[Elecraft] Metal muffin pans and static charge.

[John Buck]

Metal pans do not keep away static electricity.

Think of every surface as a plate of a capacitor.
Think of yourself as a large high voltage capacitor especially after 
scuffing across a rug and the air is dry.

If you touch a part lead you will zap a very high voltage into the part 
if you have not discharged yourself to the SAME potential as the part 
before you touch it.

The key is to touch the metal pan before you touch the part.
Touch the pc board before placing the part on the board.

Slightly conductive work surfaces and wrist straps help.

The metal pan is better than a run of the mill plastic tray.

I keep the semiconductors stuffed in the black or pink conductive foam 
that they are shipped with.

Just because the part works after you install it does not mean that the 
part has not been slightly zapped.  It may then fail with time and power 
cycles.

Static damage can be easily avoided by the discipline of touching the 
ground first.  If you carry a part to the assembly area, touch the back 
of your hand or a finger to the board before setting the part on the board.

Aloha,
John KH7T