[Elecraft] ESD Safety
This is a subject that comes up here regularly among those working on their Elecraft (and other) rigs. Doing some research on a project, I ran across the following values published by Hewlett-Packard Company. They provide some insight about why it's important to use ESD-safe handling procedures. The PCBs mentioned below are, of course, Printed Circuit Boards, not the stuff found in old capacitors and transformers. DIPs are Dual In-line Pin integrated circuits such as found throughout Elecraft rigs. Typical Electrostatic Voltage Levels Relative Humidity for each voltage level shown below: 10% 40% 55% Walking across carpet 35,000 V 15,000 V 7,500 V Walking across vinyl floor 12,000 V 5,000 V 3,000 V Motions of bench worker 6,000 V 800 V 400 V Removing DIPS from plastic tube 2,000 V 700 V 400 V Removing DIPS from vinyl tray 11,500 V 4,000 V 2,000 V Removing DIPS from Styrofoam 14,500 V 5,000 V 3,500 V Removing bubble pack from PCB 26,500 V 20,000 V 7,000 V Packing PCBs in foam-lined box 21,000 V 11,000 V 5,000 V Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] ESD Safety
Looks like the only solution is to work under water. All of the voltages exceed the 30 volts or so level we have heard cause damage to sensitive components. 73 Rick Dettinger K7MW On Jul 26, 2008, at 9:51 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: This is a subject that comes up here regularly among those working on their Elecraft (and other) rigs. Doing some research on a project, I ran across the following values published by Hewlett-Packard Company. They provide some insight about why it's important to use ESD-safe handling procedures. The PCBs mentioned below are, of course, Printed Circuit Boards, not the stuff found in old capacitors and transformers. DIPs are Dual In-line Pin integrated circuits such as found throughout Elecraft rigs. Typical Electrostatic Voltage Levels Relative Humidity for each voltage level shown below: 10% 40% 55% Walking across carpet 35,000 V 15,000 V 7,500 V Walking across vinyl floor 12,000 V 5,000 V 3,000 V Motions of bench worker 6,000 V 800 V 400 V Removing DIPS from plastic tube 2,000 V 700 V 400 V Removing DIPS from vinyl tray 11,500 V 4,000 V 2,000 V Removing DIPS from Styrofoam 14,500 V 5,000 V 3,500 V Removing bubble pack from PCB 26,500 V 20,000 V 7,000 V Packing PCBs in foam-lined box 21,000 V 11,000 V 5,000 V Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] ESD Safety
Ron wrote: Typical Electrostatic Voltage Levels Relative Humidity for each voltage level shown below: 10% 40% 55% Walking across carpet 35,000 V 15,000 V 7,500 V Walking across vinyl floor 12,000 V 5,000 V 3,000 V Motions of bench worker 6,000 V 800 V 400 V Removing DIPS from plastic tube 2,000 V 700 V 400 V snip Being aware of these facts, and not letting it paralyze you with fear: Priceless. 73, Bruce N1RX ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] ESD Safety
Knowing that you need 2000V or so before you feel it illustraits why its important to take ESD precautions with sensitive parts, very recently at work we had an LDMOS device that would be destroyed with about 30V which means moving your hand in the air near it would cook it, hence why the use of wriststraps, smocks and ionizers is key, most electronics are not this sensitive however. (class 3 is 16KV) Matt KD8DAO ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] ESD Safety
Even with all of the ESD controls in place, the mil specs require the assembly operation to shut down if the humidity goes below 25%!!! Elliott WA6TLA - Original Message - From: Rick Dettinger [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Ron D'Eau Claire [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2008 10:03 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ESD Safety Looks like the only solution is to work under water. All of the voltages exceed the 30 volts or so level we have heard cause damage to sensitive components. 73 Rick Dettinger K7MW On Jul 26, 2008, at 9:51 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: This is a subject that comes up here regularly among those working on their Elecraft (and other) rigs. Doing some research on a project, I ran across the following values published by Hewlett-Packard Company. They provide some insight about why it's important to use ESD-safe handling procedures. The PCBs mentioned below are, of course, Printed Circuit Boards, not the stuff found in old capacitors and transformers. DIPs are Dual In-line Pin integrated circuits such as found throughout Elecraft rigs. Typical Electrostatic Voltage Levels Relative Humidity for each voltage level shown below: 10% 40% 55% Walking across carpet 35,000 V 15,000 V 7,500 V Walking across vinyl floor 12,000 V 5,000 V 3,000 V Motions of bench worker 6,000 V 800 V 400 V Removing DIPS from plastic tube 2,000 V 700 V 400 V Removing DIPS from vinyl tray 11,500 V 4,000 V 2,000 V Removing DIPS from Styrofoam 14,500 V 5,000 V 3,500 V Removing bubble pack from PCB 26,500 V 20,000 V 7,000 V Packing PCBs in foam-lined box 21,000 V 11,000 V 5,000 V Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] ESD Safety
