Is it bad to still have my pc plugged for grounding.
Posted by DriveExpress7@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 49 comments
So my friend said I was crazy to keep my psu still plugged in while working on my pc. I said its perfectly safe and done it before. She then said that I will get electrocuted if I keep doing this since i have carpeted floors. I told her, yes theres a chance if I left the psu switch on and not off and if I didnt drain the power for 30 second and wait 30 minutes for it as a precaution, but then put rubber shoes, ground myself by touching the case alot thats on a wooden table but she still called me crazy. Am I wrong or is she right? because I didn't have another surface except for a plastic table that will charge up too. she told me to just buy those rubber grounding bracelets that I can use on the wooden table and that their cheap to buy.
Elitefuture@reddit
It's theoretically safe. However, after Jayztwocents showed a video of him plugging in a GPU to a PC with a switch off PSU but plugged in, I stopped doing it(since his PC booted).
RumbleTheCassette@reddit
Any idea which video that is?
MahatmaAbbA@reddit
I have an rgb gpu support that shows case temp plugged into my motherboard. It stays on after flipping the psu switch.
Elitefuture@reddit
It's from years ago, I can't find it now...
I just remember him trying to prove a point and the lights turned on(so not the pc booting actually).
Year_Popular@reddit
If your electrical plugs have a grounding pin, then having it plugged and but switched off will allow any static to discharge onto the case and into the grounding wire through the PSU. Just make sure to touch it often if you in an environment that creates a lot of static.
DriveExpress7@reddit (OP)
Yes, it does have a grounding plug in it.
Mysterious-Taro174@reddit
I know nothing, so this is an actual question: can't you unplug it and just ground it by letting the plug pins touch the ground?
DriveExpress7@reddit (OP)
Carpet flooring is what I have so it can generate static if I leave it on the floor.
Mysterious-Taro174@reddit
Surely not if the metal pins are touching the carpet. There grounded on the ground
Retnirpa@reddit
Lol can't you just unplug it? What am I missing here..
Do they make psu where you can't just detach the AC cable from the psu or something?
If you can detach it then you're not crazy, you're just lazy lol
DriveExpress7@reddit (OP)
The thing is im static prone, when ever I go out I will randomly shock people or when I touch mental pole handle at the mall which people are actively holding, I will touch and shock. I once got shock by a elevator button and it didnt shock my sister when she press it. My family joked I'm absorbing electricity to attack other. So im worried that since I have carpet flooring it will be a issue.
Impressive_Cricket89@reddit
Grounding urself during a build is outdated and pointless. Modern hardware is basically impossible to kill with ESD. LTT has a video on it that goes into more detail on why, but they were shocking components directly with an ESD gun and it did nothing to the PC.
Darante2025@reddit
I've built hundreds of systems, mostly directly on carpet; not once has ESD been an issue. And I've never usaed any form of anti-static precautions like wristbands or grounding etc.
TrousersCalledDave@reddit
I think it very much depends on the environment. Where I used to work I had to wear a polyester fleece and boots with thick rubber soles. Whenever I touched certain equipment I would regularly get a shock.
At home? I can't remember the last time I had a static shock, but it was definitely years ago. That divided by the time spent holding sensitive components, yeah, the chances are absolutely miniscule.
I would drastically increase those chances by wearing that fleece and those boots at home though! So yeah, it is very dependent on your clothing and environment.
Errorr404@reddit
Attaching the anti static grounding bracelet to wood would also do nothing, you want it attached to anything metal. The metal PC case works well for electric discharges, you either want the electricity to be spread out in an area where it becomes ineffective or use a special grounded outlet but I don't even bother anymore since PC components aren't nearly as sensitive to ESD discharge as they were in the past.
DriveExpress7@reddit (OP)
Will a outlet that has like reset and test be a proper outlet?
Errorr404@reddit
By using a grounding outlet I mean something like this kit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sensitive-Electronic-Soldering-Grounding-Antistatic/dp/B0BZXQR94S
You get the outlet that then plugs you and the work surface to ground.
Unsure if you guys across the pond have house circuitry made for grounding like this to be possible (I know some of your plugs are 2 pin with no dedicated ground) so I'd be going to someone who knows about electricity and can set it up for you and checking before you end up having to explain to Jesus how you thought it would be a great idea to connect yourself to a live circuit.
DriveExpress7@reddit (OP)
Oooh, um, forgot to mention im in the US which have grounding in the outlet. Sorry I forgot to clarify that in the original post. But this actually seems like a good concept, maybe i should look for a US version of this.
Errorr404@reddit
yea a grounded workstation like the pad with the wall outlet is all you need if you're going to be desk building if you want the peace of mind against ESD discharges. If your desk is a standing desk then you can file down the paint on a metal part that attaches the desk to the motor (not the motor directly) and use that as the ground point if you can't find these type of grounding outlets in the US.
Errorr404@reddit
Anything grounded will work or anything bare metal or even lightly painted metal like a PC case works to distribute the electricity over a large surface area and keep it away from components. I wouldn't be directly using an outlet for grounding, that's a quick way for things to go wrong and then having the house electricity going through you instead.
