[Elecraft] [KX3] Kits & ESD protection

[Alan Bloom]

On 04/05/2014 05:22 PM, cjackh9 at gmail.com wrote:

> I usually work on a very good antistatic which is silicone rubber as
> well so hot solder won't affect it, but I do not wear a strap. I just
> put my hands, the boards, etc. on the mat when I work.

It is possible to be static-safe without a mat or strap, but you have to 
be VERY careful about touching things in the right order.  One mistake 
is all it takes.

So I recommend that everyone use an anti-static mat and wrist strap when 
working on electronic circuitry.  However, it has to be a good-quality 
mat.  Some inexpensive so-called "anti-static" mats in fact do not work 
correctly.  I posted about this several years ago.  See:

http://www.mail-archive.com/elecraft%40mailman.qth.net/msg94407.html

In that posting I give details of some testing I did and recommendations 
for how to choose a suitable mat.

Alan N1AL