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Thought those 'anti-static' mats were just overpriced placemats until I zapped a motherboard in Phoenix last July.

The humidity was so low my usual wrist strap wasn't enough, and that $45 mat was the only thing that saved a $1200 custom build from a full rework.
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3 Comments
matthewp52
Feel your pain. That dry air is a silent killer for parts. Good call on the mat.
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the_derek
the_derek5d ago
Started using a humidifier in my workshop during winter. It keeps the static down so I can actually handle boards without freaking out. Makes the whole process way less stressful.
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grantthomas
Learned that lesson the hard way building PCs in Colorado winters. Dry air turns everything into a static bomb. Always clip the strap to the mat now, not just the case. That extra path to ground makes all the difference when the humidity drops.
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