Gaming Has anybody used this anti-static strap before?

DarkMario616 · Mar 11, 2010

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A1E6F...SS56X1ZS8YYPRCY

I bought this, and I'm going to be taking apart my DS Lite, but it'd be better to ask this here since it's more used on that then a DS...

I was wondering how this worked if you took apart your case, because I don't see how it works since it's WIRELESS.

But if anyone has used it, can you please comment?

myuusmeow · Mar 11, 2010

I'm probably gonna get my head bit off for this, but I've built (and opened many times) 3 computers on carpet, with no problems. The one you linked to has some good reviews and is pretty cheap but you could probably find a different one for cheaper, like http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Anti-Static-W...1/ref=pd_cp_e_1

Dangy · Mar 11, 2010

myuusmeow said:
I'm probably gonna get my head bit off for this, but I've built (and opened many times) 3 computers on carpet, with no problems. The one you linked to has some good reviews and is pretty cheap but you could probably find a different one for cheaper, like http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Anti-Static-W...1/ref=pd_cp_e_1

-Bite's head off.-

Why not just ground yourself normally? It's free.

DarkMario616 · Mar 11, 2010

That's the thing, mines wireless, and that's wired, I don't know what I would connect it to either way.

XD

thel0be · Mar 11, 2010

edited.

DarkMario616 · Mar 11, 2010

Let me explain my dilemma, please read this:

I have an OCD, it's a clean thing, I can't be in my room after I went out etc. due to this clean this, must take a shower before touching my stuff...I can't touch my stuff while I eat due to grease etc...and even if I touch a doorknob, I can't touch my stuff unless I wash my hands, it's bad, yah.

My dilemma is I can't do this DS taking apart in my room....carpet.

I'm going to do it in my kitchen, tile flooring on a wooden table/chair. I'm going to place computer paper around on the table because of the OCD etc. Going to place my laptop on there too, with a charger plugged in.

Now, I am going to use the wristband, but what should I touch to ground myself?

In the basement is a boiler with pipes and stuff, do I just touch one of them?

The problem is because of my OCD, after touching the pipe, I am FORCED to wash my hands before handling my case/DS...so is it ok to wash my hands? If anything, I'll touch the pipe with one finger,and won't even touch the knob to turn on the sink, and I will let my hands AIR DRY.

I'll also walk around in flip flops due to carpet in living room etc.

Does this sound good or no? I have to do this for my DS and now my sisters...as hers just broke today...worse than mine.

Elritha · Mar 12, 2010

Moving around after statically discharging rather defeats the purpose. I would simply just touch some grounded metal nearby, in this case in your kitchen.

Golfman560 · Mar 12, 2010

Just find a doorknob or a screw or nail in the wall and touch that. Lightswitches have screws in them and I'm sure you kitchen has lightswitches somewhere, just use those.

DarkMario616 · Mar 12, 2010

So what if I touched something metal in the kitchen, then put my finger/pinky etc. by the sink water or in a cup of water due to my OCD? XD I know this is hard for me, I wish I could just get over it.

Edit: The only thing in my kitchen that is metal is:

Sink faucet/handles
Knobs for cabinets
Door Knob leading to outside storm door
Door handle for storm door leading to outside

>_>?

And what about the metal on the screwdrivers etc.? How do I ground those, just touch it when I'm grounded?

juggernaut911 · Mar 12, 2010

I lick motherboards while humping a carpet. Shocking a component to death has a shockingly small chance of happening.

See what I did there?

Psyfira · Mar 12, 2010

It sounds like a wired wriststrap would be better for you than the wireless ones, then you don't need to touch anything. The wire stays connected to a grounded source while you're working.

As for what you connect it to I'm a little sketchy on that. The only one I've used had a plug on the end with a single earth pin which plugged directly into a mains socket, but most of the ones on sale seem to have a little crocodile clip instead. If you're working on a computer they say to attach it to the chassis but for smaller electronics I'm not sure what you're supposed to connect it to.

DarkMario616 · Mar 12, 2010

Yah, I don't know where I would connect it to, so that's why I bought the wireless, it's 10 bucks and worth a shot lol, but I'm going to ground myself in case, but I'm not sure what to touch in my kitchen to do so (see above).

thel0be · Mar 12, 2010

edited.

Vulpes Abnocto · Mar 12, 2010

The chances of a static discharge killing your electronics is pretty slim. (from what I've seen)

Try grounding yourself on a metal portion of your computer case (not the plastic cover), a metal toaster, a metal stove....any appliance that is metal, and plugged into your wall should be sufficient. Just don't walk across a carpet after the "grounding out". Otherwise you're totally defeating the purpose.

Man, your OCD is a tough one to work with.
Too bad it's not easy, like mine. (doing things in multiples of 2)

Mantis41 · Mar 12, 2010

The topic of antistatic comes up everyday. Most modern PCBs are designed with the outer most tracks containing large areas of earth tracks. This greatly reduces the chances of any antistatic discharge from your person actually entering and damaging a delicate semiconductor inside a chip. You can see this clearly in the photo of the DS system board below with the large earth tracks visible.

The majority of the damage I see everyday is caused by flex not static. Flexing a PCB during installation and whilst removing and installing memory or CPUs cracks the solder joints. Over time and heat stress can cause even a small crack to become a dry joint. This problem has become worse with the wider usage of lead free solder.

The only PCBs I am generally paranoid regarding static are Memory chips as they do not have the same protection as other PCBs. The delicate NPN boundaries inside the chips are easily damaged by static and once damaged will continue to degrade over time. A statically damaged memory chip may not start to show a failure for up to 3-6 months at which case lockups and crashes will be evident.

You will probably find that more modern memory PCBs are also being produced with larger earth tracks to reduce static damage

So in short, don't worry too much bout static just take basic precautions but, beware the flex.

Sorry bout the rant. -

Vulpes Abnocto · Mar 12, 2010

/me applauds Mantis41's post

(see what I did there? OCD alleviated)

DarkMario616 · Mar 12, 2010

Lol. Alright, my stove is plugged into the wall, if I open the oven part, I'm sure the metal parts where the heat comes out of would ground me, so if I put my foot in there, without it on so I don't burn it lolol, this will ground me?

And then I will worry about the flex thing, I'll go slow, and make sure I don't bend it or do it in a hot area or something. :3

Vulpes Abnocto · Mar 12, 2010

.....I'd just touch the back of the computer, but whatever you need to do to feel safer.

Remember, if you slip and fall, dropping your DS while you're working on it you'll almost certainly break it. Awkward stances aren't highly recommended. A constant connection to ground isn't entirely necessary; just an occasional touch to ground.

*resists the urge to mention that static buildup is often caused by clothing so you should work on electronics naked*

DarkMario616 · Mar 12, 2010

No no, I'll be sitting down

I have it all planned out.

But back of my computer? It's my laptop ...I guess I could touch the USB port or something, right?

Hold on, getting a picture, found something...

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/1063/metallp.png

See the little metal "O" things next to the female...whatever ports they are? Can I touch those?

Mantis41 · Mar 12, 2010

If you are going to earth yourself you need to do it to the item you are working on. A stove you would hope would be close to true earth if properly installed. A laptop does not have a true earth. Laptops have a metallic coating inside the cover. Earth yourself to that if you are worried.

Just remember not all items are earthed to true earth so the potential earth may be very different between devices. This is one of the reasons they recommend creating an earth cable between Xbox and PC before connecting cables. In reality you would be unlucky for the potential differences to be enough to damage but the risk is always there.

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