(no subject)

[Philip Myles]

01 DEC 04
 
Dear K2 Owners,
 
I have just completed the control board on the K2, only problem is that I
didn't wear a wrist strap when I installed the chips on the board. I work in
a fairly high humidity environment but my floor is carpeted, does anyone
think I will have problems when I do my test? I will now being using a
static guard mat and a wrist strap from here on out!
 
Thanks,
 
Phil
KG0NL
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[Don Wilhelm-3]

Phil,

The probability of ESD damage is difficult to predict - just go through the
tests and see what happens, if something was static zapped it will do no
harm, but stuff will just not work normally.

One aside about ESD damage - it does not always render a device inoperative.
ESD can reduce the life of a part considerably, and may be responsible for
failures later in the life of a product - it will just fail 'out of the
clear blue' one day and one can only guess at the cause because the damage
happened long before that.

73,
Don W3FPR

----- Original Message -----
>
> I have just completed the control board on the K2, only problem is that I
> didn't wear a wrist strap when I installed the chips on the board. I work
> in
> a fairly high humidity environment but my floor is carpeted, does anyone
> think I will have problems when I do my test? I will now being using a
> static guard mat and a wrist strap from here on out!
>
>


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[Tom Arntzen]

I build my K1 and K2 with accessories using a wooden table as workbench.
I take into account not to use clothes that are known to produce static.
I also has a grounded point that I touch now and then to be sure.
All projects went together without any builderrors or static zapps.

A wristwrap and antistatic mat would be nice , but knowing about the problem
and use some common sence ,
you can do without it unless you live in very dry enviroment.

Tom LA1PHA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Philip Myles" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 6:09 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] (no subject)

> 01 DEC 04
>
> Dear K2 Owners,
>
> I have just completed the control board on the K2, only problem is that I
> didn't wear a wrist strap when I installed the chips on the board. I work
> in
> a fairly high humidity environment but my floor is carpeted, does anyone
> think I will have problems when I do my test? I will now being using a
> static guard mat and a wrist strap from here on out!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Phil
> KG0NL
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> 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
>

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[Ron D'Eau Claire-2]

Tom LA1PHA wrote:
A wristwrap and antistatic mat would be nice , but knowing about the problem

and use some common sence ,
you can do without it unless you live in very dry enviroment.

-------------------------------------

I've done that too, even in a very dry environment. However it's important
to realize that just moving one's arms or shifting around on the seat of the
chair - especially a cloth seat - can produce destructive static charges.
Keep touching the ground repeatedly as you work.

An inexpensive wrist strap is a great investment. Mine has a little Velcro
strap and a snap-on ground wire with the required built-in resistor to avoid
serious shock hazards. I think it cost under US $10.  Another US $15 or wo
will get you a "static dissipative" mat that provides further protection.

Ron AC7AC


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[Stuart Rohre]

If one was not drawing sparks off the carpet, and the ambient humidity is
high, you probably have not zapped any chips.  However, it is always good to
take precautions, in case the weather changes and drys out while you are
building.
-Stuart
K5KVH


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[Frank Nikolajsen-2]

On Dec 1, 2004, at 20:26, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
> Another US $15 or wo
> will get you a "static dissipative" mat that provides further
> protection.

   For those who would like to save the last penny, may I recommend the
largish plastic bags used for wrapping computer mainboards as
antistatic mats? They are surprisingly conductive, though they will not
last very long compared to a genuine antistatic mat.

   The bags in question can often be had for the asking at those 'beige
box' computer stores down at the corner. They are transparent and have
a black criss-crossing, which is the antistatic conductors. The largest
ones I've got are 30x40 cm (12x16 inches).

   Also remember that air humidity indoors is often very low when it is
freezing outside. Like in the winter when we like to work in the shack.

--
73 de Frank, OZ1IOC. K2 #4538, passed building phase II testing.

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