[Elecraft] Anti-static Pads

[Richard Fjeld]

G=1/R as I remember it.

Yes, I wanted to reply to Alan's method, but I have been away.  I wanted 
to re-read it to see if he allowed time to determine if a cap was leaky 
first.  It was a clever idea.  I have two Simpson's so I should be able 
to duplicate the test, if I can round up exposed metal pans.

I bought my anti-static mat online.  I'm at a loss concerning specs.  I 
file everything, but after doing so for more than 50 years, things 
aren't found quickly.  I don't remember receiving specs, either.

Static discharge is an on-going concern for me. I humidify in the 
winter, and try to stay around 40%.  I keep a grounded wrist-band around 
a tin breath mint container on the table beside my recliner for watching 
TV.  When I stand up, I touch the tin to discharge myself. Otherwise, I 
zap my video equipment. Humidifying helps, but it's no guarantee.

At my workbench, I have a four outlet metal box that is grounded so that 
I can touch it regularly to bleed off any static build-up.  I can be 
'sure' that it is grounded, but I have to 'trust' that my wrist strap 
and anti-static mat are.   Maybe I'm a 'belt and suspenders' type of guy.

Dick, n0ce



On 9/20/2016 12:41 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
> Simplest way I know: Conductivity = 1 / Resistance. All you need is a 
> slide rule. :-)  But seriously,
>
> Alan's method ... charge a capacitor to a known voltage, discharge it 
> through the mat to a lower voltage measuring how long it takes, and 
> use the RC time constant to calculate the resistance ... is about the 
> simplest and maybe the most ingenious.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred K6DGW
> - Sparks NV DM09dn