Either get a grounded working pad and connect yourself to the pad or connect yourself to a metal part on the PSU and have the PSU plugged in to an outlet but the switch on the PSU needs to be off that way any electric discharge is going to the PSU and into ground rather than more resistant paths or into the components. ESD discharges barely affect anything these days so as long as you're not building a PC wearing those loud synthetic rain coats that build up a ton of charge then the light EDS discharges you find only zap you because its such a small point of contact with your finger, components are very well protected these days.
EvilDan69@reddit
No. Always remove power before working. IT professional.. all I do is work with computers. this is like rule #1
Ozi-reddit@reddit
my workspace is away from wall plug so ... it's only 12v lol so no real danger long as touch metal so often
Jman85@reddit
A circuit is 120V at 15A. That’s 1800W.
Ozi-reddit@reddit
/sigh he's not playing with opened psu ...
Jman85@reddit
How does that change what I said?
Ozi-reddit@reddit
... really?
Jman85@reddit
You should be asking yourself if you understand how electricity works. Before asking others if they understand things. You seem to think a PSU runs on a 12V circuit.
Ozi-reddit@reddit
just educate yourself pls ...
Jman85@reddit
You should elaborate more on your intended narrative here. You appear to struggle to understand how a circuit works in terms of basic electricity, and perceived risk there in.
You then accuse others of having an understanding issue. It doesn’t appear to make sense. There is a material difference between 12V and 120V in terms of electrical risk and application.
Ozi-reddit@reddit
no 120v risk unless open the psu, GEEEEEEESH !!!
notadroid@reddit
i have never left a computer plugged in when I've worked on it.
Errorr404@reddit
no harm as long as its switched off PSU side, you actually get better grounding that way the only problem is that if you flip the switch on by accident during that so much better practice to switch PSU off, unplug power and then press and hold the power button until all electricity is depleted from the caps.
notadroid@reddit
oh I know. but i'm from a time from BEFORE the switch on the psu :) hence why I said what I said. Just got in the habit of disconnecting everything.
Laylowski@reddit
Here is a video of Electroboom (electrical engineer) & Linus, show you how ridiculously difficult it is for pc components to be damged by electro-static discharge.
AstarothSquirrel@reddit
Back in the real world. Yes, having the psu plugged in but the socket turned off provides a grounding to prevent static shocks. There is no point in clipping a wrist strap to the case unless it is grounded. The only way you could get electrocuted in this case is if there is a fault in the socket that makes the ground live AND you don't have an rcd or have a faulty rcd in your consumer unit. if the socket is switched on you would need to have a fault in the psu AND the same issue with rcd in the consumer unit. Without fault in the socket or the psu, with everything switched on, the most you can get is a 12v (24v in the right circumstances) which is only an issue if you are daft enough to be testing terminals with your tongue (don't do that)
There are some that will tell you that static doesn't pose any risk to modern components. Personally, I'd say why risk it if you don't have to. Here in the uk, we can just periodically touch the grounded case to ground ourselves. If you are in more arid countries, you might want to get a wrist strap.
You should however consider getting a surge protector, especially if you are in the US or other country with dirty electricity supply.
Plenty-Industries@reddit
The fear of ESD when working on modern electronics, is largely overblown.
20-30 years ago... sure it was worth using a grounding strap of some sort because hardware and components weren't really designed with ESD in mind.
I've built many PCs (personal and for others) without any grounding, and often on carpet while wearing socks and never had an issue.
Usually just occasionally touching the PC case once in a while is enough, if you're worried about static discharge.
GuzDex@reddit
Why tho
DriveExpress7@reddit (OP)
Have carpet floors and no where else to work on my pc except my wooden desk in my room with carpet floor.
Darante2025@reddit
I've built hundreds of systems directly on carpet with no precautionary measures taken and never had a problem.
dalooooongway@reddit
Risk vs reward. Risk is very low but still there for electrocution. What do you gain from leaving it plugged in while fiddling around in it?
DriveExpress7@reddit (OP)
To keep it ground, I basically a walking static person, I dont mean too, but am, even in places that people dont typically get static shock from I am the one shocking people by accident. Heck one time went on a walk in a park and sock my sister. Maybe my clothes or air? I dont know. Plus carpet flooring.
GuitarCFD@reddit
pretty sure most components these days are hardened against static shock. It's not 100%, but it is 100% not worth a malfunctioning switch sending a fully juiced circuit through you. An anti static wrist strap is like $15...get one of those and unplug your machine.
TheKitler@reddit
I don't understand why you take all these precautions but you can't just take the 2 seconds it takes to unplug it.
DriveExpress7@reddit (OP)
I have carpet floor and basically static prone person, so im worried that if im not grounded it will kill the components so I keep the pc grounded by keeping it plug in but shut off the psu and do the whole drainage of power method. So i just touch the case to ground myself.
TheKitler@reddit
You'd have to actually try to kill your components with static and even then, it probably wouldn't happen.
Narrow-Prompt-4626@reddit
Unplug it, flip the switch, and then press the power button a few times to discharge capacitors
Kronix86@reddit
Just seems safer in general to work on the pc with it not plugged in...
JazzlikeInfluence813@reddit
Just don’t stick your fingers in the psu and your fine, never had an issue with static my self and always unplug the machine before starting work. If your really concerned get a grounding strap, but I’ve literally never used one past throwing it in the garbage after getting it in a cheap repair parts order from Amazon lol
Jman85@reddit
Your friend is wrong. While it’s not the best practice to work on live circuits, there are no exposed parts on your computer where you are at the risk of being electrocuted.