We probably don’t need to tell you that static electricity and working with electronics aren’t always a good mix! Using good practice around Electro Static Discharge (ESD) can help you avoid unintentionally zapping a component. Whilst a decent ESD mat is a great option for your work area, we love this Static Discharge Button made by Toms Bespoke Widgets.
It’s a simple and fun device crafted out of a nice lump of cherry wood that has a steel discharge “button”, a small LED, a connecting earth cable and a non slip backing. You simply attach the earth cable to a source of earth like a PC case and then touching the button discharges you of static. The fun element is that if you have enough static stored in you the LED will momentarily light when you discharge through it.
As well as potentially saving your electronics project we can imagine this being a great way to talk about and explain static charge build up and a fun challenge to see who can light the LED most!
