[Elecraft] Anti-static desk pad...

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Most pads have a rough bottom surface to grip the bench top and a smooth
upper "working" surface. 

You will not be able to measure the resistance with a DMM. These are 'static
dissipating' pads, not grounding devices. Their DC resistance is very high -
I believe in the range of 10^5 to 10^12 ohms. That allows a controlled
discharge while preventing damage that may be caused by a sudden surge
should a device carrying a static charge be suddenly grounded. 

Ron AC7AC


-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Phil Hystad
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 11:22 AM
To: Elecraft
Subject: [Elecraft] Anti-static desk pad...

OK, I admit to a degree of embarrassment but I need to ask this question.  I
have never used an anti-static desk pad for doing component work such as is
recommended for building the K3.  I do have an anti-static wrist thingy that
I have used when I was building a few other kits (e.g. Norcal 40A) but I
never used a pad.

So, yesterday I went down to my local surplus electronics store (Vetco
Electronics in Bellevue, WA, a great place) and bought an anti-static desk
pad.

OK, which side goes up?  There are absolutely no descriptive instructions on
this thing and one side is light colored and the other side is dark colored.
The little grounding connection is attached in way with a connector on both
sides (through the material in the corner) so I cannot easily use that
information to deduce the correct use.

I am wondering if I can actually measure the resistance which I think is in
the 10 Megohm area (I wonder if my Fluke 189 can handle that?).

Answers?
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html