Anti Static Mat

Generally speaking, this information is for all of you that will be assembling, building, repairing or working on electronics/computers. With this in mind, I would strongly suggest that you get yourself an anti static mat.

An Anti Static Mat is something that safeguards an individual or piece of equipment like a PC from Electro Static Discharge (ESD). Also, other names for anti static mat are: electro static mat or ground mat.

On the whole, a conductive material in the mat accumulates static and collects electricity. Therefore to discharge the energy it must be plugged into an electrical ground.

Ordinarily, some people will experience a shock when grabbing a metal doorknob after walking over a carpeted floor. However static electricity and ESD has been a problem for centuries.

Formerly, Europeans in the 1400s were using static control to protect accidental discharge of gunpowder stores.(1) The ESD phenomena can hit you when you least expect it.

The simple act of walking across a tiled floor can build up a static charge, even more if you decide to moonwalk over a carpeted floor.

Nowadays, all sorts of electronic and computer components are sensitive to static electricity or ESD, for example Motherboards, CPUs, GPU's and memory devices.

In fact, make sure you ground yourself, or you are likely to cause irreversible damage to your computer. You cannot see ESD damage, but it literally burns 'holes' through circuit boards on a microscopic level.

To emphasize, "zap" a board, and diagnosing any issue may be a problem. You might blame software, drivers, or an incompatibility, but do you want to spend the time trying to figure that out?

The reason the ESDA recommends attachment to an electrical ground is the anti static mats have a very high level of electrical resistance. In fact, 100 Meg Ohms to be exact.

In essence, the resistance will absorb and control the rate of static discharge and keep you safe. By and large, stray voltages are a thing of the past and will not leak through.

So let's put all of this together, you will need something to work on. For example, it could be a desk, bench, kitchen counter or on the floor.

1. Accordingly, take the ground mat and place it over the area where you will work, close to an electrical outlet.

2. Take your ground tester, plug into the electrical outlet and verify you have a good ground. In the final analysis, the ground tester will indicate a good ground or not. Accordingly, if you do not get a ground indication do not use until an electrician can hook up the ground.

3. Attach the snap end to the mat and the other end to the ground outlet that you just verified.

4. Take the wrist strap and attach to the snap on the mat.

5. Attach the wrist strap to your wrist and you are ready to do some work.

So the guru himself has finally come out with an esd video. Can static Kill your PC?Please check it out.

Furthermore, when installing new parts, leave the electronics in the anti static foil and bring over to the anti static mat. Accordingly, open the foil over the mat and examine the electronic/computer board. On the whole, make sure you check the connections, is everything plugged in?

To point out, ensure your wrist strap is connected to your mat, similarily, the mat is connected to electrical ground. So, get into this habit each and every time you work on your computer, or any sensitive electronics. Cleaning your computer with a vacuum cleaner may produce static and is the same as from anywhere else.

 
Static has the same potential to do damage along with the nozzle breaking or loosening parts. Therefore be careful and use a mat to ground yourself and the nozzle. On the other hand use a can  compressed air to blow out dust from your computer.

Lastly, water and electricity do not work well together so be careful with your drinks around your work area. On the positive side, may the Anti Static Gods be with you.

Above all, I appreciate comments and I thank you for reading.