Right, well, thanks then everyone!  I think heel straps and a small mat
under the experiment table are the way to go...that way, anyone getting
near the hapless lagomorph will have to discharge themselves.

Also probably one or two really large humidifiers.

It continually amazes me the level to which things around here are not
engineered.  As I understand it, I may be the only full-fledged engineer
on staff in any major research lab of this type.  It's quite bizarre some of
the things that have been just overlooked in the past which could have
major consequences for the data being collected.

It has made me question the validity of scientific findings of all sorts.

Mike H.

> > I've been thinking about the use of heel straps to mitigate the static
> > problems.  My problem is this:  it's unreasonable to cover the vast area
> > of our lab with antistatic floor mats.  Will the heel straps work on any
> > old floor?
> >
> > Also, a coworker gave me a bottle of something called "Staticide", which
> > has somewhat scant directions...anybody ever use it?  Is it a "spray on"
> > static mat?
>
>In your extreme and mobile environment you will need to use a genuine old
>fashioned grounded earth strap. Sorry :-(. Heel grounders will improve
>things but without tests of floor impedance to ground etc they can't be
>guaranteed. Staticide gets eg carpet down to the "doesn't hurt when I walk
>on it" level but can still allow eht at levels which will zap
>semiconductors
>(and presumably bunny brains).  Negative ion generators at work benches can
>help stationary workers but are not practical over any distance. And
>presumably can pump you up in the opposite direction.
>
>Large floating metal plates capacitively coupled to ground and poorly
>resistively coupled to ground (via high resistance leakage) CAN prevent
>voltage rise from small discharges due to voltage being capacitively
>divided
>(or think of it as charge sharing) allowing subsequent leakage to ground.
>
>But you'll need earth straps if you are serious or a proper qualification
>of
>your floor.
>
>
>
>         Russell McMahon
>
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