Zerostat

[Nigel]

Anyone using the Milty Zerostat? I have an Aim anti-static gun. Not 100% sure it's still working though. Anyway of effectively testing these devices?

[Nigel]

Incidentally, I have read these can be used beneficially on CD's also. Never tried it though.

[jc]

Hi Nigel,

Easiest way is to get something of smooth plastic/latex, even a balloon and rub it to make it statically charged. Introduce some loose hair that sticks to chosen plastic (or balloon to the wall) and zap it. If the balloon falls immediately or the hair drops immediately from the plastic, your zerostat is working fine.

Don't know of their effect on CD, being plastic why not? Unfortunately we were far too busy sneaking up behind each other and zapping the rear of an earlobe to even think of testing a CD .

I also seem to remember they came with a little neon bulb tester, when zapped it would light, like us maybe you lost that!

I heard mutterings of a DIY version but never followed up or searched on that.

[jc]

The mutterrings were true (apparently)

DIY Zerostat

The Milty is approx. £50 now, whereas the DIY version works out approx. £1

[Nigel]

Cheers Chris.

Tried the balloon test and it took a couple of actions to dislodge it from the wall. So working but maybe not as efficiently as it should be. The DIY one looks straightforward enough to build. Do you still use one as part of your analogue replay or do you find them not worth the effort?

[jc]

Hi Nigel,

No, I never actually owned one at home! It was just used in the store.

I had a quick peek in the shops today and couldn't find an electric piezo lighter, they seem to be all the gas ones and, I think, the sparker is too puney on those.