>not at all!! I am completely serious. all these measures are used to >eliminate static in improvised environments, when it isn't possible to >order and obtain the manufactured standard antistatic materials....
The thread under which I wrote my comments was not "r/gray, 'thread is a troll'" it was "Re: stopping computers." My remark was directed at all the hoopla about people with a mystic quality for crashing vintage Macs and other computers, Kirlian images, and similar hocus pocus. I wasn't questioning anyones sincerity with regard to grounding techniques. Some of them are valid measures but now that you brought it up, there's also no need for OVERKILL. "Get outdoors and ground yourself...lie down full length on a ground level lawn"...? That's just plain silly! I can ground myself just as thoroughly on the 56th floor by touching any electrically bonded surface as I can by burrowing into the earth (BTW, there's a huge potential difference between those two vertical levels even though connected electrically). You "wipe off" all those excess electrons on the grass and then generate a new charge as you walk across the carpet going back into your office. I'll admit the first time I installed chips in an ATR8000, I put a damp towel on the workbench under the whole works and attached a grounding strap to my wrist. Since then I've been in and out of dozens of machines and all that's necessary is to take sensible precautions. Don't touch any conducting circuitry/components unless you are simultaneously touching a bonded surface. Watch the factory techs. When you open a computer, immediately touch the metal chassis...voila, you're "grounded". Actually, you're at the same potential as the computer chassis whether that's at electrical ground potential or some other. Repeat that touching periodically. If you're nervous, keep one of your pinkies, your wrist, or your arm in contact with the chassis. The only way you're going to build up a charge is by rubbing two different surfaces together. Like shuffling your shoes on the floor or rubbing your shirt sleeves across the plastic computer case or the work surface. Contrary to what was said, a *grounded* aluminum beanie would work provided it makes contact with the user's skin. However the booties wouldn't work unless they were in skin-contact AND were connected to the computer chassis or a commonly bonded circuit. "Ground potential" and "earth" or the floor are not the same thing. The booties worn without an attachment to ground might place the user at the potential of the rug but that isn't necessarily ground potential. For the same reason, attaching an ankle-wire to drag along on the rug would be useless. It's a case of a little knowledge being dangerous. -- Vintage Macs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Enter To Win A | -- Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras start at $299 | Free iBook! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Vintage Macs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/vintagemacs.shtml> The FAQ: <http://macfaq.org/> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/vintage.macs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
