<div dir="ltr">Chip,<div><br></div><div>You have a point about the automated machines, if the humidity is high the machines may malfunction. However, I do know of components that have humidity issues also like some capacitors. It is not the water itself which, by-the-way, will not conduct electricity, it's the impurities in the water that is the issue. Humidity can change a crystal's frequency. When I used to work on transmitters the oscillators were put into a heated box so the radio/TV station would not drift off frequency. An FCC pink slip would show up in the stations mail box with a hefty fine attached if the station frequency did drift.</div>
<div><br></div><div>I usually leave the parts on the ribbon tape and fold them up and put them in a bag. Too much work taking them all apart and getting them mixed up with other like parts.</div><div><br></div><div>Carl</div>
<div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 5:14 PM, Charles McClelland <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:chip@mcclellands.org" target="_blank">chip@mcclellands.org</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div style="word-wrap:break-word">Carl, <div><br></div><div>Thanks, I guess I do need to think about static. I also like you plastic bag idea.</div>
<div><br></div><div>On your point about hobbits or professional, let me explain what I was thinking. I assume that the reason many of these components are sold as cut tape is to accommodate the hobbyist who wants to order just a few. However, I am assuming that these same components are sold in entire reels of tape to the professional who might use an automated machine to place them on a board as part of a production line process. I guess I was wondering if it was the performance of these components in one of these automated production lines where humidity is an issue. Otherwise, will that sensitivity to humidity be an issue for the component on the assembled board? </div>
<div><br></div><div>Thanks,</div><div><br></div><div>Chip</div><div><div class="h5"><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><div>On Apr 4, 2014, at 4:51 PM, Carl Nobile <<a href="mailto:carl.nobile@gmail.com" target="_blank">carl.nobile@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</div>
<br><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">Chip,<div><br></div><div>The static issue is the one to be very careful about. If you walk on a staticky rug then touch a component, say good by to the component. At the point where you can feel a shock it is already way too high and will blow any static sensitive component. They must be kept in one of those dark gray static bags. DO NOT use the pink ones, they're useless.</div>
<div><br></div><div>BTW, components do not know if you are a hobbyist or a professional, if the component doesn't like the humidity it will be damaged in either case.</div><div><br></div><div>I always keep most parts in sealed plastic bags. If static electricity is not an issue, like with resistors and capacitors, you can use clear plastic bags. I get them at hobby stores, they come in all the right sizes and are pretty cheap.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Carl</div><div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 4:38 PM, Charles McClelland <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:chip@mcclellands.org" target="_blank">chip@mcclellands.org</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Hey all,<br>
<br>
I am gearing up for my first surface mount project. OSH Park has just told me the boards are in the mail and DigiKey just sent me the bill of materials. I have some questions now that I have opened the box from DigiKey:<br>
<br>
1) Some of the components claim to be humidity sensitive. Is this a big deal for hobby use? Do I need to keep these in a sealed bag with desiccant or is that overkill?<br>
<br>
2) Some of the components claim to be sensitive to electrostatic discharge. I have yet to fry a through hold component - are surface mount components more sensitive?<br>
<br>
3) The components come on tape which will be inefficient to store using the cool storage boxes Pete showed me. Is there anything wrong with removing the parts from the tape?<br>
<br>
I went with 0805 components so nothing is microscopic.<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
<br>
Chip<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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