Question

[tony3d]

I'm thinking about buying Engineeringshock.com's 400f super capacitor battery with voltage booster,and I was wondering if it's ok to lay the pin  side of the boards on my Antistatic mat while charged up? The mat should be totally non conducting right, or should I put a piece of thin cardboard on the mat first? The bank has 4 400f caps, wouldn't want to short them out in way. Here's a link http://www.engineeringshock.com/super-capacitor-battery-bank--booster.html

[Nerull]

ESD mats work because they are slightly conductive. Likely not enough to cause problems, but you might want to check it. Different types of mat material are more conductive than others.

[tony3d]

I don't seem to be getting any conducting according to my meter. I think I'll go with the cardboard on op just for an added layer of protection. I plan on mount booth boards on a project box eventually.

[tony3d]

Thanks! I don't seem to be getting any conducting according to my meter. I think I'll go with the cardboard on op just for an added layer of protection. I plan on mount booth boards on a project box eventually.

[nanofrog]

Assuming it's a 2 layer rubber mat, the top layer is static dissipative. Bottom layer is conductive, so you'd be OK so long as any signal isn't contacting the bottom layer (i.e. mat upside down  ).

[Nerull]

The static dissipative layer in a dual layer mat is still conductive, just not as conductive as the bottom layer. Conductive mat material is generally in the range of 10⁵ ohms or less while dissipative is 10⁵ to 10¹¹ ohms. Higher resistances are insulative mats and will not disperse static charges, and they are not suitable for general electronics use.

A mat that is too conductive will conduct static charges too quickly, damaging components that may be charged before contact with the mat, so you are unlikely to see a benchtop mat with low resistance - unless you flip a two layer mat upside down, anyway. The idea is to gently remove charge.