[Elecraft] Radio Shack ESD mat doesn't meet spec

[Alan Bloom]

If you have the Radio Shack mat, I recommend using it even though I'm
not convinced it does a proper job of bleeding off static charge.  For
one thing, the anti-static wrist strap that comes with it does work.
For another, even though it may not prevent static build up, at least it
probably doesn't generate static charge itself as many plastics and
other materials do.

The proper procedures are important.  Use a grounded soldering iron and
connect the mat/wrist strap to the safety ground pin of a power socket.
That ensures that you and the soldering iron are at the same potential.
If in addition you are careful to always touch the chassis of the
equipment or the ground/common of the PC board you are working on before
you touch any circuitry (with your fingers or the soldering iron) then
you should be safe.

Alan N1AL


On Thu, 2010-03-25 at 13:25 -0400, Gary Hvizdak wrote:
> All,
> 
> With regard to the Radio Shack's 276-2370 "Anti-Static Service Kit", check
> out the message Alan Bloom (N1AL) posted a couple years ago which begins ...
> 
> Well, I've convinced myself that the Radio Shack portable ESD mat, P/N
> 276-2370 doesn't work properly ...
> 
> You can read the full text of Alan's post in the Reflector archives at
> http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/elecraft/2008-February/083794.html
> 
> 73,
> Gary  KI4GGX
> 
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