The Gen4 Static Eliminators have been successful for EXAIR because of our robust design and great performance. They are rugged enough to be used in many industrial areas. EXAIR manufactures two styles; with and without compressed air assistance. For both types, preventative maintenance is still required to keep the Gen4 product line functioning optimally. In this blog, I will describe how to clean the points for years of hassle-free operations.

There are two common ways that an anti-static product will start to drift; contamination buildup and emitter point degradation. The degree of buildup is dependent on the environment. To create an ion, we have to apply a high voltage to a fine point. The high voltage is supplied by our Gen4 Power Supplies which generate 5,000 volts from a selectable 115Vac or 230Vac input. As the high voltage is pushed into a fine point; the energy creates a corona field.

Any contamination near or around that point can collect on its tip. The more contamination in the surrounding area, the faster the buildup will occur. Once the point gets coated, the ion production begins to decrease. Before this happens, the points should be cleaned with a soft-bristled brush as a preventative maintenance. Make sure that the power is turned off to the power supply and please do not use any liquid or cleaners on the points.

The second way is caused when the ionizing tips start to lose its sharpness caused by the cycle rate of ion production. Like a wick in a candle, a bit of material is lost over time. To mitigate this, our resistor-based line has replaceable ion points. This feature makes a cost-effective way to keep the points sharp, and the Static Eliminators like new. The video below shows how to clean and replace the ion points.

For any analysis with the Static Eliminators, EXAIR offers a model 7905 Static Meter. The Static Meter can help to find problem areas for best placement for the Gen4 Static Eliminators. It can also help to diagnose any static issues when cleaning is required and to help decide a preventative maintenance schedule. Whether is it a single point or multiple point product, the video above will help you to keep your machines running smoothly.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”   With a maintenance schedule and a soft-bristled brush, you can protect your equipment from many issues with static. This would include machines jamming, difficult alignments, collection of debris, and hazardous shocks. EXAIR has a large line of Gen4 Static Eliminators to remove these static nuisances, and with the cleaning instructions above, you will have years of effective static removal. If static is affecting your operation, you can contact an Application Engineer at EXAIR to help select the correct solution.

John Ball
Application Engineer
Email: johnball@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jb