One final note about grounding for the benefit of anyone who wants to set up a simple system in their workshop.  

Find a nearby electrical outlet.  This can be a wall socket, strip connector or extension lead - the principle is the same.

Switch off the mains power and open up the socket.  In most countries, the setup is the same - you'll have a phase line, which is the 'hot' one, a neutral line and an earth line.  The color codes vary for these - the 'hot' line might be red or brown, the neutral might be black or blue, but the earth wire is usually green.

Anyway, it's the earth terminal you need to locate.  Now get yourself a length of appropriately colored, insulated single-core wire that's long enough to reach from the socket to your workbench.  Undo the screw on the earth terminal and attach, or 'patch in' one end of your loose wire.  

Re-tighten the screw, making sure the original earth wire is still properly connected.  Replace the socket or plug cover, ensuring that your loose wire protrudes from under the cover.  Obviously, there are many ways you could do this - select a method that is primarily firm and secure and secondly, tidy and unobtrusive.

Now, if you've done it right, you'll have a direct link to your home's earth wire circuit.  In New Zealand, this line goes directly from the switchboard to a metal rod which is driven 6 feet into the ground outside the house.  A branch line is also attached to any metal plumbing pipes so that taps etc are properly grounded in the event a faulty hot wire comes in contact with the metalwork.

Once you've set up your earth wire, attach the other end in any way that's convenient for you to touch.  On my workbench I have a large bulldog clip attached to the upstand at back of the bench and the earth wire is screwed onto that with a self-tapping screw.  Periodically, while I work, I reach out and touch the bulldog clip for a second or so.

But it would be just as effective to touch the bared end of the wire, perhaps twisted into a loop or knot.  

Note that I suggested using a single-core wire for the earth lead.  Our electrical dealers sell a 1mm (about 1\16 inch) single copper wire, insulated by a green plastic sheath, which is ideal for the purpose.

One final note:  Be extremely careful to connect your wire to the EARTH and not the HOT circuit.  And if you're in any  doubt about this procedure, don't do it at all.

Note that if you ever have to touch a suspected hot wire, be sure to use the BACK of your finger or hand, not with your palm towards the wire. This way, if the wire is live, your grip will spasmodically contract away from the wire, not towards it.

   
Ian Porter
Computer Guys Inc.
Arrowtown
New Zealand
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The NOSPIN Group
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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Carroll Grigsby 

  Just an add-on to Stan's excellent advice and counsel: Mark Minasi (who has
  written a series of books about upgrading and repairing) once wrote that a
  good way to avoid static problems is to work barefooted. No wrist strap, no
  need to continually reground yourself. It's always worked for me. I must
  admit that this practice did create some controversy when I did it at work.
  After that, I just waited until those-who-have-nothing-better-to-do had left
  for the day before going inside the case.

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