Workbench over a rug?!!

[aqstephenson]

Hi all,

Putting together a workbench in the only space I have available, which is rugged. I've read static electricity will be a problem in this arrangement, and am wondering what I could put down under the space (rubber mat, tarp) that would possibly help. Will the static wristband help? Could I have something on my bench I could touch first to discharge the static build-up before playing with parts?

THANK YOU

[timb]

Get an anti-static work mat for your bench. They come with a cord that you hook to ground somewhere (I use the ground pin of a wall outlet). The end of the cord that hooks to the mat will also have a little terminal that allows you to plug in one (or two) wrist straps as well.

I wouldn't worry about the carpet so long as you use a wrist strap at the very least and ideally a bench mat. My desk is on standard house carpet and I just use a desk mat. Even before I got the mat I never had issues (but the mat is nice because it's puncture and heat resistant, so it protects my desk).

Edit: If you have very dry air in the winter due to a heat pump or whatever, look into a humidifier as well. I prefer the traditional filter wick type over the ultrasonic ones, as the latter will leave a white dust on everything (which is the minerals from your water) while the former won't.

[Melt-O-Tronic]

I rent and have a carpeted lab upstairs (over a wood subfloor).  The carpet is terrible for static especially when the humidity is low.  My countermeasures include:

• Replaced plastic light switch plate with stainless steel and ran a 1M resistor from it to the ground wire.  I touch this on the way in.
• Copper bar with a row of banana jacks attached to the metal bench frame at the back of the work surface.  This is grounded to the UPS.
• Blue ESD mats on the work surfaces, grounded on the copper bar.
• Two wrist strap ports at opposite ends of the main bench, also grounded to the copper bar.
• Metal frame of 2nd bench grounded to the copper bar.

I try to remember to touch the blue mats whenever I enter the room and any time I roll my chair across the hard chair mats toward the benches.  I still manage to forget and kill microcontrollers with some regularity, though.

Antistatic chair mats would be a huge help, but they are damn expensive.  So mostly I rely on an OCD-like ritual of touching something blue frequently.  It's funny sometimes that when I'm going to touch the ESD mat, once in a while, I get the edge where the non-resistive bottom layer is exposed and get a loud static *SNAP!*

[CatalinaWOW]

If you are like me, the reason to not have a rug under your workbench is because of the nasty smell it makes when you drop the soldering iron, or splash some solder when doing some heavy desoldering.  It is also hard to clean rosin residue off of a rug and lead clippings don't vacuum out well.

ESD issues are well down the list.  If you draw a spark when you touch your chair use extra precautions.  If not the normal desk mat etc. will keep you safe.

[trophosphere]

My workbench and roller chair has been on carpet for the past 8 years. Make sure you have a grounded mat and always put on your anti-static wrist strap (must be tested and grounded as well) before you touch anything and you should be alright.

[AG6QR]

As far as I'm concerned, the reason to avoid a rug is because dropped parts will bury themselves in it, never to be seen again. 

[aqstephenson]

Thanks to you all for the helpful replies and perspectives.

[nanofrog]

My workbench and roller chair has been on carpet for the past 8 years. Make sure you have a grounded mat and always put on your anti-static wrist strap (must be tested and grounded as well) before you touch anything and you should be alright.

Same situation, but a bit longer at ~ 10 years for me. 

FWIW, I've a continuous ESD monitor I got from eBay for cheap (NOS) as well. 

[John Coloccia]

As far as I'm concerned, the reason to avoid a rug is because dropped parts will bury themselves in it, never to be seen again.

Until you step on a clipped off part lead and it buries itself in your foot. Yeah, carpet's not my first choice.

[karoru]

Until you step on a clipped off part lead and it buries itself in your foot. Yeah, carpet's not my first choice.

Biological DIP sockets are one thing, but it's a very bad practice to work with electrical devices barefeet, especially if one probes in something that has mains wiring on sight.

[basinstreetdesign]

I used to work at a place where the electronics workbench working surfaces were covered with indoor-outdoor carpeting.  It looked very unique and eye-pleasing but was weird to work on.  The floor was carpeted too.  A hot iron would melt its way into it no problem.  I don't remember having much static discharge trouble but I wouldn't do the same thing now.