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Storing components... — Parallax Forums

Storing components...

jeremyajeremya Posts: 26
edited 2006-04-21 09:34 in General Discussion
What is the best way to organize components like resistors and sensors? I was thinking of just getting like a tackle box or a some sort of hobby organizer. I read somewhere else that this was bad because of static.

Thanks,
Jeremy

Comments

  • dandreaedandreae Posts: 1,375
    edited 2006-04-20 15:44
    You can use a tackle box provided that you keep the anti-static foam or bag for your sensor.



    Dave

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  • allanlane5allanlane5 Posts: 3,815
    edited 2006-04-20 15:46
    Resistors and capacitors are pretty resistant to static. For IC chips, you'll need some "anti-static foam" to plug them into. This is black, a little crumbly, and has carbon built in so it's conductive. This conductivity prevents static build-up between the pins.

    I tend to use those flat parts-bins sold at Home-Depot.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2006-04-20 17:08
    A while back, I suggested using styrofoam covered with aluminum foil and was told that it was no good.
    Is it really that bad? Or was someone just pulling my leg?

    The static foam can be bought in big sheets, but it isn't very inexpensive.

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  • allanlane5allanlane5 Posts: 3,815
    edited 2006-04-20 17:25
    No, it's terrible. Styrofoam is a GREAT generator and storer of static electricity. For any anti-static protection to work, you must have reasonably good conductivity between all the pins of your chips. A thin sheet of aluminum foil will NOT fully connect the pins at all times, both during insertions and removals.

    And then you have that huge Styrofoam static generator right there, close to your chips. The slightest defect in the aluminum foil (an imperfect hole made by a pin insertion, for instance) gives a low-resistance path to a static charge through your chip. Not something you want.

    Sure, anti-static foam is not trivially inexpensive. But it's worth it.
  • jeremyajeremya Posts: 26
    edited 2006-04-20 18:41
    So a tackle box is fine for my resisters, capacitors, and such... just need to keep the IC's in Anti Static foam.

    Great Thanks Guys!

    -- Jeremy
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2006-04-21 03:52
    This thread is being moved from the BASIC Stamp Forum to the Sandbox.

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  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2006-04-21 09:34
    MOSfets transistor are static sensitive too.· CMOS and MOSfet anything for future reference.

    I guess I should immediately invest in some foam.
    I believe that the comment about styrofoam and aluminum was that it made chips into landfill!!!!

    Still, I suspect the high humidity in Taiwan will save the day for me. We don't have carpets either, just mostly tile floors.

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    "When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

    ······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
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