[sdiy] OT: Where to get cheap ESD safe electronics parts drawers?

[ASSI]

On Sunday, 12 March 2017 01:10:48 CET Tom Wiltshire wrote:
> I think the risk of chips dying from static is somewhat overplayed.

It isn't.  I've seen my share of parts returned from the field with sometimes 
horrible damage.  Often enough we don't get to learn the reason other than 
that it was an ESD damage and not outr fault, but in the few cases where we 
did it was usually quite minor things.

Now, as all things the ESD damage doesn't come in a single form.  Sometimes 
the chip just doesn't conform to specs anymore (higher leakage or offset for 
instance), sometimes you've reduced the lifetime  and only then you get to the 
point where the chip is immediately destroyed.  The chips have different 
vulnerabilities when they are soldered in vs. when you handle them before, so 
the details of what you do when matter quite a lot.

> It's a
> good way to sell you more stuff, and perhaps in a production environment
> where you're handling thousands each day the numbers start to stack up, but
> for an individual? Seems unlikely.

If you live in a climate where the relative humidity goes below 30% or so 
regularly you'd have significant worries for instance.  The same if your 
floors are made of some plastic or your work chair covers or clothing are 
synthetic.  You like to have a fan next to your desk?  You may be blowing 
charges around.

The ESD protection built into the chips varies, but for consumer stuff it's 
typical to protect for between 500V…1.5kV HBM (human body model).  That you 
can exceed without even trying.

> I'm quite willing to hear why that's all nonsense though.

Well, you don't need to have the full monty like you were a certified 
manufacturing shop.  But the basics should be covered: anti-static work area 
and tools, potential equalization for everything on the work desk (including 
yourself, please don't skip the protective resistor on the wrist strap 
connection) and just keep everything in ESD bags (preferrably the ones you got 
the parts in).  Anything you bring to the work area must be equalized to 
potential before resuming work, including yourself if you stand up and fetch 
something.


Regards,
Achim.
-- 
+<[Q+ Matrix-12 WAVE#46+305 Neuron microQkb Andromeda XTk Blofeld]>+

Factory and User Sound Singles for Waldorf Q+, Q and microQ:
http://Synth.Stromeko.net/Downloads.html#WaldorfSounds