LCSC Uses Wireless Anti-Static Wrist Bands - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 01:05:35 am
content: Although discrete Zener diodes are not very ESD sensitive, the wireless wriststrap is indeedOh well... If that was indeed shot from their facility and this abomination is used throughout all their product line, that would be the difference between a real distributor and a hack.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 01:07:45 am
content: Are there any ESD plastics involved?The blue bin plastic, scale tray, her shirt - all look like vanilla non-dissipative stuff which easily makes high charge.Assuming the cart has a ground chain and there's conductive floor wax, she is using a heel strap, it might calm down Zeus from throwing a thunderbolt.I can't handle raw semiconductor inventory without wearing an anti-static lab coat, and heel straps and wire to the shelf/cart for ground on my wrist-strap.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 01:18:05 am
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on May 13, 2019, 01:05:35 amIn particular case no ESD strap is needed and actually using it is stupid. If you have ESD floor and ESD footwear (as you should), you don't attach yourself to every shelve you come by. If you look video from MOUSER, nobody uses ESD strap. Wireless ESD strap is a big fail though, even if it is not needed.https://youtu.be/G3V5Oi9fdr4

author: OwO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 03:59:27 am
content: What makes you think name brand distributors are any more competent? I've had ESD sensitive passive components come in non static protected packaging.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 04:02:52 am
content: Quote from: wraper on May 13, 2019, 01:18:05 amYou are assuming the ground is ground and that is a mistake.It's common - rather than buy expensive anti-static conductive flooring, they cheaped out and used ordinary vinyl tile.They applied conductive floor wax 5 years ago. Is it working? On high traffic areas, it has usually worn off. It becomes a placebo and everyone thinks the floor wax solved all problems. It was expensive to buy, takes a few days to apply and dry (=shutdown), nobody likes it and proving it needed to be done is a hassle.You have to test with a1E10^12 Resistance meter.If you can't, then I use a wrist-strap or keep a finger touching the shelves.It's fun to play with an electrometer and look for high charge (people).Past month outdoor humidity has been around 25% and it gets bad up north.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 04:06:19 am
content: What were they pixelating? Not the kid's face since she ducks out of the pixelation several times. Something waaaaaay in the distance? Weird.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 04:15:30 am
content: They have a few videos, her'es another with a weird pixelated areaeven stranger than the other since there's a few points where the picker's face is fully visible.Wireless-woo-woo-anti-static picking ICs

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 04:27:44 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on May 13, 2019, 04:23:47 amAll the videos show different picker wearing same thing, it looks identical to commonly found "wireless anti static" bands, right down to the 45 degree rotated square logo.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 04:31:25 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on May 13, 2019, 04:23:47 am

author: innkeeper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 04:35:32 am
content: This has to be somones idea of a joke, thier is no way a major electronics supplier is going to believe in wireless antistatic wrist straps.is it april 1st?also for such a major supplier, look at the number of views .. really 50 some odd.. yea right...kinda funny though

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 04:36:25 am
content: There's a bunch on eBay - cordless?must be a special on placebos or fake wrist straps.The woman in the LCSC video that does an about turn after seeing the camera, she is wearing ordinary running shoes. No sign of grounding footwear.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 09:10:25 am
content: Quote from: wraper on May 13, 2019, 01:18:05 amI am not really talking about the overall ESD environment around the person in the video, but the fact they actually purchased the wireless ESD straps for their employees, which evidences the lack of understanding of the problem and oversight from a third party.Regarding the most suitable solution itself, IME the shoe grounding could be more suitable in this case, but the person would have to use a full body smock to prevent charge buildup caused by their own clothing.Quote from: blueskull on May 13, 2019, 04:09:43 amI have heard stories as well and couldn't possibly deny them but, many years ago, I worked directly with some of them and I was thoroughly impressed by their methods. As blueskull mentioned, since they needed to closely follow each manufacturer's handling recommendations, they often overdid their procedures. The fact LCSC shows pride in having a "stock video fail" (nice one blueskull), shows a complete lack of understanding about the issue IF that reflects their actual facility.

