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K3 ESD

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Ken Alexander-2

Re: Soldering Naked

Hopefully, this lesson served as an advance warning about the hazards of frying bacon when similarly (un)attired!

73 - Ken, VE3HLS

--- On Fri, 12/17/10, Phil Townsend <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: Phil Townsend <[hidden email]>
> Subject: [Elecraft] Soldering Naked
> To:
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Date: Friday, December 17, 2010, 12:48 PM
> I was 12 years old... I think it was
> a Heathkit HW ???
> I woke up early ready to sling solder. My bed was next to
> my "shack/workbench".
> The parents and sister were all sleeping...
> Then it happened...
> A large blob of solder slipped off the iron onto Mr Happy!
> (My new best friend)
> Shrieking and shouting... the blob "stuck".
> The noise from my room awakened Sister and her sleepover
> friend. (The one I had the sweets for.)
> They stormed into my room followed by Mom and Dad.
> Sisters friend was first into the room causing her to
> squeal as she tried to turn around and run out of the door
> she just came into.
> Thereby running into Sis and parents.
> The solder was still stuck and still hot.
> By parents wanted to call the Doctor...but I had enough
> humiliation for one day so my Mom gave me the ointment and
> that was that.
> Durring breakfast no one said anything about the early
> morning "event".
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

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Barry

Re: Soldering Naked

In reply to this post by Phillip Lontz

A classic, Phil!
I've had solder drop on my leg while wearing shorts, but that was the worst for me.
BTW, my wife came in to see what I was laughing about and I had her read your post. She didn't get it - though Mr. Happy referred to a toy or stuffed animal :.)
Barry W2UP

Phil Townsend wrote

I was 12 years old... I think it was a Heathkit HW ???
I woke up early ready to sling solder. My bed was next to my "shack/workbench".
The parents and sister were all sleeping...
Then it happened...
A large blob of solder slipped off the iron onto Mr Happy! (My new best friend)
Shrieking and shouting... the blob "stuck".
The noise from my room awakened Sister and her sleepover friend. (The one I had the sweets for.)
They stormed into my room followed by Mom and Dad.
Sisters friend was first into the room causing her to squeal as she tried to turn around and run out of the door she just came into.
Thereby running into Sis and parents.
The solder was still stuck and still hot.
By parents wanted to call the Doctor...but I had enough humiliation for one day so my Mom gave me the ointment and that was that.
Durring breakfast no one said anything about the early morning "event".

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Phillip Lontz

Re: Soldering Naked

Toy yes!
Stuffed... God I hope not!

Sent from my iPad

On Dec 17, 2010, at 5:54 PM, Barry <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> A classic, Phil!
> I've had solder drop on my leg while wearing shorts, but that was the worst
> for me.
> BTW, my wife came in to see what I was laughing about and I had her read
> your post. She didn't get it - though Mr. Happy referred to a toy or
> stuffed animal :.)
> Barry W2UP
>
>
>
> Phil Townsend wrote:
>>
>> I was 12 years old... I think it was a Heathkit HW ???
>> I woke up early ready to sling solder. My bed was next to my
>> "shack/workbench".
>> The parents and sister were all sleeping...
>> Then it happened...
>> A large blob of solder slipped off the iron onto Mr Happy! (My new best
>> friend)
>> Shrieking and shouting... the blob "stuck".
>> The noise from my room awakened Sister and her sleepover friend. (The one
>> I had the sweets for.)
>> They stormed into my room followed by Mom and Dad.
>> Sisters friend was first into the room causing her to squeal as she tried
>> to turn around and run out of the door she just came into.
>> Thereby running into Sis and parents.
>> The solder was still stuck and still hot.
>> By parents wanted to call the Doctor...but I had enough humiliation for
>> one day so my Mom gave me the ointment and that was that.
>> Durring breakfast no one said anything about the early morning "event".
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-ESD-tp5844885p5847272.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
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Rex Lint

Re: Soldering Naked

This same thing happened to me - I was about 35 at the time and I threw the
soldering iron across the room and it landed on the rya shag rug, burning an
outline of the iron into the wool rug.

