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

[Eric Garner]

also, be aware that you expose yourself to danger of electrocution
unless there's a resistor in the ground path. most anti-static wrist
straps have an integral 1 meg (sometimes 10 meg) resistor in them so
static can be bled off but large currents cannot use you as a path to
ground.

-eric

On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 2:41 PM, Greg Grunest<greg at grunest.com> wrote:
> 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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-- 
--Eric
_________________________________________
Eric Garner