needed. I've never damaged any hardware due to static discharge. I generally touch the wall or socket plug to discharge myself and I loose some of the "dangerous" clothes like woollen jumpers.

At my old work it was an absolute requirement - however, we were dealing with expensive stuff for testing, so I didn't mind it. I don't have one of my own, but I do live in an area that gets pretty dry during the winter, so it may be a worthy investment.