[Elecraft] Aren't some egg cartons ESD generators???

George saywhat at alltel.net
Thu Aug 28 08:47:28 EDT 2008


Greetings:

Are not most egg cartons these days made of polystyrene or something similiar?  If so, doesn't that material cause ESD??  Seems to me it does.
I have avoided the use of that type, thinking that the answers to both questions is yes.  Can anyone confirm this?  I am certainly no expert on ESD.  

It also seems to me that even if even if you only store hardware items in them, simply touching the carton or sliding your fingers across that material could generate ESD.  Am I overconcerned?

I really like using egg cartons for part sorting, but I use the ones made from what looks like a molded grey paper material, which I think is less likely to cause ESD.  And to keep them from flipping over, I glue them to a piece of 1/4" plywood, which has a footprint a little larger than the egg carton.  You can also write the hardware description on the plywood underneath each cell.  I used the molded paper ones when building the K2, the K3, and several other kits with no discernable ESD problem so far.

Another question for the experts on this subject:  Are the semi ridgid plastic partitioned trays you find in places which sell fishing stuff safe?  I have used them, and experienced no problems to my knowledge.

73, 
George, n4ym


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