Neutralizing the Main Threat

Believe it or not, you (fingers pointing at you) pose the single biggest ESD threat. You make a good static charge reservoir. The things you touch, the things you wear, the things you do, will keep charging you with static, and sure enough,  this charge will eventually find their way to zap the components you are touching.

Figure 11. Tools of the trade. (right) 3M’s Field Meter and (left)Trek’s ElectroStatic VoltMeter ESVM. These instruments measures surface static charge directly, and are indispensable tool for an effective ESD control. You won’t find them in a typical experimenter setup, however, because these are rather pricey.

Fortunately, there is a inexpensive solution to stop you from being a threat- you can make yourself ESD safe by wearing a Ground Strap. A ground strap (figure 9 and 9a) is a simple contraption that keeps you connected to earth ground, thereby removing any static from your body and keeping you at ground or zero volt potential. Connected to earth ground is emphasized here, the ground strap does not amount to anything when not connected to earth ground..

Figure 9. Ground Strap manufactured by 3M.

Figure 9a. An affordable ground strap, very well suited for experimenters and hobbyists, is  available at e-Gizmo for only 50 pesos each!

Figure 10.

Finding an Earth Connection

Now that you have a ground strap, finding a good earth ground connection may turn out to be the toughest part, especially if you live on a higher floor of a building.  Following lists some possible earth ground connection you can find and use at home, arranged with the most preferable on top of the list. After you find a good earth,  run a wire to your work table for the ground strap connection point.

Dedicated earth ground. The ground rod must be deeply driven through the soil at least a meter deep. Telephone companies may have already one installed for you.

Figure 12.

Tap water piping. Only if your water supply system is built with GI pipes. Water piping using plastic PVC tube does not count. Use a hose clamp to securely clamp the ground connection with the GI Pipe.

Figure 13.

Building metal structure going all the way to the foundation. My lab is located on the mezzanine floor of a building. The exposed I-beam structure of the building provided a good earth grounding point.

Figure 14.

I purposely left the AC power earth ground off the list because of possible safety issue.