Static Discharge Through K-Pod

[Chuck Milam, N9KY]

Greetings, All!

I'm getting static electricity shocks through my K-Pod case, and I need
some suggestions for mitigation.

Background:  I keep my K-Pod on my operating desk just to the right of the
shack computer mouse. I've noticed when I walk over to the desk and grab
the mouse, the K-Pod will beep.  Further investigation shows I'm getting
static electricity discharge from my finger through the K-Pod, this morning
I even noticed an arc from my pinky finger to the K-Pod case. When the
K-Pod beeps, the D1 and D2 lights will cycle.

The shack is carpeted, and I have a rolling chair on one of those plastic
chair mats (which can probably go away if necessary,) I suspect that mat is
probably contributing to the static problem.

Obviously, I don't want static electricity discharging through my K-Pod and
then through my K3. I'd welcome any ideas for static mitigation
strategies.  I was thinking some sort of grounded mouse/keyboard mat, which
used to be more common, but seem hard to find these days.

73,

Chuck Milam, N9KY
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[Larry (K8UT)]

Chuck,

I had this problem in my carpeted shack with a desk chair rolling around
on a vinyl chair pad. After a little testing I determined that the metal
case of the K-Pod is not grounded.

The KPod uses a straight-through 6 conductor cable with identical RJ
connectors on each end. I built a slightly longer cable for my KPod,
using 6 conductors of a stranded 8 conductor flat ethernet wire. A 7th
conductor provides chassis ground from the K3 to the metal case of the
KPod.

I have had zero issues since grounding the K-Pod case.

-larry (K8UT)

------ Original Message ------
From: "Chuck Milam, N9KY" <[hidden email]>
To: "Elecraft Mail List" <[hidden email]>
Sent: 2018-03-15 11:08:03
Subject: [Elecraft] Static Discharge Through K-Pod

>Greetings, All!
>
>I'm getting static electricity shocks through my K-Pod case, and I need
>some suggestions for mitigation.
>
>Background:  I keep my K-Pod on my operating desk just to the right of
>the
>shack computer mouse. I've noticed when I walk over to the desk and
>grab
>the mouse, the K-Pod will beep.  Further investigation shows I'm
>getting
>static electricity discharge from my finger through the K-Pod, this
>morning
>I even noticed an arc from my pinky finger to the K-Pod case. When the
>K-Pod beeps, the D1 and D2 lights will cycle.
>
>The shack is carpeted, and I have a rolling chair on one of those
>plastic
>chair mats (which can probably go away if necessary,) I suspect that
>mat is
>probably contributing to the static problem.
>
>Obviously, I don't want static electricity discharging through my K-Pod
>and
>then through my K3. I'd welcome any ideas for static mitigation
>strategies.  I was thinking some sort of grounded mouse/keyboard mat,
>which
>used to be more common, but seem hard to find these days.
>
>73,
>
>Chuck Milam, N9KY
>[hidden email]
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
>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]

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[Jim Wilson]

Chuck,

I'm also in an area of low humidity and such static discharges

are a problem. I have everything grounded together and a small

patch of aluminum foil connected with a 1 megohn resistor. After

a trip across the carpet and before touching anything, I touch the

foil. The resistor prevents a spark but discharges the charge. That

may be worth a try for you.

Jim - W4RKS

---------------------

>I'm getting static electricity shocks through my K-Pod case, and I need
>some suggestions for mitigation.

>Background:  I keep my K-Pod on my operating desk just to the right of the
>shack computer mouse. I've noticed when I walk over to the desk and grab
>the mouse, the K-Pod will beep.
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[Ken G Kopp]

The real issue here is the lack of household humidity.  A humidifier is
probably in the real fix.  Several hours of a near-boiling pan of water on
the kitchen stove would likely be enlightening.

Or, get a "real' anti-static (desk size) work mat with wrist strap.  I have
one permanently atop my operating desk in front of my K2 and K3.

Hint: Amazon is your friend.  (:-)

73!

K0PP
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[Nr4c]

Try a humidifier to reduce the static.

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On Mar 15, 2018, at 11:08 AM, Chuck Milam, N9KY <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Greetings, All!
>
> I'm getting static electricity shocks through my K-Pod case, and I need
> some suggestions for mitigation.
>
> Background:  I keep my K-Pod on my operating desk just to the right of the
> shack computer mouse. I've noticed when I walk over to the desk and grab
> the mouse, the K-Pod will beep.  Further investigation shows I'm getting
> static electricity discharge from my finger through the K-Pod, this morning
> I even noticed an arc from my pinky finger to the K-Pod case. When the
> K-Pod beeps, the D1 and D2 lights will cycle.
>
> The shack is carpeted, and I have a rolling chair on one of those plastic
> chair mats (which can probably go away if necessary,) I suspect that mat is
> probably contributing to the static problem.
>
> Obviously, I don't want static electricity discharging through my K-Pod and
> then through my K3. I'd welcome any ideas for static mitigation
> strategies.  I was thinking some sort of grounded mouse/keyboard mat, which
> used to be more common, but seem hard to find these days.
>
> 73,
>
> Chuck Milam, N9KY
> [hidden email]
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> 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]

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[Ted Edwards W3TB]

There has been very low humidity this week, and I have had some shocks at
home.

When we got lots of static discharge shocks after walking on my
mother-in-law's carpet, I put some 1 Meg Ohm resistors under the light
switch cover screw for her to touch in the winter before the switch.  Silly
idea but it worked to discharge all the static but so slowly as to not
experience the shock.  There might be a similar solution to touching the
K-Pod.

My K-Pod arrived today, and my only annoyance is that the cables are too
short for both the radio line and the 12v line.

On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 5:42 PM, Nr4c <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Try a humidifier to reduce the static.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ...nr4c. bill
>
>
> > On Mar 15, 2018, at 11:08 AM, Chuck Milam, N9KY <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> > Greetings, All!
> >
> > I'm getting static electricity shocks through my K-Pod case, and I need
> > some suggestions for mitigation.
> >
> > Background:  I keep my K-Pod on my operating desk just to the right of
> the
> > shack computer mouse. I've noticed when I walk over to the desk and grab
> > the mouse, the K-Pod will beep.  Further investigation shows I'm getting
> > static electricity discharge from my finger through the K-Pod, this
> morning
> > I even noticed an arc from my pinky finger to the K-Pod case. When the
> > K-Pod beeps, the D1 and D2 lights will cycle.
> >
> > The shack is carpeted, and I have a rolling chair on one of those plastic
> > chair mats (which can probably go away if necessary,) I suspect that mat
> is
> > probably contributing to the static problem.
> >
> > Obviously, I don't want static electricity discharging through my K-Pod
> and
> > then through my K3. I'd welcome any ideas for static mitigation
> > strategies.  I was thinking some sort of grounded mouse/keyboard mat,
> which
> > used to be more common, but seem hard to find these days.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Chuck Milam, N9KY
> > [hidden email]
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > 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
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> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

--
73 de Ted Edwards, W3TB and GØPWW

and thinking about operating CW:
"Do today what others won't,
so you can do tomorrow what others can't."
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