Hi all, sorry if the answer has been posted elsewhere, I'm about to install some new RAM. I have a free anti-static bracelet that came with it. Is it safe to just poke the connecter into the earth part of my mains electric supply? I'm in the UK, 3-pin electrical sockets.
I would connect it to the case of your computer - the point of the thing is to reduce the potential difference between you and the computer - where you are relative to earth is irrelevant.
-- Peter Bennett VE7CEI email: peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca GPS and NMEA info and programs: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/index.html Newsgroup new user info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq
Back in the day we tested static attempting to fry various chips to no avail. We were in college and had just learned about static having a kabillion volts but little amps, and it was in an environment where we had lot's of static, maybe chips were built better then, can't remember what type they were....
Has anyone destroyed anything with "static discharge" from their body?
If it was like over 20 or 25 years ago, you might have been playing with the old TTL chips, ala 74xx. They were pretty static resistant.
Yeah....my ex-boyfriend's cat's trust in me. At least he never jumped in my lap again. The CAT that is.
Well, TTL held up pretty good. CMOS not so good. Modern RAM and processors, well, don't try it. Tom
With a 1 megohm series resistor, it should be safe unless there's something seriously wrong with your house wiring.
However, you have to ask yourself if that's what you want. You're using the wrist strap for the very specific purpose of keeping yourself and the PC at the same electric potential so no current flows from you through teh RAM to the PC when your hand holding the RAM places it in the socket.
In order to do that, remove the PC cover, and then put on the wrist strap. Connect the other end of the wrist strap to a non-painted metal part of the PC case. If it's got an alligator clip at the end, your task should be easy. If not, use a jumper wire with alligator clips on each end. Test to make sure the wire won't come loose as you move your hand.
And by the way, be sure the PC is unplugged when you are working on it.
Good luck with your upgrade. Chris
Yes, the same chip in an IBM ProPrinter (mid 1980's) 3 times. First time I reached over to the printer to press one of the buttons, and saw the arc from my finger to the touch pad. Replaced the chip. Second time (weeks later), exact same thing. That time I added a socket and replaced the chip. Third time, exact same thing. Replaced the chip and "built" a permanent "fix". Took a double sided copper PC board blank and taped it to the printer so that it covered all the buttons. The tape made a sort of hinge. Ran a wire from the copper (both sides) to ground at the proprinter frame. That way, any time you wanted to press a button you had to lift the pc board first, and you discharged into it rather than the touch pad. Ugly and inconvenient, but the proprinter never died again.
Ed
In 197X I made an 8 bit 256 deep shift register,
3 out of 8 1bit shift chips failed even with all precautions. Replaced those 3,2 dead. Replaced 2,one dead Replaced,worked. Those cmos things were unprotected,and arrived with shorted pins. I think they died even when you looked at them. -)-)-)
Or, just be sure to ground one hand or the other to the case before you go poking around.
If you're drawing a lot of static arcs, get a spray bottle, mix some Downy (or equiv) liquid fabric softener about 1 TBSP/Qt water, and spray the carpet.
Good Luck! Rich
I'd say that in this case, "ex" is a good thing - pepole who allow cats to befoul their homes are incapable of loving a human.
Cheers! Rich
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