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 > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > 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:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
