Questions And Answers

When we measure our 5 pound electrodes, we get 500 ohms between the banana connection and the pads on the bottom. Is that within spec?

Yes, 500 ohms is fine; the requirement is less than 10,000 ohms.

The 5 pound electrodes are used with a megohmmeter tester to perform the compliance verification testing required by ANSI/ESD S20.20 using the test procedures detailed in ESD TR53. Using one 5 pound electrode to measure RTG (resistance to ground) or two 5 pound electrodes to measure RTT (resistance point to point), surface resistance can be measured on worksurfaces, such as static control mats or laminates, flooring including ESD floor mats, seating including ESD chairs, shelving, working surfaces of mobile equipment such as conductive or dissipative cart or trolley shelves, and static control garments such as sleeve to sleeve testing of ESD smocks.

Per ANSI/ESD S4.1 section 6.1.2 Electrodes “Two cylindrical 2.27 kg ±.06 kg (5 pound ± 2 oz) electrodes with a diameter of 63.5 mm ± .25mm (2.5 inches ± .1 inches) each having contacts of electrically conductive material with a Shore-A (IRHD) durometer hardness of 50-70. The resistance between the two electrodes should be less than 10 kilohms [10,000 ohms] when measured at 10 volts on a metallic surface. Electrodes that meet ASTM F-150 and NFPA 99 also meet these characteristics.”