Order your diodes in the summer months!

[steve-o]

For you that do not have ESD training: Sensitive electronic devices are less suseptible to ESD (electro-static-discharge) which can kill an electronic device (including laser diodes) in low and dry humidity ; it is best to handle said devices in the summer-spring-fall months (high humidity) due to the natural dissipation of ESD . As soon as the months occur of dry humidity- (e.g. -getting shocks from walking on a carpet and touching a door-knob and getting shocked) , it is best not to touch sensitive electronic devices unless you are working on a bench with static dissapative mats and wrist ground-straps. (I'll try to revise this post better when I'm well rested and not .. but I'm sure someone can elaborate on ESD precautions. I don't know if this topic has been covered here before, but it's a necessary lesson .
Cheerz-
-S

[LaNeK779]

i usually get small shocks when i leave work and get into the car.

i have also noticed that when it is raining or when humidity is high i don't get these shocks.

so, whenever i get into the car without getting a shock, i know it is a good day to harvest a couple of open can diodes from their sleds

simple enough even for me

[flecom]

good thing I live in Miami then? lol

[dnar]

For you that do not have ESD training: Sensitive electronic devices are less suseptible to ESD (electro-static-discharge) which can kill an electronic device (including laser diodes) in low and dry humidity ; it is best to handle said devices in the summer-spring-fall months (high humidity) due to the natural dissipation of ESD . As soon as the months occur of dry humidity- (e.g. -getting shocks from walking on a carpet and touching a door-knob and getting shocked) , it is best not to touch sensitive electronic devices unless you are working on a bench with static dissapative mats and wrist ground-straps. (I'll try to revise this post better when I'm well rested and not .. but I'm sure someone can elaborate on ESD precautions. I don't know if this topic has been covered here before, but it's a necessary lesson .
Cheerz-
-S

For many the advise is bad, as refrigeration A/C used heavily in summer dries the air!!!

[laserdj]

good thing I live in Miami then? lol

Ha! I´m not bad either... living in the amazon with at least 85% humidity I almost breath water LOL

[steve-o]

I just posted this on a whim last nite, to maybe help somebody.. even if it's just 1 person it'll be worth it. 1 thing during the many esd training sessions that I have had to attend thru the years that I learned is that it doesn't even take a shocking voltage to destroy a semiconductor. 50 Volts or less (really, anything above the component's rated voltage) can destroy it, if the current is built-up enough. You don't even feel it.

[LaNeK779]

well, i hadn't thought of it this way.

and you sure are right. thanks!!

[Things]

Living in Cairns here also helps with that .. Low humidity?? What's this??

[dnar]

As with many semis, the damage may not be initially apparent ...

[Vidal Wolf]

In the U.S. most of the states that are in the snow regions in the winter are at a higher risk of ESD related damage to components, thats because the cold air condenses the moisture out of the air- cold air can hold less humidity making for drier air and allowing for higher Electrostatic/triobelectric charges to develop. However, in places like Seattle/Portland, areas West of the Cascade mountains, winter is an excellent time to do anything that requires handling/manufacture of electrostatic sensitive devices.Thats because it rains from October until May,and theres so much moisture in everything that you would be at a higher risk of moss growing on your diodes and lenses than ESD damage occuring. I cannot say how it is in other parts of the south/eastern states, but on the far West Coast, winter is pretty wet.