author: harnon
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 09:55:12 am
content: Quote from: innkeeper on May 13, 2019, 04:35:32 amThey're linked from the LCSC menu on their web sitehttps://lcsc.com/video.html#/videoI've watched them before but never noticed the antistatic strap, hmmmmmm

author: mjs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 10:39:40 am
content: Maybe the bracelet contains 55Fe, which emits soft x-rays and ionizes air to remove static charge ? Or hopefully not.Hamamatsu sells soft x-ray tubes for this as 'Photoionizer' products.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 10:40:44 am
content: Quote from: floobydust on May 13, 2019, 04:36:25 amFWIW You can buy ESD footwear which looks like your ordinary running shoes.https://reebokwork.com/features/static-dissipative-footwearhttps://gorillasafetyfootwear.co.uk/product/puma-fuse-technic-644110-womans-s1p-esd-safety-trainers-src/

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 12:05:03 pm
content: Did somebody tell them?

author: jonovid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 12:17:38 pm
content: wireless anti-static wrist bands work by mind control & feelings.knowing that if something fails to work, its not your fault. snowflake.having touched or handled the electronic components in question.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 01:15:00 pm
content: I always have to cringe whenever ebay motherboards come in nothing but tightly taped bubble wrap.Even if ESD wasn't a problem, there's a load of fragile and bend-sensitive components on there that could likely be ripped off by what is effectively a straight jacket.

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 05:04:30 pm
content: The discussion on whether they should be wearing protection at all for zeners, whether perhaps the floor is ESD protected, the cart is grounded and what not is all null and void once you factor in the wireless wrist strap.She could be wrapped in copper foil with a 10 foot solid silver stake driven through her foot straight into a rich vein or iron ore and it would still be a fail.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 05:27:53 pm
content: I've taken DigiKey facility tour multiple times (absolutely amazing thing), and I don't remember anyone ever wearing ESD straps. It is possible that tour does not go through the areas that have been actually determined to be ESD sensitive.There are ESD protection measures everywhere, or course, but not straps.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 06:52:15 pm
content: Quote from: @rt on May 13, 2019, 12:05:03 pmI sent them an email linking to this thread.If anything they use too many ESD safe bags when sending stuff (for connectors, etc.), so that part of their operation is fine. Its just the question of handling procedures.

author: chickenHeadKnob
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2019, 03:17:09 am
content: Quote from: harnon on May 13, 2019, 09:55:12 amMost of their customer base is in China, youtube banned in china, so youtube view counts don't mean much

author: bitwelder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2019, 06:56:28 am
content: What if they are actually factory workers tracking devices, disguised as antistatic wristbands?