I've still got the scar - see, right here...

and the project was a HW-202...

-Rex-

K1HI
Rex Lint
Merrimack, NH
WWW.QRZ.COM/db/k1hi

-----Original Message-----

> Phil Townsend wrote:
>>
>> I was 12 years old... I think it was a Heathkit HW ???
>> I woke up early ready to sling solder. My bed was next to my
>> "shack/workbench".
>> The parents and sister were all sleeping...
>> Then it happened...
>> A large blob of solder slipped off the iron onto Mr Happy! (My new best
>> friend)
>> Shrieking and shouting... the blob "stuck".
>> The noise from my room awakened Sister and her sleepover friend. (The one
>> I had the sweets for.)
>> They stormed into my room followed by Mom and Dad.
>> Sisters friend was first into the room causing her to squeal as she tried
>> to turn around and run out of the door she just came into.
>> Thereby running into Sis and parents.
>> The solder was still stuck and still hot.
>> By parents wanted to call the Doctor...but I had enough humiliation for
>> one day so my Mom gave me the ointment and that was that.
>> Durring breakfast no one said anything about the early morning "event".
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>>
>
> --
> View this message in context:

http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-ESD-tp5844885p5847272.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
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Steve Ellington

Re: Soldering Naked

Mr. Happy likes the K3 No Solder Kit.

Steve
N4LQ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rex Lint" <[hidden email]>
To: "'Phil Townsend'" <[hidden email]>; "'Barry'" <[hidden email]>
Cc: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 10:12 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Soldering Naked

This same thing happened to me - I was about 35 at the time and I threw the
soldering iron across the room and it landed on the rya shag rug, burning an
outline of the iron into the wool rug.

I've still got the scar - see, right here...

and the project was a HW-202...

-Rex-

K1HI
Rex Lint
Merrimack, NH
WWW.QRZ.COM/db/k1hi

-----Original Message-----

david m

Re: K3 ESD

In reply to this post by Kjeld Holm

YES YES YES. Ground both yourself and the item you're working on. It's
basic ESD prevention 101.

> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:16:07 -0700
> From: David Gilbert <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 ESD
> To: [hidden email]
> Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
>
>
> NO no no ... you don't want to connect yourself to ground. You want to
> connect yourself to whatever semi-conducting surface you are working on
> (the one that the K3 and it's components are resting on). Connecting
> yourself to ground merely increases the chance that there will be a
> potential between you and the rig.
>

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 ESD

NOT a direct ground - through a high value (1 megohm) resistor, YES.
That is basic SAFETY.

Connecting your body directly to ground can cause bodily harm or even
death if you accidentally come in contact with a source of voltage.
Even low voltages can be dangerous if the source is capable of high
current (such as a battery).

For the same reasons, do not work on a fully conducting work surface -
that may be fine for auto mechanic work, but should never be used to
work on any electrical or electronic circuits. It is a matter of
personal safety.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/18/2010 2:49 PM, david m wrote:
> YES YES YES. Ground both yourself and the item you're working on. It's
> basic ESD prevention 101.
>
>> NO no no ... you don't want to connect yourself to ground. You want to
>> connect yourself to whatever semi-conducting surface you are working on
>> (the one that the K3 and it's components are resting on). Connecting
>> yourself to ground merely increases the chance that there will be a
>> potential between you and the rig.
>>
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David Gilbert

Re: K3 ESD

In reply to this post by david m

Wrong.

First off, the guy never said anything about connecting the item to
ground ... he stated that as long as you were connected to ground you
were OK. That's false.

It is also false that both of you need to be connected to ground for
ESD, although that may be good practice for other reasons. All that is
necessary is that you and the stuff you're working on be connected to
the same potential. It's basic Ohm's Law 101.

