[Elecraft] Preparing for the Build of the K3 Kit S/N 3823

[Ian White GM3SEK]

Dick Dievendorff wrote:
>
>2) The anti-static mat that Radio Shack sells should be fine.  Connect 
>the mat to a wrist strap and connect the wrist strap to you. If you set 
>the envelope on the mat and then open it while you have the wrist strap 
>on, and the chassis is also sitting on the mat, then you won't have 
>much potential between them.
>

That is a very important point: static protection is all about keeping 
yourself, the K3 chassis and the individual parts at the SAME potential.

A huge amount of ESD damage is caused by the careless belief that 
"grounding" is the only important thing is ESD protection. It isn't - 
connecting to Planet Earth is only a secondary factor in static 
protection. Keeping everything at the SAME potential must ALWAYS come 
first. That's what the anti-static mat and wrist strap are for.

If you do make connection to the electrical safety ground is the shack, 
it must be to only one point: the stud in the corner of the mat, where 
you also connect the wrist strap. Check that the wrist strap has a 1Mohm 
resistance between the wristband and the stud connection - this is very 
important for both ESD safety and your personal safety. When you have 
made that check, strap on the wristband so that the metal is contacting 
the smooth skin on the inside of your wrist.

Place the K3 in the middle of the anti-static mat, so that the 
resistance of the mat will limit any ESD surges. DO NOT jumper the K3 
chassis to the ground stud - that would make it less ESD-safe!



-- 

73 from Ian GM3SEK         'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek