[sdiy] ESD grounding in USA

[Seb Francis]

  Thanks for the replies about this, both on and off list.

It's funny that Barry said that wrist cords caused more damage than ESD :)

It seems then that the norm in the US is to connect a ring terminal to a screw on an outlet socket which then connects to a grounding mat or ground distribution point, from which a wrist band cord can then be connected.

However, what I really need (and I have a good reason for this) is a solution that allows a wristband cord to be connected directly and conveniently to ground in any location, ideally without removing any screws from the outlet socket.

So I got to wondering whether I can modify some existing plug-in device.  For example take the US equivalent of this:
http://uk.farnell.com/pro-elec/t203/plug-mains-tester/dp/1661468
.... and add a 4mm banana socket (which is the standard plug on the end of a coiled wriststrap cord).

This would provide the added benefit of testing the ground is ok wherever it was plugged in (not such an issue in the UK where virtually every building is properly grounded, but I understand this can be an issue in the US).

So does anyone know of a similar tester to this in the US?  Must be cheap though, not like some high end fluke mains socket tester!

Seb


>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Seb Francis" <seb at burnit.co.uk>
> To: <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
> Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2010 17:19
> Subject: [sdiy] ESD grounding in USA
>
>
>>  Hello to my friends across the pond :)
>>
>> I'm wanting to put together ESD grounding kits suitable for use around the world, and I have a bit of a lack of knowledge about the US.  Specifically I'm not sure of what to use to connect the ground to.
>>
>> In UK we use something like this which plugs into the mains socket:
>> http://www.vermason.co.uk/FullCatalog/BenchwareandFieldService/WorksurfaceGrounding/EarthBondingPointPlugs/231230/
>>
>> And in the rest of Europe, a similar thing with a Schuko type plug:
>> http://www.vermason.co.uk/FullCatalog/BenchwareandFieldService/WorksurfaceGrounding/EarthBondingPointPlugs/231170/
>>
>> But try as I might I can't find the equivalent product for US.  Does such a thing exist?  How is ESD grounding normally accomplished in US?
>>
>> TIA,
>> Seb
>>
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