Electrostatic Discharge

[rsegrest]

After having traction issues with our sticky wheels (the chassis was beginning to bend) we have decided to use the slick wheels on the back end of our robot. I notice that several other teams are doing the same thing. Since changing over to the slick wheels we have noticed that after you run the bot on carpet and then go to work on the bot there is a discharge of electricity. One person got zapped several times. We are concerned about our jaguars etc. getting zapped even though they are mounted to a plexi-glass surface. My questions are:

1. Are any other teams noticing a buildup of static electricity after they have opted to use the slick wheels?

2. Are we allowed to run a grounding wire from the ground terminal on the power distribution block to the chassis?

I have posted this with the GDC but have recieved no response yet, your opinions would be appreciated.

[EricH]

Other teams have noticed. I believe that http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ghlight=static will give some guidance on this topic.

[JudyVandy]

Is it possible that the plexiglas is the problem? Might it be better to mount the 'stuff' on something else?

[rsegrest]

Thank you Eric, I searched ESD and not static buildup when I posted. Will look at the other thread and see what happens. I have also posted to the GDC to get an official answer.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by rsegrest

2. Are we allowed to run a grounding wire from the ground terminal on the power distribution block to the chassis?

I am very confident that the answer will be no. It won't help, either, but that's beside the point.

To help with ESD, hang some metal braid (or stranded wire with the end fanned out) from the frame until it touches the carpet a little. This provides a discharge path.

[rsegrest]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

To help with ESD, hang some metal braid (or stranded wire with the end fanned out) from the frame until it touches the carpet a little. This provides a discharge path.

I Read in another post that having something brushing the ground would be considered illegal as well. I haven't seen anything in the manual about this directly being legal or illegal. Thoughts?

[J_Beth]

Originally Posted by rsegrest

I Read in another post that having something brushing the ground would be considered illegal as well. I haven't seen anything in the manual about this directly being legal or illegal. Thoughts?

As long as it does not damage the carpet there should not be a problem with it. We use a very fine chain that was hung from the bottom of the robot and just touched the floor last year to help us solve this problem when we had the low friction wheels.