RE: Analog meters & static charge

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

Original poster: "Paul" <marlow-at-rconnect-dot-com> 

Try the antistatic spray that is made for carpeting. Can't think of the name
brand but I know it can be found in the grocery stores.

-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
Sent: Sunday, August 08, 2004 10:28 PM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Analog meters & static charge

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.