Sidebar: Guarding against Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Using a Grounded PC

by Clifford Vincent Arrow
November 2008

PC case is grounded as confirmed by the Fluke multimeter.

Even with the physical switches on both the power strip outlet and the PC power supply box
off for safety, the ground connection is not broken. The Fluke multimeter confirms
ground connectivity between the PC case and the ground pin at the outlet.

Wearing a grounded wrist anti-static strip is the standard way to guard against Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) damage when working on electronics. Don't have a wrist static strap? Another solution is to leave the PC plugged in with all power switches between the PC and the outlet off.

The PC power supply switch and the power strip switch are off, but the ground continuity between the PC and the outlet is not broken. As long as you touch the PC before and while touching any electronics, any potential static will discharge harmlessly through outlet ground.

I have both the PC power supply and power strip switches off as an electrical safety measure. Of course, you should never work on an appliance that is plugged in and turned on!