Hi,
I just got into electronics and I have begin stocking up on various supplies. I'd like to organize them in various types of boxes, and while I do have better picture of the issue after having read the Proper storage for Logic and other ESD sensitive IC's thread I still have some questions.
This is mostly a question of practicality. Ideally, I'd like to by cheap, plastic storage bins for most of my stuff -- I do not yet have the space for a permanent work bench, so I need to be able to move things around easily. And my compontents should be safe, of course.
Right away, all DIPs I have purchased so far are kept in cardboard boxes lined with conductive foam like these here (all pins are stuck in, so they are at the same potential). This works great for me: the 10cmx10cm boxes come fully assembled, are inexpensive, and they organize very well (I have ICs grouped by function, boxes labeled with part numbers, etc).
Now, I also purchased quite a few other components, eg transistors and 2N7000 MOSFETs (thread). Keeping them in cardboard boxes is not practical. In a perfect world, I'd be able simply dump the stuff in clear plastic boxes like this or this.
Question 1: Unless I'm mistaken, those plastic boxes linked above aren't ESD safe, which means I'd have to wrap components in aluminium foil or stick them in conductive bags, no? If I'm right, that would make things impractical, unfortunately, and I'd probably have to buy something like these conductive part boxes, but I can't find them cheaply here in Europe.
Question 2: What other non-passive parts also susceptible to ESD? For example, I bought this kit of zeners + voltage regulators, and as you can see the storage box is non-conducting plastic. Are these parts at danger?
I think that the way the major suppliers shipped me their parts, often with two kinds of ESD protection, has made me a bit paranoid
Thanks in advance for your input!
Christian
I just got into electronics and I have begin stocking up on various supplies. I'd like to organize them in various types of boxes, and while I do have better picture of the issue after having read the Proper storage for Logic and other ESD sensitive IC's thread I still have some questions.
This is mostly a question of practicality. Ideally, I'd like to by cheap, plastic storage bins for most of my stuff -- I do not yet have the space for a permanent work bench, so I need to be able to move things around easily. And my compontents should be safe, of course.
Right away, all DIPs I have purchased so far are kept in cardboard boxes lined with conductive foam like these here (all pins are stuck in, so they are at the same potential). This works great for me: the 10cmx10cm boxes come fully assembled, are inexpensive, and they organize very well (I have ICs grouped by function, boxes labeled with part numbers, etc).
Now, I also purchased quite a few other components, eg transistors and 2N7000 MOSFETs (thread). Keeping them in cardboard boxes is not practical. In a perfect world, I'd be able simply dump the stuff in clear plastic boxes like this or this.
Question 1: Unless I'm mistaken, those plastic boxes linked above aren't ESD safe, which means I'd have to wrap components in aluminium foil or stick them in conductive bags, no? If I'm right, that would make things impractical, unfortunately, and I'd probably have to buy something like these conductive part boxes, but I can't find them cheaply here in Europe.
Question 2: What other non-passive parts also susceptible to ESD? For example, I bought this kit of zeners + voltage regulators, and as you can see the storage box is non-conducting plastic. Are these parts at danger?
I think that the way the major suppliers shipped me their parts, often with two kinds of ESD protection, has made me a bit paranoid
Thanks in advance for your input!
Christian