Dave AB7E

On 12/18/2010 12:49 PM, david m wrote:

>
> YES YES YES. Ground both yourself and the item you're working on. It's
> basic ESD prevention 101.
>
>
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:16:07 -0700
>> From: David Gilbert<[hidden email]>
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 ESD
>> To: [hidden email]
>> Message-ID:<[hidden email]>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>>
>>
>>
>> NO no no ... you don't want to connect yourself to ground. You want to
>> connect yourself to whatever semi-conducting surface you are working on
>> (the one that the K3 and it's components are resting on). Connecting
>> yourself to ground merely increases the chance that there will be a
>> potential between you and the rig.
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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ve7ymm

Re: K3 ESD

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

I used a static strap and mat when building my K1 & K2. I left the sensitive componants, the ones in esd foam in the bag until needed. I did, however, sort the other parts into plastic bins with compartments such as are used for screw assortments. Is this not recomended? If not, what should be used? Would this be okay if the bins were sprayed with my wife's anti-cling stuff?
Mark, VE7YMM

Mel

Re: K3 ESD

Hi Mark,

I use a anti-static mat and wrist strap also. I prefer a compartment sorter
also, but you can get anti static sorter trays, for money, hi. Most are not
anti-static and can cause problems. I use 18 egg cartons with the top cut off,
no static. The cartons also have another advantage. You can poke the leaded
parts vertical through the material.

Mel,

________________________________
From: ve7ymm <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Sat, December 18, 2010 1:20:54 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 ESD

I used a static strap and mat when building my K1 & K2. I left the sensitive
componants, the ones in esd foam in the bag until needed. I did, however,
sort the other parts into plastic bins with compartments such as are used
for screw assortments. Is this not recomended? If not, what should be
used? Would this be okay if the bins were sprayed with my wife's anti-cling
stuff?
Mark, VE7YMM
--
View this message in context:
http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-ESD-tp5844885p5848912.html
Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 ESD

In reply to this post by ve7ymm

Mark,

I would not put any of the transistors into ordinary plastic bins - I
stick them into the ESD foam.
The other components (resistors, capacitors and *most* diodes) are not
ESD sensitive and can be placed into any sorting thing of your choice.

Yes, if things are "winter dry", spray your wife's anti-cling stuff on
your clothing, chair, work surface and on the floor under your feet - it
may help, and it cannot hurt. I keep a can of that stuff in my car
during the winter - when the car "bites" me after I get out and reach to
close the door, I spray the seats - it works. I also use it when
working on the insides of computers located on a carpeted office floor -
good stuff. Static Guard is one brand.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/18/2010 4:20 PM, ve7ymm wrote:
> I used a static strap and mat when building my K1& K2. I left the sensitive
> componants, the ones in esd foam in the bag until needed. I did, however,
> sort the other parts into plastic bins with compartments such as are used
> for screw assortments. Is this not recomended? If not, what should be
> used? Would this be okay if the bins were sprayed with my wife's anti-cling
> stuff?
> Mark, VE7YMM
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Gary Gregory

Re: Soldering Naked

In reply to this post by Steve Ellington

'Chuckle'...OK...I guess the 'blob' of metal from the MIG welder that
entered my boot and caused me to star in an unscripted episode of 'Dancing
with the Sparks' pales into insignificance.

My wife is still laughing at my antics but at least Mr. Happy is remains
undamaged in my case the embarrassment level is somewhat less than yours.

Enjoy the Xmas break all....:-)

73's

Gary

On Sat, Dec 18, 2010 at 1:54 PM, Steve Ellington <[hidden email]>wrote:

