USB device crashes Pi4/RasPiOS

A cold winter day makes much spark here. (Sweden) Like -10C or below

Fabric softener helps, but below some temperatures, even that does not do much to help.

I have a roll of 10cm ... but got that from an electronics surplus place in Orlando.

However that's the only place I've ever seen it on a shelf in the USA.

I could get 4" (100mm) sparks off round door-knobs during the winter in a high Rocky Mountain town. Were strong enough to HURT. You quickly learned to reach with a knuckle or key. My guess, given the rounded surface, is 200,000 volts. That's enough to trash modern electronics for sure unless very well shielded and smartly designed.

Hmm ... I wonder how long cell phones last in places like that ? :-)

Um, yea ... the flux CAN be nasty :-)

For those in the USA, try Skycraft Salvage in Orlando Florida.

SOME you can buy online. MOST is just in infinite bins you have to pick through. I usually spend hundreds every time I get by there. And yes, they DO have thin copper tape, I bought a roll of 10mm awhile back.

Note recent physical address change to bigger digs from their old Fairbanks Av location. New place is in a strip mall about a mile N.W. from there.

You can sometime also find stainless steel tape in the form of automotive trim and MacGuyver rust-out repair material. If all else fails, automotive customizers can be a good place to get things that can be adapted for other uses.

SS tape has one extra advantage, as it does not form a thick surface oxidation layer like aluminum you can employ 'friction contacts' more effectively, eliminating the need for hard soldered connections. This should serve for RF shielding.

BUT, you can get copper tape from Mouser or DigiKey or Amazon - so ...

Yes. I'd rather use copper. But when you need it right now because SHTF, it's nice to have options.

Yea, I know ... when you need it you need it and don't want to wait days/weeks.

But, for a number of reasons, 'retail' ain't what it used to be. The more 'popular' items get shelf priority and other stuff disappears ("You can buy it from our online store !")

Someone suggested buying copper tape from my local garden store - except the last one anywhere near me went out of biz around Covid-time.

ANYway ... Amazon delivers pretty quick (quicker if you want to $$$). McMaster/Carr is also very quick, but may not do 'retail' in your area. Grainger is quick, and does do retail, but adds a big premium if you're not an official 'wholesaler' with the right numbers to present.

Oh, do you have a "Northern Tools" store anywhere near ? They've got a surprising volume of "weird s*it" on their shelves.

I've got enough copper tape for any anticipated need. But what DON'T I have ? I'll find out come the next project ... it's always something ... :-)