Re: Analog meters & static charge

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

Original poster: "Ed Phillips" <evp-at-pacbell-dot-net> 

Tesla list wrote:
 >
 > Original poster: "S&JY" <youngsters-at-konnections-dot-net>
 >
 > 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.

	Usually just breathing on them helps.  I've tried wiping them with a
used "dryer sheet" from the laundry.  That seems to help ("eliminates
static cling") but doesn't look too neat.

Ed