[Elecraft] Antistatic mat

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Yes, the mat and/or wrist strap needs to be connected to a ground source to
be effective. They drain any static charge to ground, and can't work without
one. Digi-key (see below) even sells a dummy wall plug for a wrist strap. It
consists of a plug with a connection only to the mains safety ground that
goes to the wrist strap. 

www.tequipment.net has "Pomona" pads and straps. Pomona is a quality
product, but a bit pricy (when is quality cheap?). Their wrist strap is $20
and the pads run over $50. OF the two, the wrist strap is the most important
by far! The "pad" is more of a "nice" thing to have for the sort of work
we're doing on the Elecraft rigs. Just be sure to keep parts in their
ESD-safe foam or package when not in the circuit. 

Another source that I have not dealt with directly is "Cables Unlimited" who
advertises a pad for $22 and a wrist strap for $10 at
http://tinyurl.com/2csoy

Digi-key (http://sales.digikey.com/rumain.asp) also has wrist bands. 

Mouser sells a "Field Service Kit" that consists of a mat and wrist strap
combo. See http://tinyurl.com/28ac3 at the bottom right corner of the page.
I suspect that's the one I have, but I don't recall. The combination sells
for about $33 right now.

Ron AC7AC 

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Stan Rife
Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2004 8:06 AM
To: Elecraft
Subject: [Elecraft] Antistatic mat


	Can someone recommend a source for the anti-static mats? I have
looked at some in a catalog from HMC and they were pretty expensive. I am
sure that I am looking at the wrong thing. Not sure what to get and with
what type of connections, or even if they need to be connected to the ground
source.

Thanks,

Stan Rife
WD5EWA
Houston, TX
K2 S/N 4216
 


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