need info on anti-static mat

allie

Hi,I just purchased a CPU anti-static mat and would like to use it for a work bench mat. It has the ground clip on it. It is white on one side with a thin layer and black on the other side with a thick layer but I'm not sure which side is the up side. I e-mailed electronic express where I purchased it for this info but they have not replied yet.
·Is there a test that I can do with my ohm meter to find out which side should be up.

·Regards allie

allanlane5

Usually, it's white side down, black side up.

Stick an ohm-meter into it -- it should be 1 Megohm or less resistance.

allie

Hello, Thanks for the response. I tried the ohm-meter test and got no resistance reading at all. I also put a 1 meg ohm resistor in parallel with the mat and tried pressing down hard on both the test probe and resistor with no results so I pressed the resistor all the way through the mat and then put the test probes in parallel with the resistor still no reading. I tested the resistor alone and got a 1 meg-ohm reading to be sure my ohm-meter was working alright.
·During the above test I didn't have the mat grounded to a ground rod, will this be the reason or is the mat no good.

·regards allie

ps my meter is the small radio shack type. It's also fair to add that I paid $10.95 for the cpu anti-static mat. It is 60x60 cm in size.

Post Edited (allie) : 5/15/2008 10:44:58 AM GMT

allie

·I would like any ones input to a question regarding static build up in side a plastic case?
·I purchased the Professional Development Board from Parallax and am planing to·mount it in side of a fishing tackle box made of plastic and add some of my own circuit modules and bread boards.·My only concern is static build up in side of the plastic box. Should I be concerned about this.
·Also the anti-static cpu mat I inquired about (still not sure if it's o.k.··test results did not confirm any resistance reading), would it be over kill, if I cut it to the size of the compartment where I'm going to put the PDB and put it under the board. Of course put the board above the mat so it can not short out during power up.

allie
·ps The reason I want to put it in the tackle box is that I move around alot for work reasons and this way I have room for parts and every thing is in one place. It's one of the·larger boxes with lots of compartments, It's also a double decker, opens on both sides top and bottom.


Post Edited (allie) : 5/17/2008 1:59:51 PM GMT

allie

·More info on plastic tackle box case. I had to cut some of the inside divider compartments sides to make room.

·I used an electric hobbie tool with a cut off disc about two weeks ago, just got back to cleaning off the burrs,·with hand tools. I can see traces of the little plastic pieces(shavings and cuttings) sticking to the plastic cover. I used a small artist paint brush to sweep away the cuttings with the box turned almost up side down and the little pieces of plastic still seemed to be sticking. I'm thinking static cling, may be when I used the electric tools to do the cutting it·charged this particles.

·Any ideas? Is there any way I can spray or wash the box to de-static it?

allie


Post Edited (allie) : 5/18/2008 1:32:01 PM GMT

allie

·Hi all

·I,ve been working on the tackle box to mount the PDB, I had to do some cutting on the cover for the ground strap connector, I noticed that the plastic particles that came from the cutter did not stick to the plastic cover. I mentioned in the previous post that cutting with power tools may be a problem for static build up and I thought I should mention this new development.

Regards allie

allie

·Hi all

·I think it would be better suited if I move this project to the sandbox. I will·re-title it·The Professional Development Board·mounted in side a fishing tackle box.

·regards allie