[Elecraft] Conception of a K2

[AJSOENKE at aol.com]

It rarely happens because a lot comes into play,  humidity, proximity of 
certain clothing, walking on carpet,etc. If Humidity is  up around 60% or higher, 
not wearing wool or synthetics, and not a lot of foot  traffic on the wool 
carpet next to your workspace, you have probably nailed down  99% of hazard. a 
small ionizing air blower of the  correct polarization is  often used to further 
enhance the environment. Have I ever killed a chip? Yes,  several expensive 
computer chips die in my classroom every year. Despite the  precautions and ESD 
safe work areas, concrete floors, etc, a student will  absentmindedly pick up 
a RAM or CPU and put it in a pocket or slide it across a  cardboard sheet 
used to protect a non-ESD-proof work bench and kill it  instantly. It's the 
'unconscious' actions that'll do it.  And these  computer parts all contain ample 
ESD protection diodes,etc, but still fall  victim. Don't gamble with the parts.

In Aerospace we are taught about  LATENT DEFECTS. This is an ESD weakening of 
the component that isn't detectable  during normal testing. It's only after 
launch when the boogers are 25,000 Km out  in space or on the surface of Mars 
that they start too fail. In ham terms that's  the equivalent of the 8th hour 
in a contest or when you hear the rare DX return  your  call. So don't take it 
for granted that you got away with the  handling of the parts just because the 
rig turned on and you hear a W6.  It  may be catastrophic and it may just 
reduce the performance of the rig to less  than advertised specs - so always do 
the best you can to protect.


73  es good luck  AL, WA6VNN  




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