Do I really need an anti-static glove or wrist band to change my DVD drive ?

Russel245

I've done bad things to my PCs, left motherboards lying about for weeks with clothes and stuff on them, spilt water on them etc. and they normally come out ok.

Adding a DVD drive is one of the least risky things you can do with your computer and probably one of the best ways to get a glimpse of the inner workings. If anything I could say, you're more likely to damage your computer by slipping and cracking the motherboard or knocking your graphics card out than static damaging it imo.

Just be careful, switch it off at the mains, don't forget to drain the capacitors, only touch what you need to and don't lean on anything expensive looking in the case and you should be fine.

tronator

Trinitrotoluene wrote: »

Not if you throw the switch on the back of most PSU's to 0.

Haven't seen such PSU's in years. I think they were common many many years ago. Maybe I'm wrong but all the computers I have laying around here don't have a switch on the PSU.

banger9365 wrote: »

just turn pc off ,
unplug it,
press the start button on case ,...

Russel245 wrote: »

Just be careful, switch it off at the mains, don't forget to drain the capacitors, ...

That's what I said. Couldn't believe what other people wrote in this thread about just switching the PC off and leaving it connected...

spud17

That's what I said. Couldn't believe what other people wrote in this thread about just switching the PC off and leaving it connected...

I'm guessing that they mean, leave lead connected but switch off at wall socket, therefore isolating PC but still leaving an earth route.

googler

spud17 wrote: »

I'm guessing that they mean, leave lead connected but switch off at wall socket, therefore isolating PC but still leaving an earth route.

Hope so.

It's amazing how many online guides to changing PC components refer to, in this order;

Unplugging the PC, then
Touch the casing to 'Earth' yourself

...when of course, the earth is no longer connected at the second step....

kwikbreaks

googler wrote: »

...when of course, the earth is no longer connected at the second step....

You only need to ensure that your body is at the same potential as the PC case. Whether or not that is earth potential is completely irrelevant so the guides are quite correct.

tomsolomon

Prevention is better than cure...

After all, you wouldn't go bare back riding these days with all the STD's that are going around, would you???

If you feel more comfortable or are unsure of the damage you could cause, (not saying it's going to happen,) when upgrading a computer, always wear protection.

ESD is a problem, and the results of a discharge can be very spectacular, and often quite expensive, by which time it's too late, and the damage has already been done.

Anti static wrist straps, not only protect your delicate electronic circuitry, but they protect you, to a certain extent, from recieving an electric shock.

You can't see ESD damage, but when your equipment starts acting up a few days, weeks, months down the road, you will wish you had taken precautions....;)

Spank

tronator wrote: »

Haven't seen such PSU's in years. I think they were common many many years ago. Maybe I'm wrong but all the computers I have laying around here don't have a switch on the PSU.





That's what I said. Couldn't believe what other people wrote in this thread about just switching the PC off and leaving it connected...

I meant switch it off at the wall, BTW high eng PSU's have switches on the back

Richie-from-the-Boro

#17 tomsolomon Today, 6:57 PM

- the O/P is not going inside the PSU, just changing a DVD
- it was always my intention to avoid the complicating science but #16 kwikbreaks was bang on
- connected to earth or not, the risk is minuscule, the second you touch the case screws you are ESD ' equalised ' !
- by the time you get the side off you will be safe~as~owses, scientific / evidential risk low to zero
- practical hands on experience low to zero
- too many old wives tales / folklore creeping into the advice
- so take the advice of spud17 / Spank and others / 13a socket switched off but the kettle lead left plugged in to avoid the ' stand-by mode '
- or take my advice an just unplug the whole thing either way you are safe.

prowla

kwikbreaks wrote: »

You only need to ensure that your body is at the same potential as the PC case. Whether or not that is earth potential is completely irrelevant so the guides are quite correct.

And earth varies anyway!

sirmarcus

Hi all,

Thanks for all of your responses, which have been really useful and informative. As a result, I will not bother with the anti-static glove or wrist-band and do as advised above.