A Computer Builder’s Guide to ESD - ESD protection
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If it’s that bad, then why aren’t more people destroying their stuff?How do we know they aren’t? So far, there hasn’t been a study to examine the mean time between failures on PC components with attention paid to how often the user reaches into the case, no there is no empirical data either way, but I know quite a few people who do nothing to their computers and they last for years where a few friends of mine who constantly mod their computers seem to be always replacing defective components.
Silicone devices do have ESD protection built into them, enough to mitigate those lower-voltage ESD events, but that’s about all. Hard drives are protected by the metal casing that surrounds them. There are things that one can do to minimize the chances of damaging your components, and many people do some of it inadvertently in the course of their work.
ESD Protection
According to one industry report, up to 90% of all components manufactured never make it to market intact due to ESD problems. The manufacturers want to reduce ESD failure as much or more than you, the consumer, since every failed part is money lost to them. With that in mind, ESD-safe packaging is critical.
There are ESD-safe and ESD-resistant materials. They do different things. ESD-safe materials are composed in such a way that they are not likely to generate a static charge under normal conditions. They do not offer protection against static-discharge, but they don’t contribute. Examples of these are pink ESD bubblewrap, ESD-safe polyethylene bags (“pink poly”) and containers. The pink poly bags are useful for wrapping up circuit cards and components which have sharp edges and points. The thick non-static generating material protects the ESD-resistant container from damage.
ESD-resistant bags and containers are made of a conductive material which prevents electrostatic and electromagnetic charges from getting to the component. They are typically made of black, carbon-impregnated plastic or a dark, silvery conductive plastic film.
Both ESD-safe and ESD-protective materials are labeled with an ESD warning.
In order for a component to be protected by an ESD-resistant container, the component must be entirely surrounded by a conductive layer. Bags need to be sealed or folded over (for best protection, fold the open edge over at least twice) and containers must have the lids securely attached. Holes, tears, cuts or other openings in the container will degrade its performance and increase the risk of ESD damage.
Note that nothing is ESD-proof. A lightning strike or power spike will damage anything.
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