> Mr. Happy likes the K3 No Solder Kit.
>
>
> Steve
> N4LQ
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rex Lint" <[hidden email]>
> To: "'Phil Townsend'" <[hidden email]>; "'Barry'" <[hidden email]>
> Cc: <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 10:12 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Soldering Naked
>
>
> This same thing happened to me - I was about 35 at the time and I threw the
> soldering iron across the room and it landed on the rya shag rug, burning
> an
> outline of the iron into the wool rug.
>
> I've still got the scar - see, right here...
>
> and the project was a HW-202...
>
> -Rex-
>
> K1HI
> Rex Lint
> Merrimack, NH
> WWW.QRZ.COM/db/k1hi
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> > Phil Townsend wrote:
> >>
> >> I was 12 years old... I think it was a Heathkit HW ???
> >> I woke up early ready to sling solder. My bed was next to my
> >> "shack/workbench".
> >> The parents and sister were all sleeping...
> >> Then it happened...
> >> A large blob of solder slipped off the iron onto Mr Happy! (My new best
> >> friend)
> >> Shrieking and shouting... the blob "stuck".
> >> The noise from my room awakened Sister and her sleepover friend. (The
> one
> >> I had the sweets for.)
> >> They stormed into my room followed by Mom and Dad.
> >> Sisters friend was first into the room causing her to squeal as she
> tried
> >> to turn around and run out of the door she just came into.
> >> Thereby running into Sis and parents.
> >> The solder was still stuck and still hot.
> >> By parents wanted to call the Doctor...but I had enough humiliation for
> >> one day so my Mom gave me the ointment and that was that.
> >> Durring breakfast no one said anything about the early morning "event".
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> Elecraft mailing list
> >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >>
> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >>
> >>
> >
> > --
> > View this message in context:
> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-ESD-tp5844885p5847272.html
> > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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--
Gary
VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile
http://www.qsl.net/vk4fd/
K3 #679, P3 #546
For everything else there's Mastercard!!!
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AC7AC

Re: K3 ESD

In reply to this post by ve7ymm

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.

David Gilbert

Re: K3 ESD

That's a bit of a careless generalization.

Almost any RF bipolar transistor or RF bipolar IC can be rather easily
damaged by ESD .... they typically have very shallow junctions and
require very little current to puncture in the reverse bias direction.
Almost any small signal Schottky diode or IC with Schottky diode clamps
can be easily damaged by ESD.

I know ... I used to manage a large enterprise that manufactured them.

Dave AB7E

On 12/18/2010 3:22 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
> Mark, the only really ESD-sensitive parts are those with high impedance
> (resistance) gates. Bipolar transistors, resistors, capacitors and other
> electrical parts are very hard to damage via ESD, although it is possible if
> one gets a good charge built up on one's self then manages to make a nice
> fat spark to jump to the part ;-).
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k6dgw

Re: K3 ESD

In reply to this post by ve7ymm

This is one of those threads that recurs periodically, and the answers
are always the same.

Many plastics will generate a static charge, almost by themselves.
Styrofoam is one of the worst, it's why the packing p'nuts fly all over
the place and stick to you when you try to cram them into the trash can.
Plastic trash bags are another, some seem to come highly charged right
out of the box.

Thus, styrofoam egg cartons are a huge no-no for parts sorting. The
ones made out of recycled newspaper are probably OK. Metal muffin
baking tins are good. I clip them to the frame of whatever I'm working
on with clip leads. The idea is to make an equipotential conductive
plane on your desk that includes the stuff you're working on, all your
parts, all your tools [soldering station], and you.

#1 goal is, "Don't electrocute yourself." Regardless of how you connect
to your body, make sure it goes to your equipotential plane through a
high value resistor [1 megohm or so].

Set ESD bags and ESD foam on the chassis or something metallic connected
to it to make sure they are at the same potential before opening.

Connecting your equipotential plane to the planet is a mixed bag. If
the connection is direct and big, it's probably fine. If other things
use it and might put significant current spikes into it, you might want
to reconsider. It's sometimes surprising the amount of noise pulses
that can wander around on the "green wire" in a normal residence. If
your house is wired to code, it's connected to the neutral and the
planet at the main electrical entrance [only], which could mean quite a
bit of wire to your shack and lots of inductive reactance in it for very
fast pulses.

