[sdiy] on the subject of shocks

[Tim Ressel]

--- Lincoln Fong <Linc at christeld.freeserve.co.uk>
wrote:
> Hear are some things I have thought of:
> 
> Antistatic spray on carpet and plastic
Works, but ya gotta keep spraying. Ive used 50/50
fabric softener/water in a big bug sprayer. Cheaper
than anti-stat.

> Take off running shoes or use those earthing straps
> you can get for shoes
Straps only work if the floor is conductive
carpet/tiles.

> Use a humidifier to reduce dryness of air
This will definitely help. 45% seems to be a good
number. Get a humidity gauge too.

> Stand in bucket of water while changing light bulb
> (not sure about this
> suggestion)
Tap water has an impurity level which can vary all
over the place, so you can't count on the
conductivity. Either add salt, or use ocean water if
you can. Wait a minute....?!?

> I can't afford to walk round hooked up with
> wriststraps all the time.
> Anybody know what to try first??

The cheapest thing to try is the fabric softener
spray. Get a spray can of the stuff, or go for a pump
sprayer of some variety and find some softener. 
 
Also keep in mind that foam, like the kind they put in
the seats of chairs, can generate hugh charges when
they expand. Like they do when you stand up.

Um, those mats you mentioned, is there a 1 meg
resistor to ground? If not, the zaps will HURT, and
its a safety hazard as well. 

--TR, Former ESD trainer, Hewlett-Packard. (brag, brag)

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