Save 10% on your first online order if shipped by 12/31/07. (Not valid with other discounts or offers.)		ESD 101 The need for anti static material arose when a huge ESD episode occurred at NASA in Cape Canaveral while removing a plastic tarpaulin from a rocket after a rainstorm. To make things 'safe', an engineer tied the two leads of a squib together and tied the leads to ground. While lifting the plastic shroud off the rocket to work on it, enough charge generated and caused a spark to jump from the squib casing to the leads and ignited the squib. Thus the rocket motor started at an inopportune time. To solve this problem for NASA, a Raytheon chemist mixed carbon black with polyethylene, and developed "conductive polymer." At that time, NASA also needed a transparent, "see-through" antistatic curtain. Richmond Technology added quaternary ammonium compounds to polymers which produced results in the static dissipative range. Dan Anderson with Richmond Chemical later added pink dye to produce the "pink poly" material used as an antistatic additive to promote the draining of accumulated charge to ground. Remember to keep static build up from occurring in your work area. Plastic bags, vinyl report covers, white foam packing material, clear plastic wrappers, clear bubble wrap, Formica table tops, carpeting, plastic bins and packing tape all have potential to create static build up. Always wear grounding devices and insist on the "touch rule". When offered a component by anyone not wearing grounding devices, touch a part of their skin first, then touch the components they might be holding. Their skin works as an equalizing conductor. The possibilities for ESD materials and antistatic control are endless today. Manufacturers such as Techspray, MG Chemicals, Desco and 3M provide a broad spectrum of materials from spray for carpeting to contact adhesive. In fact, converting regular plastic bins into antistatic ones is made easy by dipping the bins in antistatic floor wax or by using Techspray's Licron. Bantam Electronics strives to provide you with the finest products available, and is an authorized and qualified source for hundreds of manufacturers of tools, production supplies and electronic components. Holiday Safety Bantam Electronics wishes you and yours a safe and happy holiday season. Remember that at this joyous time of the year, electrical outlets can be overloaded and extra precaution and safety should be taken when decorating your office or home for the festivities. Keep these practical and important points in mind when decorating: There is often a tendency to overload wall outlets during the holiday season. This is an unsafe practice and should be avoided even for short durations. Inspect all cords before using. Make sure they are CSA certified. Look for loose connections or frayed or exposed wire. Discard any defective cords. Read the labels and manufacturer's instructions to ensure proper use. Insert plugs fully into outlets. Poor contact may cause overheating or shock. To avoid possible overheating, do not coil or bunch an extension cord which is in use and do not run it under carpets or rugs. For your electrical needs this holiday season, and every other time of the year, Bantam stocks an abundance of products that meet and exceed safety standards while making your holiday decorating easy to manage. Contact us for surge protectors, wall mounts, extension cords, and voltage regulators from manufacturers such as Tripp Lite and APC. And don't forget the batteries, cables and flashlights. Bantam provides some of the best pricing in both disposable and rechargeable batteries from Energizer. Bantam is also a great choice for all your cabling needs including an HDTV cable kit from Cables Unlimited. Stop by and visit John or Dexter at the counter, or call Darrell, Joni or Robert at 512.719.3560 to place your order today.