[dorkbotpdx-blabber] 2 wire soldering irons and static?

[Greg Grunest]

A couple of thoughts...

First, what about running a ground wire from your sink to a place where you
could easily "ground" yourself while soldering?  Umm, before you actually
touch the ground wire though, make sure to measure the voltage potential
between the "ground" wire and your AC neutral line.  I've seen upwards of 30
volts doing that before.

I worked for a lab any years ago and we had anti-static mats.  They weren't
necessarily cheap ($100 or so) but you didn't ground them to Earth Ground,
you ground them to your equipment while testing or doing rework and then to
yourself (via wrist strap).  The idea is that you, your test equipment and
what you're working on are all at the same potential so there's no dangerous
discharge.  That might work for you. 

Lastly, I've done tons of soldering with old style 2-wire soldering irons.
I don't know that I ever statically zapped anything with one.  I have melted
chip casings before with high wattage irons but that's entirely a different
problem.

- Greg

P.S.  They do make transistor sockets
(http://www.oselectronics.com/ose_p85.htm - just a random link from Google.
I don't know anything else about the company.) or you could just use a 6-pin
dip socket, it will hold two transistors.


-----Original Message-----
From: dorkbotpdx-blabber-bounces at dorkbot.org
[mailto:dorkbotpdx-blabber-bounces at dorkbot.org] On Behalf Of Jesse Mejia
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 5:16 PM
To: A discussion list for dorkbot-pdx (portland, or); coldham2 at mac.com
Subject: Re: [dorkbotpdx-blabber] 2 wire soldering irons and static?

I don't have anything grounded in my apartment.. so no lamp option. I 
supposed I could touch the soldering iron to the drain pipe under my 
kitchen sink?

Yeah it's probably just paranoia. I typically use sockets anyway.. but 
I'm about to solder a bunch of rare transistors - obviously no sockets 
for those guys. /me shrugs.

-j

On Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:53:06 -0700
  coldham2 at mac.com wrote:
> Jesse,
> 
> Maybe you should use a socket for those rare expensive chips? Or you 
> 
> could heat up your soldering iron with a wood fire. ;) Don't  
> discharge static from a hot iron with your finger, though. Maybe you 
> 
> have a grounded metal lamp or something near your work area that you 
> 
> could touch the iron to before touching a pin, if you are feeling  
> paranoid. I'm usually not that careful, but I also tend to break  
> stuff. I never have fried a chip in that particular way, though.
> 
> Collin
> 
> On Jul 30, 2009, at 4:34 PM, Jesse Mejia wrote:
> 
>> Has anyone blown up sensitive ic's using a 2 wire soldering iron? Or
>> soldering in a house with non-grounded outlets?
>>
>> After hearing some stuff about that I'm considering moving my
>> soldering stuff away from my house. . . unreasonable paranoia?
>>
>> -j
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