Handheld Static Field Meters

Handheld meters that read the static voltage on film, packs or machine parts, to find the problem and check that an eliminator is working.

Also known as: Electrostatic voltmeter, Static meter, Static field meter, Electrostatic field meter, Static tester

A static field meter reads the electric field from a charged surface, shown as a voltage, without touching it. Point it at film, a pack or a machine part and you see how much charge is there. Without a meter, static is guesswork: you see film clinging or dust collecting but not where the charge starts or whether a fix has worked.

Use it to find the point on the line where the charge is made, to check a static eliminator bar before and after it is fitted, and to audit lines now and then so a dirty or failing bar is caught early. That is why it is a low-cost first step before a bar.

It is not a certification instrument, and it does not tell you a safe limit for your process; that comes from your product, your customer or your own trials.

How to measure

• Hold the meter at the distance given in its instructions and keep that distance the same each time. The reading changes with distance, so a before reading and an after reading are only comparable at the same distance.
• Point it at the surface square-on, away from nearby metal, hands and bodies, which change the field.
• Take readings at several points along the line, starting at the supply and working down, and write them down.
• Check on a day with typical humidity; very dry air raises readings.

What the reading tells you

The number is the voltage on that surface at that distance. Use it to compare: where it jumps, that is where the charge is made; after a bar, a good reading is close to zero. We do not give pass or fail thresholds here, as they depend on your process and material. Ask your customer or product supplier what level is acceptable, or find it by trial.

Typical jobs

Limits

• It reads surface voltage, not the energy that could cause a spark. It is not a hazardous-area tool.
• Range is typically up to about 200 kV with automatic range switching; low readings on a clean surface are normal.
• It will not tell you why a surface charges, only how much.

What to send us for a quote

The more of these you can give us, the faster the quote and the less likely we are to suggest the wrong type.

• What you want to measure (film, packs, parts, machine surfaces)
• Typical distance you can measure from
• Whether you also need a static eliminator bar or ionised air tool

Specifications

Brand	European partner brand
Measurement	Static voltage on a surface, read without touching it
Range	Typically up to about 200 kV, with automatic range switching
Use	Fault-finding, before-and-after checks on an eliminator, and periodic audits of a line
Applications	Finding where static builds up on a line, Proving a static eliminator is working, Checking film, label and web handling, Plastics and packaging maintenance

Key features

Frequently asked questions