author: ogden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2019, 08:19:32 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on May 14, 2019, 07:01:34 amGirl do not wear that thing every day if she can put it on unnatural way. Wristwatch owners will understand what I mean. Most likely their "film crew" f*ed up by introducing ESD bracelet, not whole company.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2019, 08:44:21 am
content: Please don't blame the workers. They are likely unskilled or semiskilled labour, driven by people who know less than they do.I remember about 25 years ago, a big quantity of CR2032's being delivered in a large ESD bag from a supplier... all loose! The bag was warm. And if you put your hand in the sea of batteries, you got the occasional tingle.Some people suffer from a condition called NFI.No ------- Idea.The condition is often depicted in Luminati and Flat Earth believers.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2019, 02:13:11 pm
content: "Wireless Anti-Static Wrist Bands." As a commercial product. Being bought and used by fair-sized companies.That's depressing. Just goes to show how prone humans are to cult-like belief systems. Fairies, Gods, and 'anti-static' as some kind of voodoo stuff. They hear the words, but have no science-based comprehension. I'm surprised the churches haven't got in on this racket. Blessed holy-water based anti-static amulets, with an image of the Virgin. But maybe the target markets don't overlap enough.Reminds me of that "high quality perpetual static dissipative mat" I bought at Jaycar recently. That turned out to be just plain vinyl. "Perpetual" as in it takes forever to dissipate anything?http://everist.org/NobLog/20190223_full_spectrum.htm#staticCan we have a teardown video of one of these miraculous devices? Do they have _any_ kind of internal hocus pocus, or is it blatant empty-case bullshit?Btw, many aeroplanes do have 'wireless anti-static' devices. Needle points that inject charge into the slipstream, but I'm not sure if it's an actively driven electronic system that manages to maintain a neutral net charge on the airplane, or what. Or how a wearable equivalent without a decent power source (or rapid airflow) could work.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2019, 02:59:29 pm
content: Quote from: ataradov on May 13, 2019, 05:27:53 pmGiven that DigiKey is in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, you can expect massive ESD problems in the winter. I worked for Control Data and had to visit their Minneapolis facility. The amount of static discharge from walking across a carpeted floor was amazing. 1", 2" jumps to file cabinets were routine.All caused by low humidity. What if these warehouses raised the humidity? Maybe up to around 60%?Where I live, in the Central Valley of California, the outdoor humidity today is around 81% and 60 deg F. I don't have a psychrometric chart (nor do I necessarily remember how to use it) but even after heating to 72, I would still expect the RH to be quite high. I don't spend a lot of time worrying about ESD.I do use a grounded pad and wrist strap when I work on a PC Motherboard with a high dollar CPU. I probably don't need it but I can't afford to replace high dollar chips.

author: ogden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2019, 03:41:35 pm
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on May 15, 2019, 02:13:11 pmGeez, do you know what internet search is?

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2019, 10:22:34 pm
content: I feel like places end up hiring some experienced guy to tell them they don't need ESD stuff when they had ESD stuff, he is like a patzi to lower operations cost.Sort of like a smuggler/drug pusher that slowly slips in unapproved equipment and decays standards.

author: SparkyFX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2019, 10:52:54 pm
content: Quote from: innkeeper on May 13, 2019, 04:35:32 amMaybe... they are intended to be connected to a grounded point somewhere near a workplace, occassionally. So you can dissipate any charges before handling equipment.Of course, they do not have a wire attached... therefore they work wirelessly?! Maybe "wireless" became a broader term than it actually is?

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2019, 10:54:45 pm
content: Quote from: SparkyFX on May 15, 2019, 10:52:54 pmThose blue box straps have no attachment point. They are just a plastic box, and sometimes there is a resistor inside that is not connected anywhere.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 16, 2019, 06:46:58 am
content: I heard from LCSC, they have admitted fault and are fixing things.All staff will now have ESD coats, and the new warehouse they about to move into will have an ESD coated floor.Presumably with real wrist or ankle straps now.

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2019, 07:09:39 am
content: Discharging yourself by directly touching metallic shelves with the fingers would be a too shocking experience when the weather is dry.Doing the same by touching the metallic screw to the shelves will be just fine, because the discharging current will be spread over all the contact area between the wrist-band and the hand, so you will not feel the electrostatic spark.That is how you use an antistatic wireless wrist band, and that is why it might be necessary.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2019, 05:07:24 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on May 16, 2019, 06:46:58 amA bit clearer than the response I got:QuoteQuote from: blueskull on May 16, 2019, 07:11:12 amYeah I agree, but for humidity control I guess its a question of cost to control the very large space. Then at some point, if humidity is too high, wouldn't they risk moisture absorption for certain ICs?This is not like digikey where they have the margin to throw in desiccant packets with each chip.

author: innkeeper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 19, 2019, 03:43:41 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on May 16, 2019, 06:46:58 amOMG... it wasn't a hoax?

author: scuzzyTerminator
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2019, 05:19:48 am
content: I do not want to see how she holds a soldering iron.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2019, 05:30:59 am
content: Quote from: SparkyFX on May 15, 2019, 10:52:54 pmI wonder how the whole thing got started --- a faulty translation of "sold without the cord" that evolved into ones that don't have the provision to attach the wire anymore?