[Elecraft] Assembly mat

[Rick Kunath]

Tony Morgan wrote:
> If you use a bright lamp over the table as I do, the glare from the foil 
> would not be good.
> As has been said before, if you are going to spent the money on a nice 
> Elecraft kit, spend
> a few extra bucks and get a anti static mat.
> Just my opinion.

Not to mention that the conductivity of the aluminum foil is so high as 
to actually damage the ESD sensitive parts you are trying to protect.

You want a conductive mat, just not so conductive so as to discharge the 
charges too rapidly. Conductive ESD mats are designed with just enough 
conductivity to slowly discharge the static buildup without causing such 
high discharge currents as to damage the solid state device.

The mat is then connected via a several megohm resistor to the 
electrical ground of the room. Wrist straps of similar conductive 
properties are used to ensure a common potential between your body and 
the bench mat. A floor mat of a similar material, and grounded as the 
bench mat would be (or a conductive floor surface), and either 
conductive shoes and socks, or special inserts with heel and body skin 
contact are often used where movement is necessary in a lab and a wrist 
strap is too restrictive. Special air ionizers, often generating the 
ionized stream via a radioactive polonium pellet are often used for 
extra protection at workstations.

I think the original reference to aluminum foil was a joke, wasn't it? 
It was highlighted. Not everyone may have understood.

Additionally, the conductive surface of the foil would be a shock 
hazard, also something undesirable on a workbench.

Rick Kunath, k9ao