Homebrew PCBs

On Sat, Dec 24, 2011 at 6:40 PM, AlienRelics <alienrelics@...> wrote:
> OK, so you'll only accept solid evidence from people who don't have the equipment nor money to really investigate failures.
>
> Got it.

The goal was to show how significant (or insignificant) this problem
is in a typical hobby or laboratory situation. There is no doubt that
ESD can potentially cause damage, but it is only noticeable when you
have pushed the other error parameters to extremes as well (say by
using machine soldering instead of hand soldering to give just one
example).

So far it does seem to happen once every 10 years, on average, per
person. I admit this is a rate at which I might have completely
overlooked my own alloted number of ESD failures.

> I consider not taking ESD precautions for most modern equipment like I do crossing the street blindfolded. Most streets, I'm probably going to be OK most of the time. Other streets, I'll almost certainly die. But I don't want to get hit by a car, so I take off the blindfold.
>

Yes, it's a risk, like crossing the street. I'd estimate it similar in
probability to getting hit while crossing the street without a
blindfold, but your reality may vary.

I'll still keep recommending people to cross the street if they want
the other side - building a pedestrian bridge or underground crossing
everywhere is just not cost effective, even if less people would get
run over.

ST