Proper electrostatic mats are cheap and readily available. A local electronics shop in Seattle sells 3x4 foot sheets of the material for about $30, and they tend to charge higher prices since they are the only local source for electronic components.
Also, Radio Shack sells a folding plastic model complete with wrist strap, resistor and clip. Although some on the reflector question whether the Radio Shack model is sufficiently competent for the task, I have had mine for many years and built a K2 and K3 on it with no problems, and for some of it I was working over carpet. Why pay so much for a high quality radio and then scrimp on the anti static mat? -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Vic K2VCO Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 8:51 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 ESD I've mentioned this idea before but I like it so much I'll repeat it: I attached a metal yardstick (meter stick) to the front of my workbench and connected it to ground through a 1 meg resistor. My arms naturally fall on it, and it is invaluable when building kits and cutting wire to length. I have an aluminum muffin tin for holding parts which is also connected to ground via a resistor. I use a wrist strap and mat too, but I suspect the ruler would be enough by itself. On 12/17/2010 8:22 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: > As the KRX3 manual says (pg 5), avoid voltage differences between yourself > and the components. If you don't have an anti-static mat or wrist strap: > > DO NOT use carpet on your work bench (a common practice before solid state). > Wood, Formica, etc., is fine. Metal is also okay for this, but not a good > practice for any bench on which you'll power up a rig. > > DO NOT use Styrofoam or other plastics to hold parts other than the pink > bags some parts are shipped in. > > DO touch an unpainted metal ground often while working. (When without a pad > I touch a ground every time before picking up an electronic part or pcb - it > only takes a fraction of a second to do so.) > > DO touch an unpainted metal part of the K3 itself after picking up a part > and before touching the part to the K3. (That equalizes any possible voltage > difference between you - and the part you're holding - and the K3 so the > charge won't flow through the part.) If you ground the metal case of the K3, > you can touch it before picking up each part to accomplish both objectives > at the same time. > > The Mains supply safety ground is a perfectly good ground to use to > discharge yourself. > > There's more background on page 5 of the KRX3 manual, but the above steps > will keep you and the parts safe without a dedicated ESD workstation. > > Ron AC7AC > > > > -----Original Message----- > > Dear all, > > I am about to install my subreceiver and would like to finish before the > weekend but I have no ESD work place. How can I best protect the parts? Or > do I have to wait until I can get the needed ESD equipment? > > OZ1CCM, Kjeld > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html -- Vic, K2VCO Fresno CA http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
