ESD work mat selection guidelines help, please

[T4P]

Vinyl is rubbish ... Accept only rubber

[robrenz]

These are the cheapest I found that were apparently good quality.  I have had mine for over a year and it works great. Resistance values were good when checked with my 8846A and I have not killed anything working on it yet.
 http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-LAYER-RUBBER-ESD-MAT-24-X-72-W-GROUND-CABLE-/280799452007?_trksid=p4340.m444&_trkparms=algo%3DUPI.GIROS%252BPI.WATCH%252BCRX%26its%3DI%252BC%252BS%26itu%3DUCI%252BUCC%252BSI%252BUA%252BLM%252BLA%26otn%3D15%26pmod%3D280691842577%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D1298097222268811790

[nanofrog]

These are the cheapest I found that were apparently good quality.  I have had mine for over a year and it works great. Resistance values were good when checked with my 8846A and I have not killed anything working on it yet.
 http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-LAYER-RUBBER-ESD-MAT-24-X-72-W-GROUND-CABLE-/280799452007?_trksid=p4340.m444&_trkparms=algo%3DUPI.GIROS%252BPI.WATCH%252BCRX%26its%3DI%252BC%252BS%26itu%3DUCI%252BUCC%252BSI%252BUA%252BLM%252BLA%26otn%3D15%26pmod%3D280691842577%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D1298097222268811790

I looked at buying from that seller at one point, but the shipping cost from Canada killed the value for me unfortunately. Sad, as he/she was quite a nice and prompt person to deal with, based on email communications.

[tramjoe]

Vinyl is rubbish ... Accept only rubber

I second this. Vinyl melts even with small solder splashes, and if you lose a hair on it, it will scar :-)

[eevblogfan]

hello

I am sorry is that's the wrong place to post that .


I've seen that's ebay action :

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270925110123&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:CA:1123


is that the right metirial ? ( ie , the same as dave ? )

it's 600F resist (for 10 sec) so I guess it will do . but is it "cut proof" ?

thank you in advance !

[T4P]

From the picture? I'll say no. It's got these ridges on the surface that's totally unlike

[eevblogfan]

hey

thank you ,

I'll ask him for pics ,but what exactly the ridges tells you about the mat ?

[nanofrog]

robrenz has a mat from that eBay seller (posted on the previous page), and said it's worked well for the year+ he's had it.

So if it's the right price vs. other sources for you, I'd say go for it. 

[eevblogfan]

hey thank you

sorry I red the whole 3 pages now ,

well , the shipping price is a BUMER , a real one .

but I think I will put it on my watch list ,

another Question : is it like daves (Ie cimical resist and "cut proof"  ) ?

[JohnS_AZ]

I discovered I can get a continuous ESD monitor for about the same cost as a Megger (insulation tester).  If you were working on a critical medical device, and you could get only one a continuous ESD monitor, or a megger, and not both, which would you choose and why?

Sorry for the delay. Went to the oral surgeon and have been knocked out a couple days.

If you can only get a megger OR a constant monitor, I'd buy the constant monitor. A constant monitor actually functions as a crude form of megger. It doesn't make as accurate a measurement, but it does ensure there is an electrical path to ground, and it does it 24/7.

[Michael Weston]

I discovered I can get a continuous ESD monitor for about the same cost as a Megger (insulation tester).  If you were working on a critical medical device, and you could get only one a continuous ESD monitor, or a megger, and not both, which would you choose and why?

If you can only get a megger OR a constant monitor, I'd buy the constant monitor. A constant monitor actually functions as a crude form of megger. It doesn't make as accurate a measurement, but it does ensure there is an electrical path to ground, and it does it 24/7.

Thank you again for yet another excellent post!   

I suspected the constant monitor might function like a megger to some degree.  Thank you very much for that confirmation!   

Sorry for the delay. Went to the oral surgeon and have been knocked out a couple days.

It is totally OK (the delay).

My sympathies to you for your oral surgery.  When I went to the oral surgeon, I was out for days too.   I hope you feel much better very soon.

[Michael Weston]

I use these on my benches at home: http://uk.farnell.com/vermason/228116/bench-mat-blue-1-2x0-6m-4x10mm/dp/1833415

Seem to be pretty tough, tests out OK using the test instrument I borrowed from work. I also have one of those active monitors which attach to the mat for real time monitoring.

Thanks for the tip.

I checked the Farnell web page in your link, and I was a bit surprised the data sheet link there was not for your mat.    I also noticed that specification sheet did not state the Charge Decay time.  So, I hunted down the correct specification sheet for your mat, and it also did not state the Charge Decay time.  That bothers me.  I'm betting if they don't put the charge decay data in the specification sheet, they don't know the duration, and if they don't know the charge decay duration, they did not test the mat fully and correctly.  The charge decay data omission somewhat says to me they might not be the best choice.  I hope for your sake, the omission of the charge decay data in the specification sheet was just a mistake, and the mat truly is proper anyway.

I'm happy the mat is working out well for you, and I hope your circuits do not have or get any latent failures.

What sort of devices do you work on using this mat?