how to ground anti-static mat?

Im gonna be pulling apart a couple of systems in the next few days so i can apply AS5. I found my dads anti-static mat/strap in the garage, i figured i might aswell for good measure since ESD can possibly damage parts. My room is fully carpet.

Im not sure on how to ground it for notebooks. Ive used it on desktop before, where i just hook the crocodile clip into the PSU or chassis while the power cord is plugged in (no power). For notebooks i have no where to clip it into

Its a anti-static strap (1M ohm) which is connected to a mat which then needs to be connected to a ground by a crocodile clip. How should i ground it?

I have a few used PSU's lying around..

 

clip it to anything metal. I clip mine to my desktop's case when I work on a laptop.

 

I dont have a desktop in my room atm, only 3 notebooks.

Your supposed to clip it onto something thats grounded. Clipping it into just metal wont do anything.

I guess ill just scrap the strap/mat idea and do it naked! lol

 

Ground yourself before you do the work. You will be fine. Discharge!

 

I never usually use anything when working on computers. Im just being cautious this time because one of the notebooks isnt mine.

3 notebooks... 3 good tests for AS5 to prove itself.

 

Discharging yourself should sufice. touch some metal parts and it should be fine .
As for AS5, I have yet to find a case in which there are no benefits

 

1 notebook done in 1 hour. Immediate results as follows:

Intel Celeron M 1.4ghz

Before:
Idle - 55c
Load - 70c

AS5:
Idle - 50c
Load - 64c

Success!

When i opened it up, the processor didnt even use any sort of thermal goo. It was only using a thin piece of aluminium foil. The temps should further improve over the next few weeks

The fans still hasnt turned on once, makes me wonder if its working at all..

 

If the temps are good, it should be working
Keep up the good work.

 

And it I think takes some time to cure. So should keep getting better for either the next month or three, I forget.

 

Yea, AS5 works best after 200h of usage,that`s the usual time it needs to settle in.

 

If you really cannot find anything to clip on for ground, then look no further than your wall/power bar outlets, the 3rd hole at the bottom of each outlet is ground (assuming your place's wires are correctly installed of course ). Take a screw driver that has the same diameter as the hole, plug it to the 3rd hole, then clip it to the metal part of the screw driver. Just don't plug anything to the other 2 holes of course.

 

Just so stewiegriffin is not responsible for the death of anyone as not always on the bottom. The one that looks different than the other two, almost round (States).

 

Thanks.

I assumed he is in the US/Canada, which is always the 3rd hole. Anyway, I shouldn't have said "bottom", I should have said the "single/alone" hole. And yeah, not every country is round. For example, in some Asian countries and UK, it's rectangle/flat.

 

Id rather carry my refridrator so I can touch it to discharge into my work room than stick a screw driver into a wall socket. If you did touch one of the elements that has power it should still not shock you unless you get it close enough to the other to cause an arc.

If you really were deadset in using a wall socket as your ground source, I would go buy a replacement head for a cord and just run the ground wire out from it and not any of the power wires, this way its actually safe. I did this for my amp with my old stereo setup, it needed ground and I had none around.

 

I just used a power cord+used PSU. I used the ground wires in the PSU itself

DV2500SE is done. Stress results as follows:

Intel C2D T7500 2.2ghz (uv'ed)

Before: 67c

After: 62c

No change in idle temps so far =/

 

All I do is discharge the static by touching something metal prior to working on electronics. Unless your going to be working on the computer for hours on end rolling on a rug etc etc. you should be fine

 

You guys realize that wrist straps are a marketing scam right.
I have built dozens of systems, and I take apart my laptop on a weekly basis. I do not own a wrist strap and I do not ever plan on getting one. It is retarded. Have you ever shocked a computer while its running with static electricity, it does nothing to your computer. All electronics are connected directly to the pcb, and guess what your finger or whatever is not ever going to be the shortest path for electrcity to travel. I have built pc's on carpets, and have never had any problems.

Come on, youguys actually think that tying yourself to a computer via a small wire a pansy clip and a band which goes around your arm is going to do anything.

K-TRON

 

Thanks K-T I just invested heavy in a wrist strap company. If you guys stop seeing me it is because I am broke and can't pay for Internet access. I mean it is not like we charge a lot for them?

 

I don't know about you, but if you know which hole is the ground hole, it is pretty hard to miss and touch the other 2 holes unless you're doing it on purpose.

I don't know if it's really a scam or not, but my older brother was in EE when he was in university, they use it all the time. There must be a reason to use it, right?

 

By the way K-TRON, I think you're quite lucky, because I've seen people killed there RAM due to static from their body.

 

hmmm, I will have to ask my brother (electrical engineer) if static can do anything harmful. I have never had any problems. Usually all electronics are insulated pretty well, so static electricity shouldnt be all that harmful.

K-TRON

 

I am pretty sure I killed a stick of RAM with ESD in the past, I was wearing some rave pants that built up static like mad and forgot to discharge before doing a ram swap, it worked before, and not after.

General electronics are probably pretty safe, but RAM is the one thing I am really careful with. I do not use the wrist bands or anything like that but I just make sure to discharge myself every time before I sit down to work on something.

@ Stewy, I dont care I know what hole it is but I am not sticking a screwdriver into a electrical socket... just something about it is wrong in every way. I used to be an electrician and maybe thats why. Not to mention I have seen 3 people die from electrical accidents. Plus making a plug for it like I said makes it more professional and safer, it will hold itself in place and be a more permanent thing than just rigging it.

