Help Selecting ESD Mat - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: asg32000
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2016, 04:04:04 pm
content: Hey, everyone. I've searched through previous posts about ESD mats, and there is the one that Dave likes (an Australian vendor - doesn't do me any good in the USA), and I found a recommended eBay store from another user. Browsing that store, I came across this mat that looks like the best fit for me:http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-LAYER-RUBBER-ESD-ANTI-STATIC-HI-TEMP-GROUNDING-MAT-24-X-48-W-DUALBENCH-GREEN-/271292738774?I have a 40"x22" workspace, so I will be cutting the 48" down to 40" (I might just leave the 24" side at 24" and let it dangle over the edge).I asked the eBay store owner about how the ESD mat and the wrist strap terminal connect to ground, and she said that there is a little snap terminal on the mat, and the kit comes with a ground wire for that. There is also a ground wire included for the bench-mounted wrist strap terminal.Can y'all take a look at this and help me decided if this is a good choice? Does there need to be extra resistance built in between the ESD mat and ground? Between the wrist-strap terminal and ground? Do the specs of this mat seem generally good? Any comments?Thanks!

author: krivx
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2016, 04:07:45 pm
content: You will want 1Mohm of thereabouts between wrist-strap and ground. This is almost always built into the strap. The mat can be connected directly to ground. I have seen them with 1Mohm straps inline and I don't think it matters and may also prevent a discharge of a charged finger touching the stud.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2016, 07:25:30 am
content: That mat would be fine.I bought one from that seller a few years ago, and it's good stuff IME (blue w/ smooth surface finish; seller indicated COO = Canada). BTW, that seller will make a mat to your dimensions if you wish (send a message for a quote).Plenty of other places to get one as well. All-Spec has a 2 layer rubber matkit, 24"x48" & 0.080" thick inbluefor example (kit = mat + wrist strap + ground cord w/ integrated banana port for wrist strap connection). I've a also a medium duty (0.060" thick) version that's fine as well.As per resistance, the ground wires that connect both the mat and the wrist strap contain a 1M resistor (between the snap connector and wire). Wire color is a hint; black has a resistor, green w/ yellow stripe is just a wire.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2016, 10:02:47 pm
content: I know that seller has been recommended here many times in the past. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them. Now that I think of it, since re-doing my lab, there is another table that could use a ESD mat...

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2016, 12:07:42 am
content: Quote from: rdl on January 29, 2016, 10:02:47 pmShame the both of you missed out on the sale & clearance mats from All-Spec (they had some real bargains; $80 mat kit sold for a bit under $30 + ~$7 for shipping for example).Nothing over at Desco's online store either.Regarding the eBay seller linked above, shipping is a bit more as it's coming out of Canada vs. a US source. But it still works out cheaper when you're truly comparing equivalent products IME (same material, size, thickness, kit or mat only).

author: Melt-O-Tronic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2016, 02:13:09 am
content: I have two blue mats from that eBay seller. Good quality stuff.I need a third for a recent bench expansion and it will come from the same seller as soon as I can find 2 minutes to sit down & order it.