Re: Analog meters & static charge

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-twfpowerelectronics-dot-com>

Hi Steve,

"Static Guard".  Normally used on cloths to prevent static cling.  It is 
just salty fish oil.  Might cloud the meter window a tiny bit but no big 
deal.  Can be removed with alcohol.  Go real light with it...

Grocery store in the fabric softener section like where "Bounce" is 
sold.  There are also static mat cleaners if you work in the electronics 
industry.  But it is pricey.  "Conductive Mat Cleaner"...

Cheers,

         Terry


At 09:14 PM 8/8/2004, you wrote:
>Folks, I need some advice.  I have 4 large analog meters of good quality
>(e.g. Simpson) to measure AC and DC volts and amps in my power controller.
>When I run my coil then shut it off, I notice some of the meter needles do
>not return to zero.  What happens is that the meter face accumulates a
>static electric charge, and that attracts and deflects the meter needles.
>Obviously, this destroys the accuracy of my meter readings.
>
>My temporary cure was to stretch some of the silvery conductive plastic
>(e.g. from bags used to ship PC boards) across the meter faces to prevent
>static charge accumulation.  But that makes the meters hard to read.
>
>Does anyone have some ideas on materials I can use that are both conductive
>and transparent?  Or some other technique to eliminate meter face static
>charge buildup from all the streamers flying around nearby?
>
>Thanks,
>--Steve Y.