Ron, Thank you very much for the information. I usually work tethered to ground with a wrist strap but also need to acquire a mat. Since my K3 will be factory built, I won't rush it for now. My environment typically is 60% humidity... sometimes higher... my shop/shack is in the basement. When I start to smell mold I turn on the Dehumidifiers. Air conditioning is available but the who needs that when the temp is 65! 72, Bill K9YEQ K2 #35, K2 # 5279, KX1 #35, Mini Modules, etc. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron D'Eau Claire Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2008 11:51 AM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] ESD Safety This is a subject that comes up here regularly among those working on their Elecraft (and other) rigs. Doing some research on a project, I ran across the following values published by Hewlett-Packard Company. They provide some insight about why it's important to use ESD-safe handling procedures. The PCBs mentioned below are, of course, Printed Circuit Boards, not the stuff found in old capacitors and transformers. DIPs are Dual In-line Pin integrated circuits such as found throughout Elecraft rigs. Typical Electrostatic Voltage Levels Relative Humidity for each voltage level shown below: 10% 40% 55% Walking across carpet 35,000 V 15,000 V 7,500 V Walking across vinyl floor 12,000 V 5,000 V 3,000 V Motions of bench worker 6,000 V 800 V 400 V Removing DIPS from plastic tube 2,000 V 700 V 400 V Removing DIPS from vinyl tray 11,500 V 4,000 V 2,000 V Removing DIPS from Styrofoam 14,500 V 5,000 V 3,500 V Removing bubble pack from PCB 26,500 V 20,000 V 7,000 V Packing PCBs in foam-lined box 21,000 V 11,000 V 5,000 V Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] ESD Safety
Until retirement in 1993, I worked for 35 years soldering in the aerospace industry...In every soldering station and straight soldering iron I ever encountered that had a 3 prong AC connector, the soldering tip was connected directly to house ground...I have an old Weller WTCP, a Hakko 936, an old Pace, and several straight soldering irons with 3 prong plugs and they all have tips grounded directly to house ground...The Hakko 808 desoldering tool has a grounded tip...Most soldering handles and the wire for them are made of static dissipating plastic to help drain any charge on the operator's body...It would be next to impossible to use one of these tools and not accidently touch the chassis or ground plane with it at one time or another...Grounding the work mat and the wrist strap through a 1 meg resistor is normal, but not the soldering tip...Some mats have a ring on the end of the ground wire that you slip over the round ground prong on the AC plug before you plug the solde ring iron in... It is important to remove the tip and clean it up occasionally...Corrosion eventually leads to the tip becoming isolated from ground... Jerry, wa2dkg ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] ESD Safety
Jerry and all, There are a few soldering stations that have isolated tips (they also say they are ESD safe) that can be used when working on live circuits. The Solomon soldering station that I have is an isolated tip. 73, Don W3FPR Jeremiah McCarthy wrote: Until retirement in 1993, I worked for 35 years soldering in the aerospace industry...In every soldering station and straight soldering iron I ever encountered that had a 3 prong AC connector, the soldering tip was connected directly to house ground...I have an old Weller WTCP, a Hakko 936, an old Pace, and several straight soldering irons with 3 prong plugs and they all have tips grounded directly to house ground...The Hakko 808 desoldering tool has a grounded tip...Most soldering handles and the wire for them are made of static dissipating plastic to help drain any charge on the operator's body...It would be next to impossible to use one of these tools and not accidently touch the chassis or ground plane with it at one time or another...Grounding the work mat and the wrist strap through a 1 meg resistor is normal, but not the soldering tip...Some mats have a ring on the end of the ground wire that you slip over the round ground prong on the AC plug before you plug the solde ring iron in... ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
