Help Selecting ESD Mat

[asg32000]

Hey, everyone.  I've searched through previous posts about ESD mats, and there is the one that Dave likes (an Australian vendor - doesn't do me any good in the USA), and I found a recommended eBay store from another user.  Browsing that store, I came across this mat that looks like the best fit for me:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-LAYER-RUBBER-ESD-ANTI-STATIC-HI-TEMP-GROUNDING-MAT-24-X-48-W-DUALBENCH-GREEN-/271292738774?

I have a 40"x22" workspace, so I will be cutting the 48" down to 40" (I might just leave the 24" side at 24" and let it dangle over the edge).

I asked the eBay store owner about how the ESD mat and the wrist strap terminal connect to ground, and she said that there is a little snap terminal on the mat, and the kit comes with a ground wire for that.  There is also a ground wire included for the bench-mounted wrist strap terminal.

Can y'all take a look at this and help me decided if this is a good choice?  Does there need to be extra resistance built in between the ESD mat and ground?  Between the wrist-strap terminal and ground?  Do the specs of this mat seem generally good?  Any comments?

Thanks!

[krivx]

You will want 1Mohm of thereabouts between wrist-strap and ground. This is almost always built into the strap. The mat can be connected directly to ground. I have seen them with 1Mohm straps inline and I don't think it matters and may also prevent a discharge of a charged finger touching the stud.

[nanofrog]

That mat would be fine.  I bought one from that seller a few years ago, and it's good stuff IME (blue w/ smooth surface finish; seller indicated COO = Canada). BTW, that seller will make a mat to your dimensions if you wish (send a message for a quote).

Plenty of other places to get one as well. All-Spec has a 2 layer rubber mat kit, 24"x48" & 0.080" thick in blue for example (kit = mat + wrist strap + ground cord w/ integrated banana port for wrist strap connection). I've a also a medium duty (0.060" thick) version that's fine as well.

As per resistance, the ground wires that connect both the mat and the wrist strap contain a 1M resistor (between the snap connector and wire). Wire color is a hint; black has a resistor, green w/ yellow stripe is just a wire.

[rdl]

I know that seller has been recommended here many times in the past. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them. Now that I think of it, since re-doing my lab, there is another table that could use a ESD mat...

[nanofrog]

I know that seller has been recommended here many times in the past. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them. Now that I think of it, since re-doing my lab, there is another table that could use a ESD mat...

Shame the both of you missed out on the sale & clearance mats from All-Spec (they had some real bargains; $80 mat kit sold for a bit under $30 + ~$7 for shipping for example).  Nothing over at Desco's online store either.

Regarding the eBay seller linked above, shipping is a bit more as it's coming out of Canada vs. a US source. But it still works out cheaper when you're truly comparing equivalent products IME (same material, size, thickness, kit or mat only).

[Melt-O-Tronic]

I have two blue mats from that eBay seller.  Good quality stuff.

I need a third for a recent bench expansion and it will come from the same seller as soon as I can find 2 minutes to sit down & order it.