Actually, they ARE supposed to be conductive- at least to the tune of about
a megohm. In any operation that is serious about antistatic procedures, the
mats, wrist straps, and other equipment are to be tested periodically. Most
testers show if a mat reads open right away.
If you have mats or other equipment that read open, then you have found
defective hardware. Trash it.

Cheers!

Chip Shults
My robotics, space and CGI web page - http://home.cfl.rr.com/aichip

Sir Charles W. Shults III wrote:
Actually, they ARE supposed to be conductive- at least to the
tune of about a megohm. In any operation that is serious about
antistatic procedures, the mats, wrist straps, and other equipment
are to be tested periodically. Most testers show if a mat reads open
right away. If you have mats or other equipment that read open,
then you have found defective hardware. Trash it.

A mega-ohm per what unit of distance? From any point on the mat to the
ground point?

Actually, I should have said a megohm for a ground strap and 10 megohms or
so per square for mats. Since they are by area and not linear, the
specification has to be per square.

Cheers!

Chip Shults
My robotics, space and CGI web page - http://home.cfl.rr.com/aichip

Actually, I should have said a megohm for a ground strap and 10 megohms or
so per square for mats. Since they are by area and not linear, the
specification has to be per square.

Cheers!

Chip Shults
My robotics, space and CGI web page - http://home.cfl.rr.com/aichip

Sir Charles W. Shults III wrote:
Actually, they ARE supposed to be conductive- at least to the
tune of about a megohm. In any operation that is serious about
antistatic procedures, the mats, wrist straps, and other equipment
are to be tested periodically. Most testers show if a mat reads open
right away. If you have mats or other equipment that read open,
then you have found defective hardware. Trash it.

A mega-ohm per what unit of distance? From any point on the mat to the
ground point?