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K3 - static discharge

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Bill-3

K3 - static discharge

To prevent static discharge problems with my computers, I have a bare
ground wire attached to the side of my desk. I touch it when I first sit
down. In the winter, it does draw a spark. Most computers are not well
designed or protected.

That said, I had no idea the K3 was susceptible to ESD - via the K-Pod.

Bill W2BLC K-Line
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Charlie T, K3ICH

Re: K3 - static discharge

Yes, but they typically DO use a three wire (case at ground) power cord.
I make it a point to touch the metal side of the computer before anything
else.

A couple other recommendations would be to buy a cheap digital humidity
indicator and put one or more humidifiers* around the house.

I'm not sure what is the ideal humidity level, but our house here in
Virginia it would get down under 30% which results in lots of sparks AND
split fingers.

I try to get it nearer to 50% which seems to help both those conditions.

73, Charlie k3ICH

*I don't recommend the old fashioned steam units which simply have two
electrodes immersed in water such that the steam is created from the
electric current between them. Obviously, pure laboratory H2O won't work,
but a pinch of salt in the water makes the house lights dim (HI), neither of
which is a desirable situation. I don't like the ultrasonic units either
because for some reason, they caused a lot of dust to be deposited on our
flat screen TV. My opinion is that the best types are the ones that use a
wick element and fan to put moisture in the air.

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bill
Sent: Friday, November 11, 2016 8:50 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - static discharge

To prevent static discharge problems with my computers, I have a bare ground
wire attached to the side of my desk. I touch it when I first sit down. In
the winter, it does draw a spark. Most computers are not well designed or
protected.

That said, I had no idea the K3 was susceptible to ESD - via the K-Pod.

Bill W2BLC K-Line
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Richard Fjeld-2

Re: K3 - static discharge

This is a huge problem in Minnesota due to the extreme cold causing
humidity on the windows and turning to ice.
It is difficult to hit a happy medium between avoiding static and wet
windows.

As for protecting my equipment, I have mentioned keeping a grounded
wrist strap around an Altoids can
by my stuffed chair. When I get up from the chair, I touch the can to
discharge my static build up.
At the K3, I touch the end of a small resistor that is connected to a
ground point on the nearby outlet
and protrudes above the face-plate from it's back.

Dick, n0ce

On 11/11/2016 8:16 AM, Charlie T, K3ICH wrote:

> Yes, but they typically DO use a three wire (case at ground) power cord.
> I make it a point to touch the metal side of the computer before anything
> else.
>
> A couple other recommendations would be to buy a cheap digital humidity
> indicator and put one or more humidifiers* around the house.
>
> I'm not sure what is the ideal humidity level, but our house here in
> Virginia it would get down under 30% which results in lots of sparks AND
> split fingers.
>
> I try to get it nearer to 50% which seems to help both those conditions.
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>
> *I don't recommend the old fashioned steam units which simply have two
> electrodes immersed in water such that the steam is created from the
> electric current between them. Obviously, pure laboratory H2O won't work,
> but a pinch of salt in the water makes the house lights dim (HI), neither of
> which is a desirable situation. I don't like the ultrasonic units either
> because for some reason, they caused a lot of dust to be deposited on our
> flat screen TV. My opinion is that the best types are the ones that use a
> wick element and fan to put moisture in the air.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bill
> Sent: Friday, November 11, 2016 8:50 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - static discharge
>
> To prevent static discharge problems with my computers, I have a bare ground
> wire attached to the side of my desk. I touch it when I first sit down. In
> the winter, it does draw a spark. Most computers are not well designed or
> protected.
>
> That said, I had no idea the K3 was susceptible to ESD - via the K-Pod.
>
> Bill W2BLC K-Line
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message
> delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

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k6dgw

Re: K3 - static discharge

In reply to this post by Charlie T, K3ICH

Hmmm ... not uncommon for our relative humidity to be in single digits,
and it's very often less than 20%. I never get shocked by static
discharge. However, when we lived in Auburn CA with numbers in the 30
to 50% range, it happened all the time. There must be more to it than
water vapor.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Sparks NV DM09dn

- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the Cal QSO Party 7-8 Oct 2017
- www.cqp.org

On 11/11/2016 6:16 AM, Charlie T, K3ICH wrote:

> I'm not sure what is the ideal humidity level, but our house here in
> Virginia it would get down under 30% which results in lots of sparks AND
> split fingers.
>
> I try to get it nearer to 50% which seems to help both those conditions.
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH

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Wes Stewart-2

Re: K3 - static discharge

In reply to this post by Charlie T, K3ICH

Sounds like a rain forest to me.

On 11/11/2016 7:16 AM, Charlie T, K3ICH wrote:
> I try to get it nearer to 50% which seems to help both those conditions.
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>

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Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: K3 - static discharge

Administrator

In reply to this post by Bill-3

If the KPOD is causing this due to static discharge, reverse ends on the
direction of the cable connecting it to the K3S or K3. The wire to pin one of
our supplied cable is supposed to be cut, but it is possible there is one end
with a wire still making the connection. (If you are supplying your own cable,
please make sure pin one is cut on both ends.)

Eric
/elecraft.com/

On 11/11/2016 5:50 AM, Bill wrote:
> That said, I had no idea the K3 was susceptible to ESD - via the K-Pod.
>
> Bill W2BLC K-Line
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ke9uw

Re: K3 - static discharge

I have a (high quality=$50 or so) antistatic mat on my desk. Slower discharge. No issues with sparks in the winter. It makes a nice surface as well.

Chuck, KE9UW

kstover

Re: K3 - static discharge

In reply to this post by Charlie T, K3ICH

We have a whole house humidifier.
The default setting is 40%. We run it just up to the point where we
start to get condensation on windows then back off about 5%. It only
runs during winter.

On 11/11/2016 8:16 AM, Charlie T, K3ICH wrote:

--
R. Kevin Stover
AC0H
ARRL
FISTS #11993
SKCC #215
NAQCC #3441

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