[Elecraft] potential of static damage

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

My apologies, Andy. I didn't mean to imply that I did NOT "believe in"
ESD.

It's very real and your comments are good ones - especially the part
about being careful when "grounding" oneself. I have seen ops who simply
connected a grounded wire to their person. It's one thing to touch a
low-resistance ground while not touching anything else and something
else to work around electricity while you ARE grounded! 

As Don, KD5NDB, pointed out something as simple as an aluminum yardstick
mounted on the edge of his bench and grounded through a high-value
resistor can be very effective. Sometimes simpler is better. I'm
thinking of the aircraft tech out on the windy, dry Mojave desert who
"lost" a number of devices working in a very well-equipped "lab" and
couldn't figure it out until someone got curious and measured the
resistance of his mat and wrist strap system. It had failed open through
an invisible break. 

A grounded mat and wrist strap are wonderful safety devices in a
well-equipped shop, but like all such safety devices I recommend
developing the habit of using procedures that assume that the safety
device may not be working. That provides an extra level of safety and
builds good habits for those times when we don't have our
nicely-equipped lab in which to work. 

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ron D'Eau Claire [mailto:rondec@easystreet.com]
> 
> Still, I do not bother with one in my shop and don't have any trouble.

> Being "careful" as you said works for me. I DO use a grounded-tip 
> soldering iron and I DO ground myself momentarily EVERY time before I 
> pick up a static-sensitive device.

Electrostatic Damage is like the Easter Bunny: some people believe in
it, some do not.... 

Andy