Cheap ESD mat from ebay to protect my desk? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Chupacabras
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2015, 08:53:42 pm
content: I'd like to buy some ESD mat.The main reason is actually not to protect devices, but to protect surface of my desk. It is not a bench, it is an office desk.The last thing I want to do is to make some scratches and soldering burns.I am just hobbyist, occasionally soldering.Is it good idea to buy this ESD mat from ebay?http://www.ebay.com/itm/Green-Desktop-Anti-Static-ESD-Grounding-Mat-500x606mm-Cord-/141484341680?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item20f11fb9b0Will it do the job?Does anybody have some experience with this mat?Or could you suggest me some better solution?

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2015, 09:09:19 pm
content: Cheap ESD mat is unlikely to be resistant to soldering iron burns. If ESD isn't a concern, use a sheet of hardboard, shiny side up. If it is, either get $expensive$ high quality ESD mat, or do *ALL* your soldering on a stainless tray on top of the mat.

author: bills
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2015, 09:25:38 pm
content: I bought one of these mats, seem to work well I would not put a hot soldering iron on it.http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009XT3H/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2015, 09:45:03 pm
content: http://www.ebay.com/usr/canvu0_0?_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2754^ seller of excellent 2-layer rubber esd mats on ebay. they're iron resistant.

author: Chupacabras
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2015, 10:03:01 pm
content: According to your comments, I was trying to look for another mat.This one looks promising.http://www.tme.eu/en/details/esdmat-cutblue/esd-bench-mats/elme/157cut-4060-blue/Cheap, heat resistant, good size.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 01, 2015, 10:45:58 pm
content: Should be fine as long as you don't try to carve your name in it with your soldering iron. I've accidentally touched my ESD mat with my soldering without any effect but I certainly didn't hold it there.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 01, 2015, 10:58:24 pm
content: Say it's a rubber one, so should be ok. Wouldn't expect top quality, but should be heaps better than the crap vinyl ones.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 01, 2015, 10:59:15 pm
content: Quote from: Fsck on April 01, 2015, 09:45:03 pmThey look better.

author: Chupacabras
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2015, 11:03:31 pm
content: I asked that seller to calculate shipping costs. But I guess that it will be expensive to ship from Canada to Europe.

author: Chupacabras
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2015, 11:36:46 pm
content: Well, shipping costs from Canada to Europe are $25. So this option is out of game.

author: Smith
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 04:52:09 am
content: There is a lot of difference between esd mats.I prefer the heavy light blue quality mat. It makes your desk look light and fresh and thats a plus when doing SMD without a microscope.Some cheap mats wil get holes when dropping drops of solder or hot components.The heavy mat lies down easely after roling it up for transport, or doing the heavy work you dont want to ruin your mat with.

author: plazma
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 06:12:52 am
content: One option is to use floor ESD mat. Call your local firms who install ESD floor mat for the industry. Left over pieces can be bought for cheap.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 06:22:49 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on April 01, 2015, 10:59:15 pmMany forum members have em. I have 4 and they are wearing well.

author: Chupacabras
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 06:30:43 am
content: pickle9000, sure. I believe you. That mat looks really good.You are from Canada, so it is very good buy.But I am from Europe and shipping costs are higher than price of that mat itself. That's why I do not think it is good buy for me as it is for you.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 06:45:23 am
content: Quote from: Chupacabras on April 02, 2015, 06:30:43 amDefinite no buy zone for sure.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 09:46:29 am
content: Quote from: Chupacabras on April 01, 2015, 11:36:46 pmFWIW, 2 layer ESD rubber mat is on the heavy side. Shipping was $28 for a 30"x60" mat to the US from this seller (~750mm x 1500mm if you prefer).

author: sotos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 01:20:40 pm
content: Ok, here you go, from Europe.http://www.velleman.eu/products/list/?country=be&lang=en&id=342855Maybe local shops can order it for you.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 01:25:02 pm
content: That's the crappy vinyl mat that melts if you look at it wrong. With a max. 100°C temperature rating, you'll damage it simply by soldering a through-hole board with the component side resting directly on the mat.

author: Chupacabras
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 01:26:23 pm
content: sotos, I do not see pricing. And this is a showstopper (from specifications):"temperature resistance: max. 100°C (not resistant to soldering)"

author: sotos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 01:28:06 pm
content: Quote from: Ian.M on April 02, 2015, 01:25:02 pmYou sure about the velleman mat. I just bought one and have not tested it.

author: sotos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 01:30:30 pm
content: Quote from: Chupacabras on April 02, 2015, 01:26:23 pmI bought one for 30 euro, but did not have the time to lay it on the bench and test it.

author: Chupacabras
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 01:40:17 pm
content: Well, I do not think it is good choice. It is not heat resistive, and is more expensive than the one I mentioned earlier:http://www.tme.eu/en/details/esdmat-cutblue/podlozky-na-stol-esd/elme/157cut-4060-blue/#which costs about 20€ and is heat resistive up to 400°C.And actually it seems that I will go for this one. It is pretty much what I am looking for.

author: Chupacabras
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2015, 09:29:27 am
content: I never had any ESD mat, so I have to ask.That ESD mat has 2 clips or studs. One has to be connected to ground, and the second one has to be connected to wrist band?Or wrist band should be connected rather to ground too?

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2015, 10:22:12 am
content: Quote from: Chupacabras on April 03, 2015, 09:29:27 amThe latter. You connect each to ground (parallel connection).Where it might be confusing, is the ground cables that also have 4mm banana jacks for the wrist strap. But you'll notice it only connects to a single stud, so the wrist strap ESD mat are connected in parallel to ground. The extra studs are for convenience of placement, not multiple connections.

author: bills
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2015, 05:12:51 pm
content: I don't know but if you are working an anything connected to mains it would not be wise to have you self connected to ground.

author: M4trix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2015, 05:49:23 pm
content: Quote from: Chupacabras on April 02, 2015, 01:40:17 pmI bought that one. The only minus is, don't put heavy and sharp objects cuz it gets scratched easily.Edit: also, buy this -->http://www.tme.eu/en/details/cpg300010m-1r/esd-accessories/elme/cpg-3000-10m-1r/and this -->http://www.tme.eu/en/details/3m-cc61m-1010/esd-accessories/3m/cc61m-1010/

author: Chupacabras
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2015, 07:13:02 pm
content: Quote from: bills on April 03, 2015, 05:12:51 pmBut you are not connected directly to ground. You are connected to ground though 1Mohm resistor, so it is safe.I have never used any ESD protection. This is just what I learned from Internet...