 

Sorry about the accidents. True, it is much safer making a plug instead.

 

K-T ask your brother but my understanding is yes (owns stock in wrist strap company) can't a static charge easily contain 50,000v? Well a lot of DC circuits are voltage sensitive as that is what they do. Voltage manipulation vs AC. There was a thread also about how you can do damage that does not cause immediate failure but does cause premature failure. I understand and agree with those who say as a practical matter discharge yourself and you will be fine. The fellow who went into great detail was, well very extreme to the point of being impractical. Talking about special floor, sort of the electrical equivalent of a clean room. He did say you can discharge without feeling it. I agree that might be possible so touching something grounded frequently would be a good Idea. A wrist strap is a extra level of protection. If you built 12 computers total. Well if some guy builds 12 a week for years much more likely just from statistics to have an electrical discharge. My point is if it is remote those who do it more would be more likely to suffer the negative consequences and taking steps to prevent even a remote possibility is a good idea.

Edit: I don't use a wrist strap myself.

 

im definately sure ESD can damage sensitive parts. Large companys use anti-ESD devices all the time. They wouldnt use it if it was a scam.

Also have you seen the people that set themselves on fire on the petrol pumps? Thats because of ESD igniting gas fumes. Its quite funny to watch but horribly painful

ESD might not kill the electronic device but it will degrade its performance and lifespan

From the HP guide precautions

 

Wow, I did not think the voltages were that high, guess I should do some more research. I always wear shoes, so maybe thats why I am lucky. I guess its cause their hand made in Germany

I'll ask my bro, but probably you guys are right

K-TRON

 

I see you do not use product that you invested on. hmmm... :twitcy:

 

...no i didn't know that...i used to work for a defence company...worked with some pretty hairy $hit in a high hazard mix house...look at it the wrong way and bang...used em back then...and still use one when i'm working on a p.c...if your looking for a proper way to use your static mat...you'll have to sink a ground rod outside of your house...run a wire soldered onto it to your static mat...have a look around the outside of your house...there may already be a ground rod servicing the house...if so attach it to that...i don't blame you for wanting to be cautious...they don't ship computer parts in anti-static bags for $hits and grins...my .02 cents

 

All the guy's who are saying be careful, do it the right way are correct. I do take short cuts and do know there is a risk. But I do it, I know the risks and I address them at a level I am comfortable with. I think Jason@XoticPC or Palada44 could be informative on this as they have techs working all day on systems. What precautions do they take? I am sure it includes a wrist strap at the very least. I am starting to wonder all the posters who buy RAM and it doesn't work and they have to RMA? Is that because they have no clue and rubbed their feet on carpet before opening the RAM bag? I think many did. I think all of us ( I mean those of us who right now don't) should encourage those who don't know the correct method and steps. Not our shortcuts. A#1 if I worked with explosive compounds I would have wrist ankle and a neck strap. ESD is real.

 

I just want to add to the topic something only semi-relevant.

Fuel explosions (well fires as explosions are almost impossible) like when you putting gas in your car and suddenly it burst into flames are being linked to ESD. They say no smoking, no cell phones ect. However its been found that a MUCH higher percentage of any actual fires that happened were due to ESD.

Walking to go pay for gas, or when you slide out of your car seat you build up a good amount of static, and when you go to put gas in the car, be it some part of the car like the body, the actual gas tank, or maybe even the nozzle on the gas pump a spark can jump and ignite the fumes and cause a fire.

Thing is you discharge that spark before you start pumping gas.

The reason they found that the cell phones and smoking put you at a higher risk was not because the cell phone or the cigarette caused the ignition but because when reaching for these items you were more prone to reach into your pocket or do something WHILE pumping the gas and build up a new charge and then when you go back to pumping the gas you can discharge a spark at one of the above areas with fumes in the air.

Also I may add since maybe I "sparked" your interest that if this ever does happen to you the correct process is to just run away and let the fire burn out with the pump nozzle still in the car.

Most people have pulled it out and it makes it MUCH worse because you spill fuel and just gave it a bunch of oxygen to burn.

 

ViciousXUSMC you are correct. But for all who do not know on this issue. Have the gas can on the ground. The worst thing you can do is fill up a gas can in the back of a pick up. All the reasons you don't put a battery (I should know) on the ground is the reason why you should put your gas can on the ground.

 

I was talking about filling your car not a separate tank, but what you said makes sense too.

 

You might be on to something but what I mentioned is the main causes. Actually that is the real issue. What you are talking about already has so much Idiot proofing. They have at a design level already considered the contingencies. Also I am starting to get concerned about your example. If I light matches all day and throw them in a gas tank? Guess what happens? Absolutely nothing! With out Oxygen gas is nothing. I do not want to belabor this as well, I just don't. I also do not want to explain why the TSA limited liquid. It is called peroxide.

 

sure did powerpack...wrist 'o' stats'...static mats...and conductive shoes...the soles are impregnated with high content carbon powder...this helped in bleeding static out of the body into the floor mat...i talked with a few company ppl who did traveling to other countries doing ballistic testing...third world countries who didn't have the resourses or technology for ground static precautions worked in ankle deep water...the water being in touch with the concrete pad that they worked on...and the concrete pad being in direct touch with the ground served the same purpose...just didn't need wiring

 

I dunno who Jason or Palada is lol,but Justin@XoticPc and Paladin44 would probably say the same thing: ESD can in fact damage sensitive parts.
I did kill a RAM module that way in the past...