Ground that Metal Track!
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:06 pm
I have had some recent correspondence with my customers regarding aluminum tracks, and have not seen this issue discussed before on DerbyTalk. I just got this email yesterday from a Judge customer who made his own electrical start gate:
".....Static fried my gate. I never had an issue until we put it on the metal track. Unfortunately the gym floor is plastic and every time I touched the track it would set off the start gate. I tried to install a larger filter cap on my supply but in the process damaged the flipflop."....
Perhaps a better equipment design might have saved the day, however the point remains: A big metal track on an insulated floor can build up substantial static electrical charges. These charges can be harmful to finish line electronics and computers. It is a very good idea to run a ground wire from one of the assembly screws over to the nearest electrical conduit and keep that track at zero potential.
".....Static fried my gate. I never had an issue until we put it on the metal track. Unfortunately the gym floor is plastic and every time I touched the track it would set off the start gate. I tried to install a larger filter cap on my supply but in the process damaged the flipflop."....
Perhaps a better equipment design might have saved the day, however the point remains: A big metal track on an insulated floor can build up substantial static electrical charges. These charges can be harmful to finish line electronics and computers. It is a very good idea to run a ground wire from one of the assembly screws over to the nearest electrical conduit and keep that track at zero potential.