For the purpose of ESD training, I am searching for some component to clearly demonstrate ESD damage. From my internet search, I have found that LED specifically white should be a good candidate. LED is also nice to clearly visually show the damage, color doesn't matter.

But I have tested some 5mm white LEDs laying around and I have NOT manage to zapped them by ESD.

Could you recommend some specific type (preferably cheap) which is easy to damage? I would like to order something really sensitive.

https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/...damage-to-an-led-from-esd.155533/post-1341363

 

I would use a small FET Transistor such as a TN0702N3-G-ND.
It may be used to switch an LED on and off,
when the Gate of the FET is damaged, the FET will no longer operate.

The Source-Pin of the FET should either be connected to an actual Grounded-Mains-Conductor,
( usually a Green or Yellow, or Bare-Copper Wire ),
then for the simulation of some type of arbitrary connecting Cable,
a 3-foot long, ( 1-Meter ) or longer wire, should be connected to the Gate-Pin of the FET.

This wire will be the "Antenna" that will collect the Voltage required to smoke the Gate of the FET.
The longer it is, the more effective it will be.

Your ESD Generator should have a similar Grounding, and Antenna, scheme for best results.

The Closer the 2 "Antennas" are, the more reliable the result will be.

To "turn-On" the FET, use a 10-Megohm Resistor to the Gate-Pin and supply it with ~2 to ~3 Volts.
This will be adequate for lighting an LED with the suggested FET.

With a strong enough ESD Generator, You may get this setup to work from all the way across the room.
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While any component can be damaged by ESD, LEDs are generally less susceptible because they conduct in one direction. Here is an article I wrote for a for our local textbook on AAC:
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/semiconductors/chpt-9/electrostatic-discharge/
Lessons in Electric Circuits

 

MOSFET - this IMHO is a good candidate.

 

Thank you for your specific suggestions. A mosfet might be a good candidate. But if someone from experience with specifically sensitive white LED could come forward, I would be happy.

I think it would be more visible with LED. And we all like visual experiments in teaching.

 

The FET is intended to operate the LED,
( with only the usual Current-Limiting-Resistor required
to protect the LED from excessive Current ).

Most LEDs can withstand greater than ~20mA of Current.
Current kills LEDs,
Voltage kills a FET-Gate.
An ESD will generally create High-Voltage-Spikes in nearby equipment,
normally with teeny-tiny amounts of Current,
which is not sufficient to smoke any LED that I know of.

Would You like a Schematic showing how simple this is ?
( be sure to state what You will be using for a Power-Supply )
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Actually the current can be quite high, but it is in the range of femtoseconds so offers humans no danger. But this high current no matter how short the duration is more than enough to damage semiconductors.

LEDs, 555s, Flashers, and Light Chasers

 

Do you want to "detect" an "ESD" field , or do you want to "demonstrate" the destructive effect of ESD?

How much ESD do you have on hand ?

e.g. a van de graph generator makes one heck of a ESD spark , thats easy to detect ,,
and also does a fair amount of damage.

If I remember, an old AM transistor radio will detect a ESD gun firing across a room nicely ,

If you want to show damage,
make a nice transistor based led flasher,
https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/waveforms/bistable.html
and hit it with a ESD gun,that will stop it.

 

Do you want to "detect" an "ESD" field , or do you want to "demonstrate" the destructive effect of ESD?

From post #1, first sentence:

For the purpose of ESD training, I am searching for some component to clearly demonstrate ESD damage

 

What did you use for an ESD source to try to damage the LED?

To damage it, the ESD current should be in the reverse direction through the LED junction, so you need to know the ESD polarity or, if not, try zapping it in both directions..

 

From post #1, first sentence:

that was my understanding as well @BobTPH , but reading some of the replies I was no certain ,hence question to the OP,

 

Could you recommend some specific type (preferably cheap) which is easy to damage? I would like to order something really sensitive.

For what it's worth, my understanding is that LEDs on sapphire substrates are generally more ESD sensitive that most alternatives. I don't know how such LEDs compare cost-wise nor do I know the kind of LEDs that typically use those substrates, but I'm guessing it's probably the higher power products. I don't know what fraction of LEDs use sapphire, but I believe it is very common in GaN (gallium nitride) LEDs. Although GaN LEDs can be many different colors, I think blue LEDs are probably the most likely.

 

You may want to simulate ESD damage, so it will be kind of convoluted and not very accurate. Do you want to pursue this option?

 

Do you want to "detect" an "ESD" field , or do you want to "demonstrate" the destructive effect of ESD?

How much ESD do you have on hand ?

e.g. a van de graph generator makes one heck of a ESD spark , thats easy to detect ,,
and also does a fair amount of damage.

If I remember, an old AM transistor radio will detect a ESD gun firing across a room nicely ,

If you want to show damage,
make a nice transistor based led flasher,
https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/waveforms/bistable.html
and hit it with a ESD gun,that will stop it.

Hi,
I would like to demonstrate, how components could be damaged.

Thank you for tips with MOSFET, I would keep it for "plan B".

I will still try to search in LED fields, because it is more easy and clearly visible. No-one can see, what is inside MOSFET

I do not have any special HV generator, I would like to be able to brake component (preferably LED) by breaking ESD rules in the lab.

Thanks for the tip for "sapphire substrates LED" sensitivity.

I have found this candidate: https://se.rs-online.com/web/p/leds/2364430
to be tested.

But I am still open for other suggestions.

 

It's obvious what You would "like" to have,
but LEDs,
which are nothing more than a special type of Diode,
are pretty tough components,
which require a non-trivial amount of excessive Current to destroy.

They are largely unaffected by extremely low-Current, High-Voltage, "Electrostatic" Discharges, ( ESD ).

However,
CMOS devices, and MOSFET Transistors, and certain other very High-Impedance Components,
which are very common,
are extremely sensitive to any Voltage in excess of their normal ratings.
Almost zero Current is required to destroy them.

Generating, and Transmitting/Receiving, a High-Current ESD, is not a trivial task,
and is extremely dangerous.
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Again you will have to back bias this diode to destroy it, you may have to resort to something like a van graph generator or anything that throws a spark such as an ignition coil for a car.