[dorkbotpdx-blabber] 2 wrkbotpdx-blabber at dorkbot.org>, "Greg Grunest" <greg at grunest.com>ire soldering irons and static?

[Jesse Mejia]

Yeah Colin had pointed out some transistor sockets as well. I think 
it'll be fine. I just read a thing somewhere yesterday about sensitive 
ic's getting easily blown up by non-grounded irons - i hadn't really 
considered it much before. I'm sure it's cool to just do what I've 
always done. :)

-j

On Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:41:20 -0700
  "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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