The use of anti-static mats

Hi,

My $0.02 worth.

It’s not a case of you getting zapped it’s more a case of the sensitive equipment being protected from the static build up in your body discharging through it and damaging it, when you handle it during installation, e.g. handling boards, cards, modules etc incorrectly and actually touching the components on them etc. rather than holding them by the edges.

Just walking across a carpeted floor can build up a huge amount of static electricity in the body. Being connected to Earth via a wrist strap discharges this build up of static electricity.

Using both a wrist strap and an anti static mat covers all contingencies. Although you could probably get away with just a wrist strap as you'll be handling the components of the PC during the build and they should remain in their protective packaging until you are ready to individually install them.

Connecting the wrist strap to the PC case chassis (bare surface for good electrical connection - not painted surface) makes it convenient to use (with the power cord plugged in but not switched on), as long as you've verified that the outlet is Earthed correctly.