Anti-static sprays on your cotton clothes, chair, and carpet will help a
lot. Working barefooted even more. Working without clothing, although
probably helpful in the static generation business poses other risks,
see previous post :-) Avoid synthetic and wool clothes ... jeans and a
T-shirts are good.

I built my KX1, K2, K3, W1, and a couple of small modules without a
static mat. I did use a wrist strap, metal sorting trays, and
everything was hooked together, generally barefooted but otherwise
clothed in my usual shabby cotton shorts and T-shirts. Nothing was
purposefully grounded. All the kits worked fine, no ESD problems.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011
- www.cqp.org
On 12/18/2010 1:20 PM, ve7ymm wrote:
>
> I used a static strap and mat when building my K1& K2. I left the sensitive
> componants, the ones in esd foam in the bag until needed. I did, however,
> sort the other parts into plastic bins with compartments such as are used
> for screw assortments. Is this not recomended? If not, what should be
> used? Would this be okay if the bins were sprayed with my wife's anti-cling
> stuff?
> Mark, VE7YMM

______________________________________________________________
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AC7AC

Re: K3 ESD

In reply to this post by David Gilbert

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 ESD

In reply to this post by k6dgw

Fred,

Your statement of connecting to an equipotential plane is a good one,
but your concern about spikes and inductive reactance back to the
"planet" should not be a concern. It IS important that all items in the
protected area be connected to the SAME point on this safety ground.
Connecting one ESD prevention device to one green-wire ground, and
connecting yet another device to yet another receptacle's green wire
ground will cause a difference in potential between those two points on
the green-wire ground.

The same principles apply to installations like commercial broadcast
stations which must remain in operation throughout a lightning storm.
The solution is to keep everything in the station at the same potential
through the use of a "grounding window" - which is the single point to
which *everything* in the station is connected. In the event of a
strike, it does not matter whether that grounding point raises to
several thousand volts - everything connected to that point will also
rise in potential by that same amount. It is the potential *difference*
of those items that are connected to that single point that is kept to a
minimum. It takes a potential *difference* to cause harm or damage.

It is similar with ESD protection, but on a much smaller scale. Do not
connect your wrist strap to one receptacle ground screw and your
anti-static mat to yet another. Connect them all to the same point.
Failure to do so destroys the design of your anti-static setup. And
that is the reason that many anti-static mats have a connector where you
can attach your wrist strap - use it to keep everything at the same
potential.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/18/2010 6:19 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:

> Connecting your equipotential plane to the planet is a mixed bag. If
> the connection is direct and big, it's probably fine. If other things
> use it and might put significant current spikes into it, you might want
> to reconsider. It's sometimes surprising the amount of noise pulses
> that can wander around on the "green wire" in a normal residence. If
> your house is wired to code, it's connected to the neutral and the
> planet at the main electrical entrance [only], which could mean quite a
> bit of wire to your shack and lots of inductive reactance in it for very
> fast pulses.
>

k6dgw

Re: K3 ESD

On 12/18/2010 3:58 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Fred,
>
> Your statement of connecting to an equipotential plane is a good one,
> but your concern about spikes and inductive reactance back to the
> "planet" should not be a concern. It IS important that all items in the
> protected area be connected to the SAME point on this safety ground.
> Connecting one ESD prevention device to one green-wire ground, and
> connecting yet another device to yet another receptacle's green wire
> ground will cause a difference in potential between those two points on
> the green-wire ground.

I think that's sort of what I was trying [poorly] to get at ... one
ground point, if you can't do that, don't ground.

EVERYONE: Listen to Don, he's more precise.
>
> The same principles apply to installations like commercial broadcast
> stations which must remain in operation throughout a lightning storm.
> The solution is to keep everything in the station at the same potential
> through the use of a "grounding window" - which is the single point to
> which *everything* in the station is connected. In the event of a
> strike, it does not matter whether that grounding point raises to
> several thousand volts - everything connected to that point will also
> rise in potential by that same amount.

