# How to ground my computer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 8, 2011, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-ground-my-computer/581151 "2011-05-08T12:32:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-ground-my-computer/581151/21 "2011-05-08T16:12:00Z")
> [@](#): > > The computer itself should be grounded to the house wiring through the third pin on the power plug, so I don’t think that’s a problem. I thought it might be the desk that’s at a different potential than the outlet/computer. The desk doesn’t have anything to do with this. When you touch the mouse, you’re sending your built up static though the mouse and all the USB stuff, to the MB and eventually to ground…that’s bad. If the metal desk was grounded, when you lean on that to grab the mouse you’d be discharging yourself there instead of on the mouse. > [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > To clarify, the desk is not all metal. It has a wooden top and a wooden keyboard shelf, but the legs and frame are metal, and they are touching the carpet. I don’t think there is any contact between the metal parts of the desk and anything related to the computer. That’s why I wondered if connecting the desk to the computer frame, and thereby indirectly to the house ground would remove the difference in ground potential and eliminate the static. The static (if that’s the problem) would be coming from you rubbing your feet on the ground and then discharging through your (grounded) computer equipment. The reason grounding the desk would help is that since you are more or less always in contact with the desk, any static you built up would be immediately discharged through the desk instead of the computer. Of course, since you mentioned that the top is wood, that would mean that you could have to keep your leg or hand always in contact with a metal part of the desk. Something you could do though. Run a piece of wire from something grounded to the top of your desk and each time you go to use your computer, touch that first to discharge yourself. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-ground-my-computer/581151/22 "2011-05-08T16:20:15Z")
As another fun experiment find a piece of wire, tape 1 end to your ankle and the other end to the the bottom of your shoe making sure tape is not covering the exposed metal where it touches the ground. That should provide constant equalization of any charge in the carpet. If you are well grounded, and your symptoms persist, static is not the culprit. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-ground-my-computer/581151/23 "2011-05-08T16:34:48Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > As another fun experiment find a piece of wire, tape 1 end to your ankle and the other end to the the bottom of your shoe making sure tape is not covering the exposed metal where it touches the ground. > > That should provide constant equalization of any charge in the carpet. > > If you are well grounded, and your symptoms persist, static is not the culprit. This phenomenon seemed to be happening, regardless of whether I was wearing shoes or stocking feet or barefoot, so I don’t know how that would make any difference. I’m still incident free since eliminating the hub, so I’m thinking that was the culprit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-ground-my-computer/581151.md?page=1)