polarity wrote:
It's actually recommended to work on desktop PCs with them plugged into a wall outlet, but switched off at the wall, or on the back of the power supply (if it has a switch), so that the computer is disconnected from the live connection, but still grounded, and protected from any static electricity you might be carrying from synthetic clothing, or walking on carpets. Otherwise (and for laptops) you'd need an anti static wrist strap, to get rid of any static.
This is a terrible idea, please don't go around promoting it. A computer should always be unplugged when you're working on the internals, always. While being plugged into a socket with a relay position on off poses no direct threat, humans make mistakes and it only takes one time forgetting to turn something off to have a catastrophic accident.
ALWAYS UNPLUG THE COMPUTER FROM IT'S POWER SOURCE. If you're worried about static electricity all you have to do is make sure a part of your body is touching the metal interior of the case for grounding.
EDIT: fixed the quote, I had the previous paragraph not the second.
We're getting OT, and into an esoteric argument about best practices that experts don't even agree upon. Might be best to start a new thread about grounding vs not grounding / plugged in vs not?
17 Oct 2015, 3:42 pm
