[Elecraft] "Metal muffin baking tins are good" -- was " K3 ESD"

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

To avoid damage just follow the same protocol as you would when installing
the part in a circuit board. 

Ideally the tin would be grounded through a 1 meg resistor. 

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
In reference to the subject of proper ESD protocol, Fred (K6DGW) just posted
"Metal muffin baking tins are good".  Please note that this is INCORRECT.

If a metal muffin baking tin (or any conductor for that matter) were brought
into direct contact with an ESD sensitive device, and the two were not
already at the same potential, then the rapid momentary current flow (i.e.
discharge) could easily zap the ESD sensitive device.

ESD mats have a specific surface resistivity to ensure that any potential
difference -- between the mat and devices placed on it -- is gradually
dissipated over a period of several seconds, as opposed to (I'd guess)
somewhere on the order of a few micro seconds for a metal muffin tin.

Thus the instantaneous current surge (when coming into contact with the
muffin tin) would be on the order of a million times greater.

73,
Gary  KI4GGX
K3 #2724