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Anti static foam?

I'm thinking about trying this tweak and am curious how you install it (Elizabeth?). Do you just pack it in your equipment or do you have to put something between the foam and the boards? I don't want to start a fire or short out a circuit. At the low cost of this anti static foam, and with the crazy amounts of static I have here in the cold dry air here in Colorado, I'm thinking that this would be a worthwile thing to do but I just need some instruction on what and what not to do when installing the foam in my components and which components I can do and which ones I shouldn't do. Thanks!
b_limo
b_limo's avatar
b_limo OP
829 posts
 
Mofi , got bored and looked up the top ten driest states in the U.S.;Wyoming was third, Colorado was seventh fwiw :-)
csontos
1,275 posts
 
I would definitely not put this stuff in your amp. Not even against chassis walls. What ever you put it in, it will insulate. I mean it will keep and accumulate heat. That would absolutely change the sound of your amp. Probably your pre-amp also. I wonder if anyone's done any listening tests using identical components with and without it.
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,152 posts
 
B_limo...I get the occasional little zap here and there, but I would never classify it as a "crazy amount". I was born in this part of the country and have lived here all my 53 years.

Maybe I'm just immune to it :-)
rlwainwright
1,901 posts
 
Bounce dryer sheets. Place atop gear and touch before touching any gear. Works wonders and is dirt cheap. Also, increasing the relative humidity in your listening room is a very good idea. Buy a decent humidifier and most of your troubles go away...

-RW-
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
This tweak is for DIGITAL components like DACs.
The closer the foam is to the digital chips the better it works.
True, placing a square inside the top would help, but closer is better.

Of the two, a big square in the top cover, or several smaller ones over the main chips.. The smaller placed directly on/over the main chips would do more good. (still with physical insulation covering it or seperating it from chips etc)
Yes the foam in solid contact with the bare metal inside of lid will be 'enough' grounding.
Any sort of small gauge copper or silver wire will do for grounding the foam..All yo have to do is strip a little insulation off the end and stick it into the foam. The foam is conductive.
Thhe other end of the wire(s) would need to be stuck under a screw on the chassis.

And finally no do not use this in any equipment which gets HOT. Most DACs and CD or DVD players hardly get warm. So they may be a little hotter after the tweak, but no by much.
As I mentioned, My Adcom DA600 had it in for years, Then my Adcom DA700 I still use has been completly stuff FULL of foam for many years and never any problem, and its chassis feels cooler than my hand, even now. And I leave it on 24/7/365.
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