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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">The function of the mat is to ground
both the technician and the work-surface. My understanding is
that to properly do that, you need to be connected (via a
wrist-strap) to the same ground that the work-surface is (or to
the work-surface directly). The ground in the wall-sockets is
acceptable *if* it is up to code. They have testers for that I
believe. <br>
<br>
A grounded wire attached to the body would help, but static can
build up on the work surface too. If the work was grounded, but
the surface not, you'd end up with a potential discharge there
too. <br>
<br>
<br>
ESD can be a big deal. I've seen lab-coats with a wire-mesh
embedded, connected to snaps in the front. A professor told a
story of where he used to work, they had a strict code of
protection, consisting of a coat that is snapped properly,
appropriate specialized footwear, and wrist-strap. If you were
caught once without proper ESD protection, you were given a
warning. Get caught a second time and you were told your last
paycheck would be on its way.<br>
<br>
I don't remember the name of the place, but they worked on medical
grade and aerospace grade electronics. The professor said the
insidious thing about ESD is that it might only weaken a part, so
the circuit appears to function, but breaks down a lot sooner than
otherwise would, and sometimes in unexpected ways. <br>
<br>
In that class when we were working with a mosfet, all the pins
were connected to each other (so net 0v), until we assembled the
entire circuit. Made for an interesting failure mode when we
forgot to disconnect the grounding. It just always acted as a
wire, not a mosfet ;-) <br>
<br>
On 1/28/14 10:30 AM, Paul Monad wrote:<br>
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<blockquote
cite="mid:1390933854.97195.YahooMailNeo@web122302.mail.ne1.yahoo.com"
type="cite">
<div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times
new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:14pt">If I
understand, the function of the mat is to dissipate static
electricity by providing a ground for anything it touches while
providing a nonslip working surface.<br>
<br>
So, the mat needs to be electrically conductive and grounded.<br>
<br>
Would a grounded wire with attachments to work and body serve?
Could the ground in the electrically receptacles be used or
would it necessitate a different grounding point? <br>
<div><span><br>
</span></div>
<div style="display: block;" class="yahoo_quoted"> <br>
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<div dir="ltr"> <font face="Arial" size="2"> On Tuesday,
January 28, 2014 9:25 AM, Daniel Pitts <a
class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:Daniel@coloraura.com"><Daniel@coloraura.com></a>
wrote:<br>
</font> </div>
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<div id="yiv7519153591">
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<div class="yiv7519153591moz-cite-prefix">That's
kind of a question with a tautological answer. It
is a man-made object, so of course we could make
it. <br clear="none">
<br clear="none">
The better question is would it be cost effective
or provide other benefits to create. Part of that
would be to consider what equipment and supplies
are needed to produce the mats.<br clear="none">
<br clear="none">
I don't actually know much about them, but what I
do know is that they are partially conductive
("dissipative" is the term used). I'm actually
surprised they aren't covering more surfaces at
the space. I was there last night for CHM, and
people were soldering ESD sensitive devices on a
wood table. Unless that table has properties I'm
not aware of, it could be the cause of damage to
certain components.<br clear="none">
<br clear="none">
OTOH, I used to repair my old computers on an old
carpet before I knew any better, and never fried
anything ;-)<br clear="none">
<div class="yiv7519153591yqt6200315770"
id="yiv7519153591yqtfd44900"><br clear="none">
On 1/28/14 9:08 AM, immonad wrote:<br
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<div class="yiv7519153591yqt6200315770"
id="yiv7519153591yqtfd94262">
<blockquote type="cite"> </blockquote>
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<div class="yiv7519153591yqt6200315770"
id="yiv7519153591yqtfd59816">
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<div>Are these somethings we could make? </div>
<div><br clear="none">
</div>
<div><br clear="none">
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<div>
<div style="font-size:9px;color:#575757;">Sent
via the Samsung Galaxy S™III, an AT&T 4G
LTE smartphone</div>
</div>
<br clear="none">
<br clear="none">
-------- Original message --------<br clear="none">
From: Daniel Pitts <br clear="none">
Date:01/27/2014 4:06 PM (GMT-08:00) <br
clear="none">
To: <a moz-do-not-send="true" rel="nofollow"
shape="rect"
class="yiv7519153591moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
ymailto="mailto:noisebridge-discuss@lists.noisebridge.net"
target="_blank"
href="mailto:noisebridge-discuss@lists.noisebridge.net">noisebridge-discuss@lists.noisebridge.net</a>
<br clear="none">
Subject: Re: [Noisebridge-discuss] Buying ESD
mats? <br clear="none">
<br clear="none">
Those look good, I think the price difference is
in dimensions, and <br clear="none">
shipping (since I get free shipping with Amazon
Prime). Might be good <br clear="none">
enough, depending on your work space and needs.
