Solved How to avoid Electrostatic discharge (ESD)

[TVeblen]

Yes.

That would work.

(But so would just touching the case!)

 

[Franky]

Thank you very much.

 

[Yard Dog]

Yah.. ya got good solid advice.. best of luck to ya .

 

[Franky]

(But so would just touching the case!)

I can't understand how it can also work.

Consider I have some electrostatic. I touch the body of the case (of the desktop computer). The electricity flows from my hand into the body of the case which is metal. Now the body of the case has that electricity.
If now I touch the components, since I haven't any electricity, I shouldn't expect any problem related to the electricity.
But if my hand hits the body accidentally, the electricity flows vice versa, ie, from the body of the case into my hand. And at this point I again need to discharge the electricity somehow.
So, I think if I touch the water pipe, the electrostatic from my hands go and I can get rid of it this way for whole time of that work.
Do you agree?

 

[TVeblen]

I think you are on the right track.

The static charge is going to dissipate to 'ground'. In layman's terms it means it neutralizes itself - it 'dissolves' into less positively charged molecules. It does not move from one item to another like a sticky residue on your fingers. It "disappears" like the air in a popped balloon.

Technically it would be better to 'dissolve' the static potential into something not connected to your electronics work. So the ESD wristband, or your water pipe, is a better idea than using the computer case in that sense.

But unless your case is floating in the air, or isolated from the table or bench by a non-conductive pad (path to ground), or if it is all plastic (no metal), then a static discharge will dissipate into the case shell and dissolve to ground - usually taking a path around the outside of the shell.

It is very much like grabbing the handle on a car door and getting zapped (if you live in a cold climate you know this lovely inconvenience all too well!). The rubber tires make no difference and the radio does not burn out. The charge just dissipates around the skin of the car body to the ground.

 

[Franky]

Yes. Great story on that car and that cold climate, mate. And yes, it's a lovely inconvenience!
Thanks so much

 

[lehnerus2000]

Current Flow

Current can only flow between points with different voltage levels.
For purposes of this discussion, you can consider current flow to be identical to water flow.

Touching the case doesn't eliminate the voltage you are carrying, it just makes you and the case end up at the same voltage level.

​

 

[Franky]

Seems completely correct.

And what I concluded and TVeblen said is just that.

For water pipe: The water pipe is connected to the earth which its voltage is zero, so touching it makes our electricity to be discharged by flowing from the hand into the earth via water pipe.

And for the case: Just as above scenario when the case is metal and somehow connected to the earth.

Thank you for that great illustration.