Mylar tape on Teres has lots of static.

Rubber-soled shoes and the deep pile carpet don't have any conductive elements between them either, but I'll be damned if I don't get shocked every time I touch something that truly is grounded. Physics - amazing!!

-Richard

Jj2468 is correct. Thom's suggestion would only work if there were a conductive path between belt and bearing. There might be on a Galibier, but not on a Teres.

However, the OP's question is a red herring. If you remove all static potential between belt and platter you'll experience major slippage. IOW, the belt won't pull the platter.

I noticed the belt static during the experiments Swampwalker mentioned and this topic was discussed on that thread. To repeat what I reported then: when I suggested grounding the belt my partner Paul gave me the pained look scientists reserve for imbeciles, and me.

"Don't you understand ANYTHING about sub-atomic physics?", he asked.

"Well, um..."

"Try zapping the belt with your Zerostat while the table's running. Watch what happens."

Oops! There was an instant and complete loss of grip, like someone had oiled the belt. We could hear and see major slippage between belt and platter as the platter slowed. It only regained normal operation when I stopped zapping.

Try it for yourselves. We imbeciles need to stick together.

:-) Professional Imbecile here, reporting for duty!

I take my belt off every so often and the static build up makes it hang funny. One zap with the Zerostat and it relaxes. Most of the time I use Doug's trick about holding a carbon fiber brush against the belt while it is turning. That helps and also removes the dust that builds up there. I also use a microfiber cloth in the same manner but held against the edge of the platter. I do this once at the beginning of a listening session.

Richard,

Don't you understand ANYTHING about sub-atomic physics? ;-)

The non-conductivity of your shoes and carpet is WHY you get a big discharge when you finally touch a grounded object. If you were grounded at every step there'd be no buildup of a large potential between you and earth.

Artemus,

Here's a link to the etched tape thread .

Doug,

Nope - I rely purely on faith ;-)
There is a great need for a sarcasm font, BTW.

My only ground path is off the Triplanar's base. Personally, I never understood why one would want to ground the main bearing, but perhaps in certain schemes it could provide benefits - I always look at more ground wiring as an open path for RF/EMI, etc. Considering everything is conductive on a Galibier (except the platter and the belt), another ground point would be redundant. I am rarely plagued by belt static, even during the winter it isn't too bad, but then again, I usually remove the belt every week or so to clean it and the platter edge, so perhaps I've never had a problem due to my normal regimen - usually I see more charge differential between myself and other objects during the dry time of the year, which is why I always touch the plinth first, THEN the arm...zzZZAP!

-Richard



-Richard