[Elecraft] (OT) Grounding Mat

[Don Wilhelm]

Gary, you are entirely correct.

There is ONE exception - that the anti-static mat is common to 
everything.  If one is standing on an anti-static mat that is connected 
to the anti-static mat on the workbench, which is in turn connected to 
the wrist strap, and that is also connected to every piece of equipment 
on the workbench, then yes, everything would be at the same potential.

HOWEVER - that is just not practical. 

Much equipment at the workbench is grounded to the AC mains green wire 
ground, and that is where your anti-static mat should be connected as 
well, it just makes things easier all around.  Any other method would 
take a complete safety inspection of everything within reach of the work 
position, and unless you are a professional trained in such matters, 
there will likely be something that you overlooked.  BE SAFE and connect 
to the AC mains green wire ground - it is the easiest method, I just 
don't understand why so many seem to search for alternatives that are 
unsafe.

73,
Don W3FPR



Gary Hvizdak wrote:
> Wed Mar 24 22:14:20 EDT 2010 LS (W5QD) wrote ...
>
> The mat doesn't have to be grounded ...
>
> --
>
> All,
>
> WARNING!  The statement W5QD just posted is completely false!  The ESD mat
> must be grounded in order for it to be able to dissipate an electrical
> charge.  If you don't ground the mat, then you might as well not have it,
> since your entire work area could very easily be floating at tens of
> thousands of volts above ground, just waiting for "somewhere" to discharge
> "to" and "something" to discharge "through"!
>
> 73,
> Gary  KI4GGX
>   
>