Anti-static wrist band

[wearetheborg]

I got one of these, similar to
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0149064802

The problem is, the banana plug doesnt seem to fit into my ground outlets. The directions say to plug it into the round ground hole, but all my ground holes are square, and too big for the banana jack.

Is there some sort of convertor for the banana plug ?

[rkawakami]

If you have the alligator clip-banana jack combination, simply insert the plug into the end of the alligator clip and then clip onto a metal chassis of a computer (for example) that in turn is plugged into a grounded outlet.

If you don't have the alligator clip, then you may be able to use a pair of pliers and squeeze/expand the tip of the plug so that it fits into the wall outlet/extension cord.

(Sorry, I couldn't help myself with the bananas... )

[wearetheborg]

Yes, I have the alligator clips. Where would be a good point to clip to a thinkpad ? Say a T42, and a T60 ?

[rkawakami]

Attaching yourself to the Thinkpad (via the antistatic strap) may not do any good if you will also be handling the Thinkpad and/or components inside. What you should do is what the instructions say: connect the end of the strap to a grounded outlet. That for sure will allow any static build up to safely discharge to earth ground. Attaching to the Thinkpad (just by itself) can still allow a static charge to remain on yourself (and the Thinkpad). If you are at the same voltage potential then you probably won't damage anything that way.

All that said, I have swapped out too many memory modules to count, extracted CPUs and put them on my table (wooden), removed motherboards from the bases (and also put them on the table), all without using a ground strap and all without causing any damage. At work, I've been handling parts for years without benefit of "proper" grounding and I think I've only blown out two parts in that time. And these were back in the early days of MOS devices which did not have the protection diodes that are now commonly designed into parts.

edit: Upon re-reading this I should probably clarify that you should use proper grounding techniques and handle computer parts with care. It's a case of "do as I say" and not "do as I do" . I AM aware of my static potential, especially at work, where I've crashed several Sun computers and memory testers because I've walked up to them, touched the system and felt a shock. This was before I ran a separate ground wire that was bolted to the chassis. At home I will occasionally touch the Gateway tower system if I think that I may have generated a charge by sliding around in my cloth-covered chair.

[wearetheborg]

Unfotunately I dont have a desktop computer.

What use is the banana plug ? It doesnt seem to match the ground hole.

[rkawakami]

The banana plug is an industry standard type of connector. Usually with equipment of this nature, there will be a banana jack already mounted in a grounded piece of electronics gear (multimeter, oscilloscope, etc.). It is a simple way of being able to plug in. Since it appears that the plug does not fit into a wall outlet or extension cord, about the only thing I can suggest is to use the alligator clip and grab onto the screw that holds the plate of the AC outlet in place. By code, it is supposed to be ground.

[RealBlackStuff]

Take an old plug with ground-pin apart, and use that ground pin instead.
Use a hacksaw to cut off any parts you don't need.

[eddy eddy]

I don't know if it helps but some years ago I used to plug the banana to any metal (usually iron) door in my house as I couldn't find some grounded spot.