As a Starving Student at Cal Poly in the late 50's/early 60's, I worked
at the local TV station on the engineering crew to support myself. Our
TX and main studio were co-located next to the 500 ft tower on Cuesta
Ridge. We had a single-point ground that involved a lot of copper, and
we took a lot of lightning hits, mainly on the tower but strangely,
sometimes to the ground and a few times to the building [concrete
block]. Maybe it was finding the rebar? At any rate, all the
inter-rack and console cabling ran in trenches in the concrete floor
covered by 3/8" steel trench covers. For reasons well above my pay
grade, a lightning hit to the tower would cause a deafening,
bone-breaking "clang" from the trench covers, until we bonded them
together along the edges with grounding braid.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011
- www.cqp.org
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david m

Re: K3 ESD

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Yes. If you are using a commercially available wrist strap, the 1M
resistor is built in. An anti-static mat will also have a surface
resistivity of at least 1Mohm/sq. Ground both and you'll be safe, and
your equipment will be safe as well.

On Sat, 2010-12-18 at 15:08 -0500, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> NOT a direct ground - through a high value (1 megohm) resistor, YES.
> That is basic SAFETY.
>
> Connecting your body directly to ground can cause bodily harm or even
> death if you accidentally come in contact with a source of voltage.
> Even low voltages can be dangerous if the source is capable of high
> current (such as a battery).
>
> For the same reasons, do not work on a fully conducting work surface -
> that may be fine for auto mechanic work, but should never be used to
> work on any electrical or electronic circuits. It is a matter of
> personal safety.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 12/18/2010 2:49 PM, david m wrote:
> > YES YES YES. Ground both yourself and the item you're working on. It's
> > basic ESD prevention 101.
> >
> >> NO no no ... you don't want to connect yourself to ground. You want to
> >> connect yourself to whatever semi-conducting surface you are working on
> >> (the one that the K3 and it's components are resting on). Connecting
> >> yourself to ground merely increases the chance that there will be a
> >> potential between you and the rig.
> >>

david m

Re: K3 ESD

In reply to this post by David Gilbert

No, it is not false. The problem is that when you get up, and move
around, your potential will change from that of the equipment. Touch
it again, and you can have an ESD event. Ground the equipment and
yourself (through a high value resistor) and it will ensure that
everything will remain at the same potential no matter

There are different ways that ESD events can occur: the human body model
is where a charged person discharged into a device at a lower potential,
which is the most common, The charged device model, which is not as
common but still equally valid, is where a device is charged through
either contact with another charged object, or through tribocharging of
itself. When this device contacts a surface of lower or ground
potential, a discharge can occur and damage it.

I've been working with ESD protection for more than 25 years, so, I'll
keep doing what has been proven to work, has been scientifically
accepted by the EOS/ESD Association, the electronics industry and the
military. You're free to do what you want, of course.

AJ4TF

On Sat, 2010-12-18 at 14:04 -0700, David Gilbert wrote:

>
> Wrong.
>
> First off, the guy never said anything about connecting the item to
> ground ... he stated that as long as you were connected to ground you
> were OK. That's false.
>
> It is also false that both of you need to be connected to ground for
> ESD, although that may be good practice for other reasons. All that
> is necessary is that you and the stuff you're working on be connected
> to the same potential. It's basic Ohm's Law 101.
>
> Dave AB7E
>
>
>
> On 12/18/2010 12:49 PM, david m wrote:
> >
> > YES YES YES. Ground both yourself and the item you're working on. It's
> > basic ESD prevention 101.
> >
> >
> > > Message: 2
> > > Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:16:07 -0700
> > > From: David Gilbert <[hidden email]>
> > > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 ESD
> > > To: [hidden email]
> > > Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > NO no no ... you don't want to connect yourself to ground. You want to
> > > connect yourself to whatever semi-conducting surface you are working on
> > > (the one that the K3 and it's components are resting on). Connecting
> > > yourself to ground merely increases the chance that there will be a
> > > potential between you and the rig.
> > >
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >

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