Cables Unlimited 19.5 in x 23 in Anti Static Grounding Pad
Fight static and keep your equipment safe from static discharge using the simple Cables Unlimited 19.5 in x 23 in Anti Static Grounding Pad that is just the right size for computer users and home DIY electronics hobbyists.
Ease of Use, Performance: 23/25
Look & Feel: 21/25
Features 23/25
How much I enjoy 23/25
Total: 90/100
Static electricity is the bane of computer builders but even general computer users can have problems with static electricity. Using a simple anti-static wrist band will help eliminate static charges when working on computer components and electronics but not for everyday usage.
When using your computer and just wanting to get rid of static build up you need to constantly have a ground for your static building devices and even yourself. You can hold a static charge just like when you rub your feet across a carpet and touch a doorknob resulting in that shocking jolt.
That crackle or electricity and spark is a static buildup that is being stored on your body and clothing which is being discharged through your finger. I have been having a problem with static electricity since moving into my new home with its wall to wall carpets, poor grounding system due to old wiring and high humidity.
To get rid of some of the static electricity problems I have removed the wall to wall carpeting, not just to solve my static problems, it was an ugly green color and old enough to be considered antique. With the carpeting gone I got rid of static buildup on myself from just walking across the room but I also have poor electrical wiring with grounds only in the reworked stuff since I moved in.
I have installed ground wires in the sockets my computers are connected to which helps a lot but even then I have had continued problems with static when plugging in USB devices. My biggest problem with static is just plugging in USB cables to the front panel of my computer and that tell tale spark, then of course my computer acts up or simply shuts down.
This is not good and a serious enough problem that getting anti static pads to keep under my keyboard and computer towers is just the start of my solutions. I have also added a small grounding loop to the ground wire of an outlet that I have on my desk just to have a ground point accessible.
The Cables Unlimited anti static pad is a simple solution to keeping static under control for electronic equipment or just the person at a desk or computer keyboard. The 19.5 inch by 23 inch anti static pad is a great size for a keyboard situation or a computer tower on a desk but they also sell a smaller size that would be perfect for under just a computer tower.
The anti static pad is simply a rubber mat with a foam rubber pad underneath for support that has a grid of conductive material inside to channel the static to a ground. The mats have a snap in one corner so you can attach a wire to ground the mat as well as a high resistance device for protection.
When grounding yourself or a mat to an earth ground through house wiring you need to protect yourself and your equipment from a possible electrocution. The house wiring uses a ground wire to protect devices and people from getting shocked if a device or appliance has a problem.
The ground gives a second path for electricity if wires of the appliance shorts to the case or cabinet and allows electricity to safely travel to your earth ground rod. If you are connected to a ground wire through a wrist strap and an appliance somewhere in your house grounds out you can get a nasty shock.
To prevent this you just have a high ohm resistance like a one mega ohm resistor in the line of the anti static pad or wrist strap so the resistor will short out if too much voltage tries to go through it. This works kind of like a fuse and will not harm whoever is on the end of the static pad or wrist strap if something should short out in the same wiring system.
Using a antis static pad or mat is simple, just lay down the pad where you want it and connect the grounding wire from the pad to a ground. A simple way to connect a ground to your homes electrical system is take the middle screw out of a socket cover and use a round terminal on the screw.
Simply go to a Wal-Mart or hardware store to get a round terminal like those used in car wiring and you can even crimp a wire to create a loop for the grounding alligator clip to connect to. Simply screw the outlet cover screw through the round terminal and install the outlet cover as you would normally do with the round terminal sticking out to the side.
You should test the setup using an ohmmeter and see if you have very low to zero resistance from the alligator clip or terminal to another grounded outlet ground wire. This is a simple matter and using an ohm meter to just see if there is a good electrical connection from the screw and terminal to your houses ground system.
With the terminal to the side it will be out of the way for plugs so you don't lose use of the outlet and you will have someplace to plug your grounding wire to. I have an outlet on a small shelf with an outlet box and the round terminal so that I have a place to connect my grounds on my desk for both my grounding pad and wrist strap.
You can also purchase a grounding plug that tests circuits as well as uses a banana plug to allow connection of a grounding wrist strap or pad for a safe ground attachment point. If your handy with tools you could buy a regular plug at a hardware store and connect a ground wire to the ground prong and nothing to the other two prongs.
You can use the wire as a safe ground access but I would also add a one mega ohm resistor just to be on the safe side so if anything does short in your home that wire is safe for anything connected to it. Simply wire a 1 mega ohm resistor purchased at Radio Shack to the ground prong and a GREEN wire of whatever length you want to the end of the resistor by soldering it on.
When you solder the wire to the resistor I would use pliers or a heat sink to divert heat away from the resistor but the simplest solution is a round terminal connection on the screw of the outlet cover. The ground of your anti static pad is very important and the main thing that diverts the static away from yourself and your electronics.
This makes a safe way to have static electricity taken away from your computer or yourself when you're at your keyboard and the Cables Unlimited Anti Static Pad is the starting point of your static removal. The pad is large enough for a good sized keyboard with plenty of room above the keyboard and is just about the same height as my mouse pads.
My current setup since receiving the Cables Unlimited Anti Static Pad is the pad under my keyboard so whenever I am working near it just brushing against it discharges any static. I also have a second pad I purchased for use with my computer when I disassemble one for my reviews and I use the same kind of attach point as my keyboard pad.
The Cables Unlimited Anti Static Pad is the start of fighting static in your home and makes a fantastic and affordable solution to start. I highly recommend the Cables Unlimited Anti Static Pad for your static control solution that is available at several internet sites and the Cables Unlimited site.