Do I have to ground esd mat?

I'm fixing iPhones and static mucks up the screens so I have a Matt with a popper on it that attaches to my wrist band but does any thing have to be connected to the mat like a ground from a power outlet or does it just get discharged through the mat

Actually, it should be getting discharged through the band if it is the type I think you are talking about. The band should have a second snap connection or built in wire with an alligator clip / single ground prong attached. You ground the band, the band grounds both you and the mat and everything is at the same potential so no zap occurs. But, in any case, yes, there needs to be a ground connection and, when using the safety ground on a mains receptacle, you had best take out a good DMM and be sure it is *PROPERLY* connected or you may, literally, have a shocking experience;-)

Here are some not light duty tutorial references that give the straight dope, nothing but the dope and the whole dope so help me electron volt;-)

http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/circuits/esd/what-is-basics-electrostatic-discharge-tutorial.php

http://www.maximintegrated.com/en/app-notes/index.mvp/id/4991

http://esdsystems.descoindustries.com/QuestionsAndAnswers/ShowAllQuestions.aspx

http://esdsystems.descoindustries.com/QuestionsAndAnswers/ShowQuestion.aspx?i=6

I hope that these and my simplistic answer will help you understand what is needed to effectively prevent ESD from ruining your equipment.

  • My iphone 5 was frozen to the ground? I fell and I didn't realize my phone fell out of my pocket until we got home, so we went back and it was frozen to the ground. It wasn't really wet but there were like 2 medium sized drops of water on the screen. Would it be okay to turn it on?
  • Is it ok to use a iPhone you found on the ground? I found a iPhone 4 on the ground at the beach. I reset the whole phone to the way you would find it if it was new. It was from Verizon wireless and I had the same phone company to. I wanted to know if its ok to connect it to my plan. Would they ask me to return it or give it to a store or something? Could I get in trouble? Do I have to wait a certain amount of time to connect it?
  • Is it legal for my parents to ground my brother for being gay? My brother is 17 and my parents said until he moves out he isn't allowed to leave the house except for work or school. They took his TV and replaced his iPhone with a flip phone that doesn't have an internet browser. Should I call the police? Is this abuse?
  • IPhone changing port broke, can i use charging mat? So, the charging port to my iPhone 4s is broke. No charger will work more then a few seconds. If I buy a charging mat will it work to charge my phone or does the mat still need some some connection through the port? Any suggestions on fixing this without paying an arm and leg?

Add Comment