Not sure it would help with static but might help screen RF and EMI if the cage you propose building is grounded. Here's some good info and it's correct: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage |
Given that copper and nickel conduct electricity, I don't see how it would stop static from discharging. I think it would even facilitate the discharge. However, feel free to experiment. Rub your feet on the carpet and touch it. I wouldn't dare to try this with my equipment so I'll wait for your report as to the result. |
Not by merely putting the fabric on the top of the unit. Enclosing an measurement set up in a conductive mesh (called a Faraday cage) is a good solution when dealing with low level signals. In a lab to which I provided engineering services, they measured brain potentials (signals in the microvolt range) inside a Faraday cage - doing so outside the cage in a room lit with flourescent lights was impossible - all you could see on the scope was the noise. To be effective the cage has to enclose the area of interest - not merely laying a sheet on top of the unit. You don't need a Faraday cage around you equipment. As to your reference to static electricity discharge - no the conductive sheet on top of the unit will not do anything. Of course if you are trying to keep the spark down when you walk across the room to touch the unit, you can attach a wrist strap to the chassis of the unit and simply put the wrist strap on before touching the chassis - but that is a different problem - the source of that charge is not on the chassis. Conductive wrist straps are common when working on electronic equipment and you can likely find them at any electronic supply house. |
A correction to my post of 2 minutes ago. With regard to the wrist strap, for your application do not attach the wrist strap to the chassis of the unit. Rather attach it to ground at some other point. Of course you really don't need the wrist strap, just discharge yourself by touching ground at some point other than the chassis before touching the chassis (obviously this other point needs to be physically within reach without walking across the carpet again). |