If you include <br clear="none">
shipping, I paid a similar amount ($58 for mine,
$50 for the same size <br clear="none">
one you listed), but I get it delivered in 2 days,
not 1-2 weeks ;-).<br clear="none">
<br clear="none">
On 1/27/14 3:12 PM, Johny Radio wrote:<br
clear="none">
> I just found some like the one you got, but
much better prices. maybe <br clear="none">
> they're not as good tho!<br clear="none">
> added to same link i sent you before.<br
clear="none">
><br clear="none">
><br clear="none">
> On 1/27/2014 1:35:54 PM, "Daniel Pitts" <a
moz-do-not-send="true" rel="nofollow"
shape="rect"
class="yiv7519153591moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
ymailto="mailto:Daniel@coloraura.com"
target="_blank"
href="mailto:Daniel@coloraura.com"><Daniel@coloraura.com></a>
wrote:<br clear="none">
><br clear="none">
>> Ah, I missed those. There are two that
would be suitable, but they're <br clear="none">
>> on the very small side, and they don't
come with a ground plug. I <br clear="none">
>> ended up going with one from amazon: <br
clear="none">
>> <a moz-do-not-send="true" rel="nofollow"
shape="rect"
class="yiv7519153591moz-txt-link-freetext"
target="_blank"
href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009WU8J9I/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009WU8J9I/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1</a><br
clear="none">
>><br clear="none">
>> Thanks for the suggestions though, I do
appreciate it.<br clear="none">
>><br clear="none">
>><br clear="none">
>> On 1/27/14 10:11 AM, Johny Radio wrote:<br
clear="none">
>>> A few of these items are marked "ESD"
or "anti-static".<br clear="none">
>>><br clear="none">
>>><br clear="none">
>>> On 1/27/2014 8:30:31 AM, "Daniel
Pitts" <a moz-do-not-send="true" rel="nofollow"
shape="rect"
class="yiv7519153591moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
ymailto="mailto:Daniel@coloraura.com"
target="_blank"
href="mailto:Daniel@coloraura.com"><Daniel@coloraura.com></a>
wrote:<br clear="none">
>>><br clear="none">
>>>> On 1/26/14 11:45 PM, Johny Radio
wrote:<br clear="none">
>>>>> On 1/26/2014 10:45:59 PM,
"Daniel Pitts" <a moz-do-not-send="true"
rel="nofollow" shape="rect"
class="yiv7519153591moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
ymailto="mailto:Daniel@coloraura.com"
target="_blank"
href="mailto:Daniel@coloraura.com"><Daniel@coloraura.com></a>
<br clear="none">
>>>>> wrote:<br clear="none">
>>>>>> I'd like to start doing
some electronics projects at home. Any <br
clear="none">
>>>>>> advice for buying ESD
mats?<br clear="none">
>>>>><br clear="none">
>>>>><br clear="none">
>>>>> I recently researched this
very topic. Here's what i found, when <br
clear="none">
>>>>> looking for very cheap
options:<br clear="none">
>>>>><br clear="none">
>>>>> <a moz-do-not-send="true"
rel="nofollow" shape="rect"
class="yiv7519153591moz-txt-link-freetext"
target="_blank" href="http://r.ebay.com/HOHakQ">http://r.ebay.com/HOHakQ</a><br
clear="none">
>>>>><br clear="none">
>>>>><br clear="none">
>>>> From what I can tell, none of
those provide ESD protection. They're <br
clear="none">
>>>> for heat protection. The
certified ESD mats I've found are in the <br
clear="none">
>>>> $60+ range for 2' by 3'. I'm all
for cheaper, but I'll be <br clear="none">
>>>> occasionally working with MOSFET
and CMOS, and I'd rather not burn <br
clear="none">
>>>> them out ;-)<br clear="none">
>><br clear="none">
>>
_______________________________________________<br
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