Hello Fellow Model Railroaders,
This is just a reminder of ESD. I figure most folks in this hobby are familiar, but if not here's some info.
I think everybody has experienced static discharge, like the time you dragged your feet across the carpet and touched a door knob - Snap - Ouch! Yeah, just think what that would do to the electronics in your model locomotive or other high tech stuff with sensitive electronics. If you can feel the static shock it's probably 5,000 plus volts, anything below that are typically are not felt. Static voltages as low as 500 volts will fry a ESD sensitive component and you won't feel that.
Here's some recommendations to avoid the term, "Static Zap Makes Scrap"!
1) When working on your electronics don't wear man made fabrics like polyester! It's best to wear cotton.
2) Know this: Air conditioning reduces humidity which increases static build up just waiting for somewhere to discharge.
3) Ground yourself before touching any electronics.
4) Better yet, use a ESD portable static mat kit to work on your sensitive locomotives and other electronics. There are bunch's of ESD portable kits available online. Below is my ESD Kit. I use a perfectly sized Philips screw driver shoved into the a wall outlet ground and then clip the ESD Kit ground to it.
Sounds like a lot of work to protect against something that may, or may not happen?! Not after you have fried a R2LC/R4LC, Sound Board, or power board in your Lionel Vision Line locomotive like an friend of mine that did not heed my warnings! :-(
