Q&A for How to Ground Yourself to Avoid Destroying a Computer with Electrostatic Discharge

There are these grounding strips you can buy that go around your wrist that will basically make it impossible to cause an electric shock. That's going to be overkill for most people, but if you work with computer components, that's probably the best way to do it.

Hardwood or concrete is going to be good. Carpeting is going to be the worst option. If you're on a hard surface, make sure it's unpainted. Paint can often make it difficult to stay grounded.

No, I really wouldn't do much walking or shuffling. Whenever I'm working on a computer, I make a conscious effort to keep my feet planted so that I'm not walking, shuffling, or dragging my feet.

Grounding yourself does not strictly prevent electrostatic discharge, but instead, redirects the discharge away from your sensitive computer parts. Think of it this way -- electricity always 'wants' to find the fastest path to ground. Without grounding yourself, the electrical charge from your body will try to get to ground by going through your highly conductive computer parts, which can damage them. So, grounding yourself gives it a faster path than through your computer, protecting your parts from electrical damage.

Some components are electrostatic sensitive - meaning they are so delicate, even the static electricity in a body can destroy them. It is for this reason we ground ourselves (so we have no static charge), then touch the components.

There is always a risk no matter what you do, but the more precautions you take, the smaller the likelihood of something going wrong becomes.

Yes, because as long as the copper wire provides as a route from your body to the ground, you have made yourself neutral and you can't give off an electric discharge.

No, cotton gloves would make it worse, not better.

Yes, it would.

No, these still allow electricity to pass through them. If you are worried about your skin oils or getting fingerprints on things, baby powder and gloves will work (baby powder to absorb sweat if present). Still use the grounding methods above.

Wear rubber gloves, an ESD mat and band, and don’t wear socks, wool, or jewelry.

Yes. Rubber blocks the electricity from transferring from you to the computer.

As long as they are rubber or latex, then yes, they will work. Rubber blocks the electricity from transferring from you to the computer.

Then it is very improbable that electricity will go through your computer, but it is highly recommended to ground yourself anyway. Better to be safe than sorry. Standing barefoot on the ground can prevent you from having to buy new components.

That should work, but be careful when sticking anything into any outlet. Make sure you know which slot is ground.

If that's the case, you are out of luck, as there is no way to tell what part it shorted.

Static electricity accumulated just by going about one's day is not in large enough amounts to be harmful.

A metal object would do. You may need to do it again every few minutes while working on something.

Yes, provided the part of the laptop/PC that you are touching is unpainted metal.

Yes you can, and yes it would count as grounding yourself as provided you have yourself connected to an unpainted metal part of the case the case itself it should be enough to dissipate the static.

Yes, this method is commonly used. It remains connected to the ground and won't dissipate, making it safer.

It should be okay, as it generally doesn't matter. Just make sure to touch a grounded object to discharge any static electricity.

Building on a glass table is generally safe, as glass does not conduct electricity. You should still take standard precautions against static electricity.

It doesn't ground you. It just dissipates difference in charge, which is what you want. Make sure it's plugged in.

No. That works only if the power supply is connected to an electrical outlet (and is thus grounded).

Yes, if it keeps you connected to ground. it should work in preventing you from getting static shock.

No, that's worse. That's allowing the current to go through you.

They're actually both the same in effect. Yeah, it is different because the rubber souls prevent you from being grounded so the current will go through you. Whereas the barefoot will prevent you from getting any charges.

This is a matter of personal preference, though either of them should work.

Not really. Those items should be plenty.