anti-static (mat) solution for live pc?
January 8, 2022 3:24 PM Subscribe
For the first time in my 30+ year use of computer stuffs, I static-shocked my mechanical keyboard to death. Didn’t even seem like that big a shock, But sure enough, after the zap - 40% of keys no workie. Tried different USB ports, rebooting. No dice. other known good mechanical keyboard plugged in works fine. neither of the mechanical keyboards have metal exteriors if that matters. (more inside yep)
I don’t do much PC fiddling anymore, so I don’t need a tabletop anti-static mat like one might lay inert (powered off) gear on, and even if I had one, I’m not sure how I would shoehorn that into my PC rig that is on all the time. So I’m wondering if it’s worth some kind of standing mat? or I should just get used to touching some grounded metal object in the carpeted room where the computer is before I touch the keyboard. (note that this is not a regular occurrence where I live; I think the room just got a little too dry from the hvac heat and the cold weather. Normally I don’t need a humidifier. Finally, although the room is carpeted, I typically stand on one of those standing mat to relieve back pressure which is made of some kind of rubbery material. The PC case is not directly on the carpet, it’s raised off the floor on some wood blocks.
(I found a previous MeFi thread on grounding, but it didn’t quite answer the question.)
Thoughts? :)
I don’t do much PC fiddling anymore, so I don’t need a tabletop anti-static mat like one might lay inert (powered off) gear on, and even if I had one, I’m not sure how I would shoehorn that into my PC rig that is on all the time. So I’m wondering if it’s worth some kind of standing mat? or I should just get used to touching some grounded metal object in the carpeted room where the computer is before I touch the keyboard. (note that this is not a regular occurrence where I live; I think the room just got a little too dry from the hvac heat and the cold weather. Normally I don’t need a humidifier. Finally, although the room is carpeted, I typically stand on one of those standing mat to relieve back pressure which is made of some kind of rubbery material. The PC case is not directly on the carpet, it’s raised off the floor on some wood blocks.
(I found a previous MeFi thread on grounding, but it didn’t quite answer the question.)
Thoughts? :)
Best answer: I work with ESD sensitive electronics components professionally. A large percentage of ESD issues can be solved by periodically discharging yourself against a grounded metal connection. Your desktop PC power supply case is one. If your PC case has a part that is metallic and not clear-coated/painted, it's likely grounded to the power supply. You can find it out by using a multimeter and testing resistance between the case and the third prong on a power outlet.
You can also get an ESD wrist strap that can be grounded to the third prong on an outlet. You can also buy a ESD grounding mat (which will also need to be connected to earth ground) and use heel straps to conduct static into the mat. If you use heel straps, the conductive ribbon coming off of the heel strap is intended to go inside your sock, or somehow touch your skin to ensure conductivity.
There is no way to completely solve ESD with anything other than a slightly conductive path to earth ground. Any mat, wrist strap, heel strap, etc. that does not have a conductive path to earth ground will not help you.
posted by saeculorum at 5:23 PM on January 8, 2022
You can also get an ESD wrist strap that can be grounded to the third prong on an outlet. You can also buy a ESD grounding mat (which will also need to be connected to earth ground) and use heel straps to conduct static into the mat. If you use heel straps, the conductive ribbon coming off of the heel strap is intended to go inside your sock, or somehow touch your skin to ensure conductivity.
There is no way to completely solve ESD with anything other than a slightly conductive path to earth ground. Any mat, wrist strap, heel strap, etc. that does not have a conductive path to earth ground will not help you.
posted by saeculorum at 5:23 PM on January 8, 2022
You have damaged ~$100 of equipment in 30 years. It doesn't seem to me that that's a bad track record, or worth any significant money or trouble to improve upon. Just remember to weigh cost of a solution (including any daily trouble the solution causes you) against benefit.
(Also, congrats/commiserations on finding something conductive on your keyboard to discharge *to*; not quite sure how you managed that, they're typically very plastic on the outside.)
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 8:16 PM on January 8, 2022
(Also, congrats/commiserations on finding something conductive on your keyboard to discharge *to*; not quite sure how you managed that, they're typically very plastic on the outside.)
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 8:16 PM on January 8, 2022
Mechanical keyboards are usually pretty robust, and I'm trying to think what portion of the keyboard would be subject to static shock that can render 40% of the keys useless. Is this a store-bought or custom built, and whether you have any interesting in opening it and troubleshoot it.
I doubt the physical circuit board or the individual key switches are damaged, so that usually falls to the custom chip or the custom CPU shocked into forgetting some of its programming. Though to rule out circuit board damage you'll need to extract the circuit board and look at both front and back for burnt marks, and that's probably not worth the time.
Custom chips are not really replaceable, though custom mechanical keyboards can usually be re-programmed.
posted by kschang at 11:28 PM on January 8, 2022
I doubt the physical circuit board or the individual key switches are damaged, so that usually falls to the custom chip or the custom CPU shocked into forgetting some of its programming. Though to rule out circuit board damage you'll need to extract the circuit board and look at both front and back for burnt marks, and that's probably not worth the time.
Custom chips are not really replaceable, though custom mechanical keyboards can usually be re-programmed.
posted by kschang at 11:28 PM on January 8, 2022
Response by poster: Thanks for the recs!
So kschang - yeah I'm just guesstimating it's 40%. So far from testing, the shift keys, enter key, some random other letter keys, and I think space bar, all won't work. Maybe it's only 20 or 30%. ; )
posted by bitterkitten at 8:28 AM on January 9, 2022
So kschang - yeah I'm just guesstimating it's 40%. So far from testing, the shift keys, enter key, some random other letter keys, and I think space bar, all won't work. Maybe it's only 20 or 30%. ; )
posted by bitterkitten at 8:28 AM on January 9, 2022
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Speaking as someone who works with pricey server gear professionally, I nevertheless like to wear some clothes that are a bit ESD-prone.
You can also do numerous environmental things to reduce ESD, and it isn't all just about humidity. You mention carpet. Over here, we used to get the carpets treated with an ESD spray, but switched to using a mix of fabric softener and water in a garden sprayer, which turned out to be just as effective, much cheaper, and didn't require professional application.
posted by jgreco at 4:32 PM on January 8, 2022 [1 favorite]