ESD of "bug zapper"

I work at a manufacturer of industrial computer systems. Circuit boards and IC's are regularly handled. In my department there is a "bug zapper" How potentially harmful is this? Please assume it is the world's most powerful "bug zapper" :)

Reply to
alt129
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Not likely to cause problems with the IC's unless maybe a rogue bug escapes the zapper and lands on an IC. I wouldn't hold my breath.

I assume the workers who handle the chips are adequately protected against ESD.

Do you have some particular mechanism in mind by which the zapper would cause problems?

Chuck

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Reply to
Chuck

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Thanks for answering! I was just wondering if the electromagnetic field emitted by the zapper could be harmful to any components, boards or CPU's that are in the vicinity of it (say 5 meters). I recall from a training about ESD safety I once had that even the EMF from a PC CRT monitor could be harmful at that distance. Probably not immediately, but over time...

Reply to
alt129

I don't think that the normal conductivity of air would allow enough current to flow to damage an IC placed in a strong field. Think about the IC's in a TV or oscilloscope or computer monitor: these are all in close proximity to fairly strong fields and don't suffer as a consequence.

The damage from ESD is caused by actually transferring charge to the component, almost always by direct contact.

Chuck

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Reply to
Chuck

Perhaps you will find some useful information on this website:

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Chris

Reply to
Chris Jones

All that UV will reduce static electricity in the vacinity.

photoelectric effect.

Bye. Jasen

Reply to
Jasen Betts

There shouldn't even be a "bug zapper" there. Haven't they discovered window screens in your country yet? Is it an outdoor factory? (in which case you'll have more to worry about than bugs!)

The thing with bug zappers is that they zap the exactly wrong bugs. Toss the zapper and invest in some pyrethrin or DEET.

Good Luck! Rich

Reply to
Rich Grise

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